A MOTHER IS SOLD AWAY FROM HER CHILDREN, a touching story about love lost

in the face of despair. Eliza, a slave, was owned by Elisha Berry, who became struck by desire

and fell in love with this timeless beauty. A relationship ensued, much to the chagrin of Berry’s

wife and daughter. Berry went as far as moving out of his family home, having a residence built

for him, Eliza, and their children on the same plantation, enraging his family. For the span of 9

years, Berry treated Eliza like a queen– highly abnormal for slave girls. The wife’s son-in-law

duped Eliza into going to town where “her free papers were to be executed”, when in reality they

were putting her and her children up for sale (Northrup 1853). They were splitting up the family,

rendering Eliza helpless in effort. As a mother, the idea of my children literally ripped away from

me to never be heard from again, is intolerable and inhumane, yet for centuries these families

had to endure this treatment on a daily basis. It is on the backs of Eliza and others in the struggle,

that today black women can stand with courage and honor and be proud women, mothers, and

wives.

BILL OF SALE OF ABRAHAM VAN VLEEK, a self-explanatory document indicative of

the value that black life held in those times. It was a receipt of purchase for Van Vleek that

included the likes of “1 Faning Mill, 1 Red face Cow, 1 Yearling Calf, 1 Wench Nam. Eve &

Child…” (Slavery Manuscript). I was astounded by the lack of empathy and compassion felt for

these humans based on the color of their skin. These people were considered no more than mere

items, but they too had feelings, wants and needs that, unfortunately, held little significance in

the times they were living.

THE WAY WOMEN ARE TREATED was a soul stirring, devaluating historical account of

the “little indulgence” given black women during pregnancy (Caulkins 1839). For a few weeks

before and after childbirth, these women were given reprieve from working the fields.
Thereafter, they were forced to charge other children–some as young as four–to care for the

newborn. If not, they would “lay it under a tree or by the side of the fence…returning at stated

intervals to nurse” (Caulkins 1839). One of the most abhorrent shows of indecency regarding life

processes.
 Works Cited

Caulkins, Nehemiah. “The Way Women are Treated.” Black women in white America: a

documentary history, edited by Gerda Lerner, New York, Pantheon Books, 1972, p. 47.

Northup, Solomon. “A Mother is Sold Away from Her Children.” Black women in white

America: a documentary history, edited by Gerda Lerner, New York, Pantheon Books,

1972, pp.10-12.

Slavery Manuscript. “Bill of Sate of Abraham Van Vleek.” Black women in white America: a

documentary history, edited by Gerda Lerner, New York, Pantheon Books, 1972, p. 7.