“The Yankees nor none of the soldiers ever come to our cabins—I seen them along the roads. They show did clean up Miss Leucretia’s calves and hogs. Took em all off at one time. Rations show did get mighty scarce.
“They sing, I recken they did sing, go off to work singin and the men whistlin. Mostly sung religious songs. Master Thornton had a white man preach sometimes. Down in front of the cabins in the shade. Sometimes somebody get to go to white church with the family. They held the baby. They didn’t have no school.
“I seed the Ku Klux Klans in the road light nights—when they pass we all peep out the cracks. They didn’t bother nobody I knowed. We was scared they would turn in an come to the house.
“I farmed all my life, hoed cotton and corn. No maam I aint never voted—I jess lives wid my children here and my son in Memphis and my other daughter at Helena. My daughter do farm work and my son railroads. He works in the yards.
“I don’t know what to say bout the generations comin on. They is smarter in their books and sees more than older folks, but they ain’t no better. You kaint depend on what they says. I don’t know what to say would make the country better lessen the folks all be better.
“I never heard of no rebellions. I jess lived in Mississippi till I comes here and Memphis and stay around wid the children and grandchildren. They all do fairly well for the fast times I guess.”