Chart for Singleton

CULTURAL BACKGROUND


“…having been born August 10, 1835, at Newbern, North Carolina…”

“My mother was a colored woman but my father was the brother of my master. I did not learn this until some years later. It caused me much trouble.”

Did not know his father.

“The plantation owners considered any one who did not own a good deal of property and slaves poor.”

Even people who were not African American were slaves if they did not live up to social standards.

“On January 1, 1863, he signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which made me and all the rest of my race free. We could not be bought and sold any more or whipped or made to work without pay. We were not to be treated as things without souls any more, but as human beings.”


SOCIAL EXPERIENCES


“Such breaking up of families and parting of children from their parents was quite common in slavery days and was one of the things that caused much bitterness among the slaves and much suffering, because the slaves were as fond of their children as the white folks.”

Separated from his mother.

“But he did not buy me to keep me on the plantation, he bought me to send me to Jones County, North Carolina, to his folks.”

Bought and sold many times.

“They called me the "Don't know" boy. But they gave me three dollars a week and my food. I was then about ten years old.”

Was nicknamed from his answers.

VALUES


“I was ordained a deacon and later I was ordained a local elder.”

Was a religious man.

"Old things are passed away: behold, all things are become new."

He believes that he can forgive.

“I have the respect and the good wishes of the community.”

Respects others