She picked the cotton, the sweat pouring down her dark, leathery face. She worked from sunrise to sunset, same as the men. The overseer saw to that. Slaves failing to do their tasks were flogged. Her back was badly mangled from a whipping. As she worked, she dreamed of the Elysian home she would soon enter.
56 Works
This post was inspired by the slaves–who worked from sunrise to sunset in the cotton fields and eighteen hours during Harvest time. Men and women worked the same hours. A pregnant woman was expected to continue working until her child was born and she was only given a month’s rest for recovery from child-bearing. Mothers had to carry their children on their backs while they worked in the fields. Around the age of five, slave children were expected to work on the plantation. They were looked after an overseer who carried a whip made of the toughest cowhide which they used on the slave. It wasn’t uncommon to see slaves with their backs mangled.
Yet, in spite of these horrendous and cruel conditions, slaves continued to cling to their faith.
Image is from http://e993.com/forex/Cartoon-Slaves-Picking-Cotton/
Source: Spartacus Educational
Notes to Women 