Dallas' Black Confederate Monument

There has been a lot of attention and ridicule paid to an effort by two Republican South Carolina legislators to have a monument to Black Confederates.

https://www.theroot.com/sc-republicans-want-to-build-stupidest-confederate-monu-1821710469

https://thegrio.com/2017/12/29/black-confederate-soliders-south-carolina-republicans/

https://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/republican-lawmakers-surprised-learn-no-black-soldiers-served-under-confederacy

https://www.rawstory.com/2017/12/sc-republicans-try-to-sneak-confederate-propaganda-into-classrooms-with-memorial-to-black-civil-war-vets/

Of course the real point of this effort is to legitimize the Confederacy.

This effort for a monument didn't come out of no where. There has been an effort to promote this mythology in 2017 in South Carolina.

https://www.aikenstandard.com/news/family-of-african-american-confederate-veteran-of-salley-accepts-statehouse/article_56060e74-fa11-11e6-8923-0ba00a5347b5.html

Kevin Levin refused to acknowledge that there was a neo-Confederate agenda in this. Levin chose to portray this as just mistaken individuals.

http://cwmemory.com/2017/03/02/the-first-female-black-confederate/

I called him out on this.

http://newtknight.blogspot.com/2017/03/levins-apologetics-for-neo-confederate.html#.WkzdBN_BqiM

What isn't generally known is that Dallas already has a monument dedicated to Black Confederates in Oak Lawn Park, formerly Robert E. Lee Park.

The Dallas Mayor's Task Force on Confederate Monuments was informed about it but chose to ignore it.

http://www.templeofdemocracy.com/two-overlooked-confederate-monuments-in-oak-lawn-park.html

Wrote Dallas Mayor Rawlings about it and copied it to all the city council members but they didn't care either.

http://newtknight.blogspot.com/2017/10/letter-to-mike-rawlings-about-two.html#.WkzVUd_BqiM

So when you are laughing at South Carolina remember Dallas actually has a plaque to Black Confederate soldiers. Dallas knows about it and has chosen to keep it.

Letter to Mike Rawlings about two overlooked Confederate monuments in Oak Lawn Park

I had a hand out about the overlooked monuments in Oak Lawn Park, formerly Robert E. Lee Park which I gave to the Task Force on Confederate monuments and there was not consideration of it.

So I sent a letter with the information to Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings. CLICK ON IMAGE TO SEE ENTIRE IMAGE.

With the letter was a 2 page document about the overlooked Confederate monuments in Oak Lawn Park. I have the document following this letter. Copies of this letter along with the documentation was sent to all 14 city council members.

                                                                                    October 15, 2017

                                                                                    Edward H. Sebesta

                                                                                    

                                                                                    edwardsebesta@gmail.com

Mayor Mike Rawlings

City of Dallas

Mayor and City Council City of Dallas

1500 Marilla St.

Dallas, TX 75201

Dear Hon. Rawlings:

I brought to the attention of the Task Force two Confederate monuments in Oak Lawn. I don’t see any reference to them in the Task Force on Confederate monuments final report.  In enclose the information which I gave them.

The whole claim of “Black Confederate soldiers” is a laughingstock in Civil War historical circles and among historians in general.

If we are going to go through the process of de-Confederating the city of Dallas I think we need to do a complete job.

Also, the retention of a “Black Confederate soldier” marker will make Dallas a laughingstock as a city that has such a monument and which can’t seem to really engage on the issues of race.

I hope you have these monuments removed. The fact that they use circumlocutions is no excuse for their retention.

                                                                                    Sincerely Yours,

                                                                                    Edward H. Sebesta

CC:

Office	Name	Address	Address
Mayor Pro Tem	Dwaine Caraway	Mayor and City Council	Dallas City Hall
Deputy Mayor Pro Tem	Adam Medrano	Mayor and City Council	Dallas City Hall
District 1 Council Member	Scott Griggs	Mayor and City Council	Dallas City Hall
District 3 Council Member	Casey Thomas II	Mayor and City Council	Dallas City Hall
District 5 Council Member	Rickey D. Callahan	Mayor and City Council	Dallas City Hall
District 6 Council Member	Omar Narvaez	Mayor and City Council	Dallas City Hall
District 7 Council Member	Kevin Felder	Mayor and City Council	Dallas City Hall
District 8 Council Member	Tennell Atkins	Mayor and City Council	Dallas City Hall
District 9 Council Member	Mark Clayton	Mayor and City Council	Dallas City Hall
District 10 Council Member	B. Adam McGough	Mayor and City Council	Dallas City Hall
District 11 Council Member	Lee Kleinman	Mayor and City Council	Dallas City Hall
District 12 Council Member	Sandy Greyson	Mayor and City Council	Dallas City Hall
District 13 Council Member	Jennifer Staubach Gates	Mayor and City Council	Dallas City Hall
District 14 Council Member	Philip T. Kingston	Mayor and City Council	Dallas City Hall

