THE FIELD HAND
Jim’s character is a more well-known type of slavery since it was the most common role a slave would take. Since many of the people who owned, traded, and utilized slaves were large plantation owners, it was not uncommon that a majority of the slaves that were freed had the role of a field hand. The typical structure of a plantation in the cotton belt consisted of the gin house, bale house, smoke house, barns, minor outhouses, and the master’s home1. The schedule that most slaves would follow was rising early in the morning, getting to the fields near sunrise, and working for a few hours before having a breakfast1. After the short meal, they would continue the work assigned to them by the driver1. The work would conclude by the end of the afternoon, usually around 4 o’clock(1). After the long day, the slaves were allowed to do what they pleased, so long as the master approved.
Another aspect of Jim’s story that was an integral piece of a slave’s life was the religious influence provided by the master. Christianity was the most commonly taught to the slaves, but the masters were selective in their teachings(8). Many taught the slaves about obedience, but the slaves usually had more interests in the stories of slaves escaping, which were found in the book of Exodus(8) . Many slaves would cling to religion, and it would be their hope in their sorrowful life of servitude. |