The slaves are brought from all parts, are of all sorts, sizes, and ages, and arrive in various states of fatigue and condition; but they soon improve in their looks, as they are regularly fed, and have plenty to eat. As soon as we were roused in the morning, there was a general washing, and combing, and shaving, pulling out of grew hairs, and dyeing the hair of those who were too grey to be plucked without making them bald. When this was over - and it was no light business - we used to breakfast, getting bread, and bacon, and coffee, of which a sufficiency was given to us, and that we might plump up and become sleek. Bob would then proceed to instruct us how to show ourselves off. …The buying commenced at about ten in the morning and lasted till one, during which time we were obliged to be sitting in our respective companies, ready for inspection…. After dinner we were compelled to walk, and dance, and kick about in the yard for exercise; and Bob, who had a fiddle, used to play up jigs for us to dance to. If we did not dance to his fiddle, we used to have to do so to his whip, so no wonder we used our legs handsomely, though the music was none of the best…. As the importance of “looking bright” under such circumstances may not be readily understood by the ordinary run of readers, I may as well explain that the price a slave fetches depends, in great measure, upon the general appearance he or she presents to the intending buyer. A man or woman may be well made, and physically faultless in every respect, yet their value be impaired by a sour look, or dull, vacant state, or a general dullness of demeanor. For this reason the poor wretches who are about to be sold, are instructed to look “spry and smart”: to hold themselves up, and put on a smiling, cheerful countenance. When spoken to, they must reply quickly, with a smile on their lips, though agony is in their heart, and the tear trembling in their eye. They must answer every question, and do as they are bid, to show themselves off; dance, jump, walk, leap, squat, tumble, and twist about, that the buyer may see they have no stiff joints, or other physical defect…. Not a word of lamentation or anguish must escape from them; nor when the deed is consummated, dare they bid one another good-bye, or take one last embrace. “In Slave Life in Georgia, John Brown, in his as-told-to narrative, illumines this chasm between truth and the body by elaborating the role of violence and ventriloquy in enchaining slave value. In order to penetrate the simulated revelry of the trade, he painstakingly described the New Orleans slave pen in which he was held(39): from Scenes of Subjection by Saidiya Hartman
Posted on: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 14:50:29 +0000
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