This is the document I enclosed with the letter. 

TWO OVERLOOKED MONUMENTS TO CONFEDERATES IN OAKLAWN PARK

                                                                                        – Ed Sebesta 9/14/2017

There are two items in Oak Lawn Park which serve as monuments to Confederate soldiers.

       1) There is this monument to alleged Afro-Confederate soldiers in Oak Lawn Park.

The text in all capital letters reads:

THIS MEMORIAL WAS DEDICATED ON MAY 25, 1993 TO HONOR AND COMMEMORATE THE SACRIFICES OF AFRICAN – AMERICANS OF SOUTHERN HERITAGE WHO SO VALIANTLY SERVED IN THE CIVIL WAR.

The term “Southern Heritage” is to indicate persons of African ancestry who supported the Confederacy.

The whole myth of Confederate soldiers of African ancestry is a laughingstock among Civil War historians and this plaque makes Dallas a laughingstock. The fact that the Dallas Park & Recreational Dept. is involved with this and allowed this brings into question their participation in any review or proposal for Dallas parks. This is about 24 years ago, but it needs to be asked if the park system has progressed.

Click on images to see entire images. 

2

              2) There is this plaque for a fountain in Oak Lawn Park.

Click on images to see the entire image. 

The text in all capital letters (excluding the list of names) reads:

THIS FOUNTAIN WAS PRESENTED TO THE CITY OF DALLAS BY THE DALLAS SOUTHERN MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION ON MARCH TWENTY-SECOND, NINETEEN HUNDRED SEVENTY AS A MEMORIAL TO SOUTHERN HEROES OF ALL WARS

Though the Confederacy isn’t mentioned, the Confederacy is included with the phrase “ALL WARS” and asserts that these Confederate soldiers were “HEROES.”

It can also be seen why this Fountain has the appalling sectional restrictions to only “SOUTHERN HEROES.” If it was “AMERICAN HEROES” it would apply to those who for fought for America during the Civil War, i.e. union soldiers.

DISPOSITION:

1.       These monuments need to be removed.

2.      These monuments need to be in a museum. These plaques as well as the ones of the Robert E. Lee statue base in Lee Park shows how Dallas elites and the city accommodated the proponents of the Confederacy well into the very late 20^th century.

FURTHER NOTE:

Since these two items were missed by the Task Force, I would suggest that there be a review of whether all Confederate monuments, memorials, etc. have indeed been identified. 

Letter about the history of neo-Confederacy sent to Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings

Since the Dallas Task Force on Confederate monuments failed to get any information on the history of Dallas neo-Confederacy, the public hasn't been educated fully as to why these monuments need to go down. So the number of Confederate named streets was a very short list and none or maybe just one or two will be changed. The Confederate monument in Pioneer Park might end up staying. It doesn't look like anything will be done for Fair Park. The Commission on Cultural Affairs didn't vote on the Task Force's recommendations.

So I wrote this certified letter to Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings with copies sent to all 14 city council members. 

Some of the supporting documentation I will put after the letter and some will be inserted into the letter. Further I may have explanatory notes which will be in square brackets [ ].

CLICK ON IMAGES SO YOU CAN SEE THE ENTIRE IMAGE.

Again, I had a brain fade and the plantation house in Oak Lawn park is Arlington Hall. Stratford Hall is the ancestral mansion of the Lee family. 

October 15, 2017

                                                                                    Edward H. Sebesta

                                                                                    

                                                                                    edwardsebesta@gmail.com

Mayor Mike Rawlings

City of Dallas

Mayor and City Council City of Dallas

1500 Marilla St.

Dallas, TX 75201

Dear Hon. Rawlings:

The Task Force on Confederate monuments did not research or investigate or report on the history of neo-Confederacy in Dallas and Texas.

