Chapter 2, Coming of Age in the Land of Egypt Summary

Slave children's life and labor was not their own and they quickly learned that their family could be taken from them at any time. They were often sent to work at very young ages, effectively cutting short their childhood. Araminta was hired out to care for a neighbor's infant at the age of the five. She was far too young for the responsibilities given to her and she was often whipped if the baby cried at night. She was soon sent back to her owner. She came back sick and undernourished. As soon as she was healthy, her owner hired her out again. This pattern would continue throughout Araminta's childhood.

Not surprisingly, little information is available about what Araminta's life was like as a child. There are...