“One of my bosses had a lot of money and he hid it in a cave. They tried to find it and to make my mother tell where it was hid, but she didn’t know and couldn’t tell. They came back several times and tried to find him at home but they couldn’t catch him. That was in Missouri before freedom came.
“I hate my father. He was white. I never did have no use for him. I never seen him because Mama was jayhawked from the place. I never heard my mother say much about him either, except that he was red-headed. He was my mother’s master. My mother was just forced. I hate him.”
Interviewer: Miss Irene Robertson
Person interviewed: Mark C. Trotter, Edmondson,
Arkansas
Age: 71
“My owners was Miss Betty and Mr. Luke Trotter. I was born in Tunica County, Mississippi. I farmed all my whole life. I did like it. One thing they said about slavery, you couldn’t get away. They had dogs and you get away and have no place to go, nothing to eat. Travel was hard through the rough wilderness. One owner would notify another about a runaway. They would take him back or send him word to come get the runaway. Some of ’em tried to stay in the woods. They said they never tried to get away. I wasn’t born till after freedom. They said they felt sorry when somebody got beat but they couldn’t help it. They had feeling for their color.
“I come to Arkansas in 1925. I jus’ can make it. I’m sickly. I made my part, three bales cotton, last year and prices was so low and provisions so high it is all gone. I don’t get no help from the Welfare.
“I heard old folks set around the fire and spit and talk about them very things but I got here too late to know well enough to tell it.
“I recollect when seed was a scarce thing. We had to save all our seed. The women would swap around. Folks had to raise their own stock.
“The Ku Klux didn’t bother us.
“I voted here in town. I don’t bother the polls no more. I don’t own nothing.
“Times and folks both been changing all my life. Some things is better and some people as good as they always been.”
El Dorado District
FOLKLORE SUBJECTS
Name of Interviewer: Pernella Anderson (Colored)
Subject: NEGRO FOLKLORE—Uncle James
Tubbs
Story:—Information
“Well ah wuz born second year after surrender. Some say dat makes me 72 years old. Mah maw only had two boys. Ah am de baby. My pa wuz name Manger Tubbs. I wuz a purty bad boy. When ah wuz one. Ah use ter hunt. Use ter catch six and eight possums in one night. Ah use ter love ter fish. Spunt er many a nite campin and fishin. An playin marbles wuz a wonderful game in mah days yo knows. Fokes wuzen so wile den.