This has had the unfortunate result in that the public hasn’t been educated and doesn’t know the motivations of the people who erected these statues and what was the ideology behind them. There were presentations about the fact that Dallas was a white supremacist society during the period in which they were put up, but the historical record of the beliefs of these organizations and supporters of the monuments has not been examined.

This results in some not really taking seriously the reason to remove these Confederate monuments. The need to eliminate Confederate street names is not taken that seriously and rationalizations are given to only change some. As of 10/15/2017 it is unclear what will be done with Fair Park. The one-third replica Lee plantation house, Stratford, isn’t being discussed, the remaining memorials that seek to honor Confederates aren’t addressed.

So I think it would be useful that you and city council get a sampler, a small sampler of what neo-Confederacy stood for in Dallas.

1.       The United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1934 and 1935 campaigned against a play Jute that was planned to be performed by the Oak Cliff Little Theater. The UDC opposed it since it was planned to use an interracial cast to perform it. The performance of the play was prevented and the Oak Cliff Little Theater closed down. The Texas Division UDC President in the UDC convention minutes reported it as a triumph in the defense of the South.  The Dallas Morning News reported on this multiple times: “Interracial Body Meets Opposition of Confederates,” Dec. 4, 1934, page2; “Quince to Revive ‘Jute’ on June 4 at Cliff Theater, April 27, 1935, page 10; “Title Role of ‘Jute’ Still Remains Uncast,” May 13, 1935, page 6; “Cast for ‘Jute’ Already Complete,” May 17, 1935, Page 14; “Confederate Daughters Oppose Playing Whites and Negroes in Drama,” May 18, 1935, page 6; “Another Confederacy Chapter Opposes Two Races in Theatricals,” May 23, 1935, page 6; “Guarantee No ‘Social Upheaval,’ Quince Asks Protests to Cease on Mixed Cast for Play ‘Jute,’” May 24, 1935, page 2; “Quince Drops ‘Jute’ In Face of Protests,” May 27, 1935, page 7; “Oak Cliff Merges Membership with Dallas Little Theater’s,” May 28, 1935, page 14.

2.      Walter White of the NAACP came to speak at a YWCA against lynching in 1937. [Correction, 1938] The campaign against his speaking engagement was so ferocious that it was moved to a different Y for safety, a police guard had to be assigned, and White had to fly in at 3 pm and fly out at 6 pm for his own safety. The campaign was led by Walter E. Hurt, Commander-in-Chief of the Texas Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

3.      An extract for John H. Reagan, from the Dallas Morning News, April 28, 1897, page 1 in which Reagan explains that the restoration of white supremacy after the Civil War was more meritorious than any of the Civil War battles that the Confederates fought.

4.      A report on a speech made by the Historian General of the Texas Division of the United Confederate Veterans at UCV meeting in Fort Worth asking that all African Americans be sent back to Africa and giving forth on his biblical theories of racial inequality. It is from the Confederate Veteran, Vol. 24, No. 12 pp. 529, Dec. 1916.

5.      Selections from the John B. Hood Journal of the John B. Hood SCV camp in Dallas in 1965. The raw rancid racism really shows what Confederate “heritage” is all about.

I could supply a lot more. I want you and the city council to understand the motivations behind these monuments and other Confederate items of the built environment of Dallas and not be inclined to be lax in addressing the issue involved instead of strenuously de-Confederating Dallas.

                                                                                    Sincerely Yours,

                                                                                    Edward H. Sebesta

This is from the Texas Division UDC annual convention minutes. I extracted into a page the Texas Division President's comments from the year book. It succinctly summarizes the attitude of the UDC.

CLICK ON IMAGES TO SEE ENTIRE IMAGE.

The article was mailed. You can get this article from the Dallas Public Library. It is from the Dallas Morning News, April 29, 1938, pages 1, 12. I sent the entire article with the bibliographic note. The headline was, Protest Made Agasint Negro Speech Plans: Earl E. Hurt Says White People Should Guard Racial Purity."

Walter White, historically famous leader of the NAACP was scheduled to speak in Dallas before the Dallas Interracial Commission against lynching. A campaign was led against his speaking. This really shows what Confederate "heritage" in Dallas was about. 

