Andriana

Hi, my name is Andriana. I do not know my last name, or my age. My mama tells me she thinks I'm 'bout 10, but I'm not sure that's to accurate, seeing we're not allowed to learn anything, and we don't know nothin' 'bout tellin' time or reading or writing. I was born into slavery, and I know my owner as Master Will. He is good to me, my mama, and my sister all things considered. My mama's name is Carmen, and my sister is Ellery. I never met my father, but my mama tells me he was a good man, but tried to escape. So he was sold to a mean white man my mama calls Master Jeremy. Master Will has never beat me, mama, or Ellery, but I know he is capable of horrible things, seeing he once beat a man so bad he killed him. But for a slave, my life has been pretty good so far. I have a friend who is a slave at the plantation next door to us, and she isn't treated nearly as well as I am. I'm guessing she's 'bout my age, and has been whupped for the smallest things. One day when workin' in the fields, the sun got her feelin' real sick, and she started throwin' up. Her master whupped her for stoppin' her work. She showed me her wounds and they looked pretty bad, but she told me her mama greased um up real good and she'd be okay. Now my mama tells me there is a war goin' on and if the north wins, all the slaves will be freed. Just thinking 'bout bein' free excites me, it's not right for one person to own another person. I shouldn't be somebody's property. It'll be a rude awakenin' for Master Will when we're gone and he's got to do everything himself. I am a bit worried 'bout bein' free though, 'cause Master Will has always fed us and given us shelter, so we're gonna have to provide for ourselves. I'll be extremely happy when we're all set free and I'm reunited with my daddy though. Although I'm apprehensive 'bout bein' freed, it'll be a good day when I meet my daddy.