Georgia

People believed enslaved individuals did not have birthdates.

‘Everybody knew Niggers didn’t have birthdays’

European countries had a high demand for cotton.

‘Europe was starved for cotton’

Enslaved people experienced feelings of jealousy and resentment because of their living conditions.

‘The cabins radiated permanence and in turn summoned timeless feelings in those who lived and died in them: envy and spite’

Refers to the exploitation and commodification of enslaved people.

‘When black blood was money, the savvy businessman knew to open the vein.’

The constant oppression and cruelty of slavery.

‘Nothing left for the world to show you but the latest incarnations of cruelty.’

The overseer's announcement or command to begin work.

Then it came as always Overseer's cry, the call to work, the shadow of the master.’

A mark or scar left by abuse, shaped like an X.

‘The swelling had disappeared but where the silver wolf had kissed had left a Rueful scar shaped like an X’

‘No one doubted it would be a bloody sort of harmony’

The act of severely mistreating or harming someone before their death.

‘Abused mightily before being permitted to die’

Slaves were forced to watch the abuse of other slaves as a form of moral instruction.

‘It was customary for slaves to witness the abuse of their brethren for moral instruction.’

Necessary evil given the obvious intellectual deficiencies of the African tribe

Some people justified slavery by claiming that Africans were intellectually inferior.

Someone who deeply hated slavery as it was against God's will.

‘Mr. Fletcher abhorred slavery as an affront against God’

Describes the unpredictable and evil nature of white men in the South.

‘The Southern white man was spat from the loins of the devil and there was no way to forecast his next evil act.’

The desire to gain freedom, even if it doesn't appear that way.

‘Every dream was a dream of escape even when it didn’t look like it.’

Poor white people enjoyed beating and mistreating the black population.

‘Drunkards, incorrigibles, poor whites who didn’t even own shoes delighted in this opportunity to scourge the colored population.’

Each mile traveled away from the plantation represented a step closer to freedom.

‘Every mile between her and the plantation was a victory.’

Chains specifically designed for children.

‘One row was devoted to children’s chains and the tiny manacles and links connecting them.’

The labor had been forced, extracted, and stolen from them.

‘Not one of them could be prideful of their labour. It had been stolen from them. Bled from them.’

Emasculation of black men

‘Big Anthony’s manhood was cut off stuffed into his mouth and sewn in’