The intensity of the protest was such that the speaker had to be guarded by police and the venue moved. This is from the article, "Police Guard Appearance of Negro Speaker: Antilynch Work To Save Black Bodies, White Men's Souls," Dallas Morning News, April 30, 1938. 

Walter White had to be flown in at 3pm and flown out at 6pm by airplane for his safety. 

This is the raw racism of the Sons of Confederate Veterans at that time. Earl Hurt said that he speaks for the organization and other organizations. .

This is from John H. Reagan, Confederate veteran and former member of the Confederate cabinet at the dedication of the Confederate monument which later was moved to Pioneer Park.

Reagan finds restoration of white supremacy glorious – Ed Sebesta 10/10/2017

In this section of a speech given by John H. Reagan, former member of Jefferson Davis’s cabinet, given at the dedication of the Confederate monument in Dallas in 1897, we see that Reagan regards as more glorious than the battles of the Civil War the restoration of white supremacy after the Civil War. Note his racism in reference to “a servile race” which makes “reconstruction worse and more humiliating than war.”

From “Men Who Wore Gray,” Dallas Morning News, April 29, 1897, page 1, Newsbank. (The image of the original text is on the following page.)

“… The strife of the war is over, peace has been restored. It is true that in this restoration we had to pass through a period of reconstruction worse and more humiliating than war ---“

(Here the speaker was interrupted by the arrival of Mrs. Hayes and family, who were enthusiastically received.)

“But we have the fruits of peace, and it is one of the grandest things connected with the memory of that struggle and of what followed. Our country’s resources were exhausted, our property sacrificed, the bravest and best of our men slain upon the battle fields, denied the privileges of self-government, subjected to military power, the attempt made to subject us to the control of a servile race. With all of this, the highest compliment that could be paid our people seems to me, better than all the victories of battle, was that under such circumstances we were able to preserve the organization of society, to re-establish organized government, to restore the industries of the country and to establish constitutional laws which protect and vindicate the rights of a free people.” (Applause.) [Bold face added.]

The restoration of white supremacy, the overthrow of Reconstruction, the maraudings and terror of the Ku Klux Klan, Red Shirts, White League and the Knights of the White Camillia and just general violent white terrorism is according to John H. Reagan is “the highest compliment” that is “better than all the victories of battle” in the Civil War.

It was generally understood in the early 20^th century by Confederate and neo-Confederate groups, such as the United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Sons of Confederate Veterans, that the Ku Klux Klan of the Reconstruction period, as well as other white terrorist groups was the effort of the ex-Confederate soldier.

The Confederate Monument at Pioneer Park is a monument to white supremacy. It needs to go. 

This is the image of the extract referenced above.

This is a speech asking that all African Americans be sent back to Africa. Also, it says that Indians are the result of hybridization with animals. It is from the Confederate Veteran, Vol. 24, No. 12, pp. 569. The lecture is by the Historian General of the Texas Division of the United Confederate Veterans. 

Selections from the John B. Hood Journal of 1965 of the John B. Hood Sons of Confederate Veterans camp.

This is the review of the material. The photos follow.

 JOHN B. HOOD CAMP SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS (SCV) JOHN B. HOOD JOURNAL

Compiled by Edward H. Sebesta 10/18/2017

The John B. Hood Journal was the publication of the John B. Hood Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) and the Dallas Public Library (DPL) has a bound copy of four issues from 1965. They show the blistering racism of the SCV and which is representative of the mentality of neo-Confederates then and now.  This is what so called Confederate “heritage” is really about.

Notes: The pages in the bound volume are unpaginated. The page numbers in this document do not correspond to any pages in the document. They are just for internal reference in this document only.

NOTABLE ITEMS:

This directory is to point out some of the more notable pages using the page numbers of this document. Additionally red arrows are added to point out these notable items. This is a short selection of some of the anti-civil rights items in the bound volume.

1.       Page 5: “White only” stickers offered for sale by the Journal. “Think of the possibilities. On your personal bathrooms, etc., anywhere they are still legal.”  Enlarged view on page 26.

2.      Page 9: Praise and support for right wing radio personality Richard Cotton attacks on the civil rights movement. Page 34 Enlarged view.

3.      Page 11:

3.1.   White supremacist quote of Thomas Dixon from “The Leopard Spots,” one of his novels.

3.2.  Quote of Abraham Lincoln supporting white supremacy.

3.3.  Two condemnations of the Supreme Court decision, one Florida Legislature, one Georgia Legislature.

4.      Page 12: “The Negro 23^rd Psalm.” What is interesting is that neo-Confederates in the 1950s and 60s will have these long discussions of the Constitution and then next to it these rabid rants which give away the whole game. They are so racist that this doesn’t even occur to them.  Page 45. Enlarged.

5.      Page 14: Various racist statements.

5.1.   Robert Toombs explains that Robert E. Lee demonstrates white superiority.

5.2.  Condemnation of “Sammy Davis” who is called “Negro agitator.”

5.3.  Short item asserting that God supports segregation.

6.      Page 15:  Essay explaining that there is no place in the SCV for someone who supports civil rights.  Specific complaint about President Lyndon Baines Johnson’s support for the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act.

7.      Page 16: Various racist statements.

Letter to Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings about the replica Robert E. Lee Mansion at Oaklawn Park

The replica of the Robert E. Lee Park wasn't even considered by the Task Force on Confederate Monuments.

An error here in the letter. Stratford Hall is the home of the Lees of Virginia and Arlington Hall is the home of Robert E. Lee. Lee was born in Stratford Hall.

This letter was sent certified to Rawlings along with copies to all 14 Dallas city council members.

October 15, 2017

                                                                                    Edward H. Sebesta

                                                                                    

                                                                                    edwardsebesta@gmail.com

Mayor Mike Rawlings

City of Dallas

Mayor and City Council City of Dallas

1500 Marilla St.

Dallas, TX 75201

Dear Hon. Rawlings:

I regret to see that the Task Force on Confederate Monuments didn’t include the one-third replica of Lee’s plantation house, Stratford, at Oak Lawn Park in its deliberation.

The replica Stratford was understood to be an important part of promoting the idea that Robert E. Lee was a hero by the Dallas Southern Memorial Association (DSMA).

The DSMA in the forwards written by their presidents explain sometimes directly and sometimes less directly that the purpose of Robert E. Lee Park was to oppose the civil rights movement.

The replica Stratford is not a plantation house in general but a specific plantation house where slavery was practiced and the plantation house of Robert E. Lee. It serves to normalize both Robert E. Lee and antebellum slavery in the United States and excuse Robert E. Lee’s practice of slavery.  I enclose an account of Lee having runaway slaves punished, and how horrible the use of salt and brine in these punishments were. These are the terrors in history than plantation weddings ignore.

I see no good reason why this wasn’t included in the agenda of the Task Force on Confederate monuments. It is a Confederate monument. In fact it is worse than Confederate statues since when it is used people are directly engaged in it.

I don’t think the city of Dallas should be engaged directly or indirectly in the plantation wedding business and this replica plantation house needs to be addressed. It also should not be addressed as is done in some cases by having some token African American cultural event.

                                                                        Sincerely Yours,

                                                                        Edward H. Sebesta

CC:

Office	Name	Address	Address
Mayor Pro Tem	Dwaine Caraway	Mayor and City Council	Dallas City Hall
Deputy Mayor Pro Tem	Adam Medrano	Mayor and City Council	Dallas City Hall
District 1 Council Member	Scott Griggs	Mayor and City Council	Dallas City Hall
District 3 Council Member	Casey Thomas II	Mayor and City Council	Dallas City Hall
District 5 Council Member	Rickey D. Callahan	Mayor and City Council	Dallas City Hall
District 6 Council Member	Omar Narvaez	Mayor and City Council	Dallas City Hall
District 7 Council Member	Kevin Felder	Mayor and City Council	Dallas City Hall
District 8 Council Member	Tennell Atkins	Mayor and City Council	Dallas City Hall
District 9 Council Member	Mark Clayton	Mayor and City Council	Dallas City Hall
District 10 Council Member	B. Adam McGough	Mayor and City Council	Dallas City Hall
District 11 Council Member	Lee Kleinman	Mayor and City Council	Dallas City Hall
District 12 Council Member	Sandy Greyson	Mayor and City Council	Dallas City Hall
District 13 Council Member	Jennifer Staubach Gates	Mayor and City Council	Dallas City Hall
District 14 Council Member	Philip T. Kingston	Mayor and City Council	Dallas City Hall

This is the account which I enclosed with the mailing.

Robert E. Lee Has His Slaves Whipped and Brine Poured Into the Wounds

The following account if from the book, “Slave Testimony: Two Centuries of Letters, Speeches, and Interviews, and Autobiographies,” edited by John W. Blassingame. It is published by Louisiana State University Press, Baton Rouge 70893.

[Page 467]

Newspaper and Magazine Interviews, 1864‑1938

WESLEY NORRIS

Interviewed, 1866(?), b. Virginia, Enslaved: Virginia

It has frequently been represented by the friends and admirers of Robert E. Lee, late an officer in the rebel army, that, although a slave­holder, his treatment of his chattels was invariably kind and humane. The subjoined statement, taken from the lips of one of his former slaves, indicates the real character of the man:

"My name is Wesley Norris; I was born a slave on the plantation of George Parke Custis; after the death of Mr. Custis, Gen. Lee, who had been made executor of the estate, assumed control of the slaves, in number about seventy; it was the general impression among the slaves of Mr. Custis that on his death they should be forever free; in fact this statement had been made to them by Mr. C. years before; at his death we were informed by Gen. Lee that by the conditions of the will we must remain slaves for five years; I remained with Gen. Lee for about seven­teen months, when my sister Mary, a cousin of ours, and I determined to run away, which we did in the year 1859; we had already reached Westminster, in Maryland, on our way to the North, when we were apprehended and thrown into prison, and Gen. Lee notified of our arrest; we remained in prison fifteen days, when we were sent back to Arlington; we were immediately taken before Gen. Lee, who demanded the reason why we ran away; we frankly told him that we considered ourselves free; he then told us he would teach us a lesson we never would forget; he then ordered us to the barn, where, in his presence, we were tied firmly to posts by a Mr. Gwin, our overseer, who was ordered by Gen. Lee to strip us to the waist and give us fifty lashes each, excepting my sister, who received but twenty; we were accordingly stripped to the skin by the overseer, who, however, had sufficient humanity to decline whipping us; accordingly Dick Williams, a county constable, was called in, who gave us the number of lashes ordered; Gen. Lee, in the meantime, stood by, and frequently enjoined Williams to 'lay it on well,' an injunction which he did not fail to heed; not satisfied with simply lacerating our naked flesh, Gen. Lee then ordered the overseer to thoroughly wash our backs with brine, which was done. After this my cousin and myself were sent to Hanover.

The torment of salt or brine in wounds.

Mr. Norris’ account though descriptive doesn’t really express what is was like to have salt or brine put in your open wounds. Being a victim he probably would not like to describe his own behavior. I am not exactly an expert on torture and its psychological impact on its victims.  The following historical record gives a very accurate description.

This is from page 147 in the book, “An Empire for Slavery: The Peculiar Institution in Texas, 1821-1865,” by Randolph B. Campbell, Louisiana State University Press, Baton Rouge, LA. It is an account of whipping by a white women remembering a childhood experience. The primary reference is Am. Slave, Supp., Ser. 2, IV, 1120-21, (Mollie Dawson). This book in the same section has the description of whippings and its use in slave life. The language is offensive and the event is ghastly. It is provided here so that the reader know the brutal reality of antebellum slave life.

“This white man was whipping him and the blood was all over this nigger and he was saying "o, master, o, master, I pray you not to hit me any more. Oh, Lordy, oh, Lordy, has mercy on me. Master, please has mercy on me, please has mercy." But this man wouldn't stop a minute and spits tobacco juice and cuss him and then starts in whip­ping him again. This nigger was jumping around on the ground all tied up, just like a chicken when you chops his head off when this man was whipping him and when the white folks would stop awhile this nigger would lay there and roll from side to side and beg for mercy.

I runs off a good piece when this white folks started whipping him and stopped and looks back at him, I was so scared that I just stood there and watched him till he quit. Then he tells some of the slaves to wash him off and put salt in the cut places and he stood there to watch them to see that they did. He was chewing his tobacco, spitting and cussing that nigger and when they gets him washed off and puts salt in the raw places he sure did scream and groan.

But when he groaned they just keeping putting the salt in to the wounds on his poor old beat up body.

The first thing that I know my father was patting me on the back and said, "Honey, you better run along home now," and I sure did and I didn't go back over there any more. That was the only slave I ever saw get a whipping.”