How+the+Negroes+Got+Their+Freedom



How the Negroes Got Their Freedom

In 'How the Negroes Got Their Freedom', John tells his master one day that he can predict the future. At first 'Ole Massa' doesn't pay any attention to him but when they get to another plantation 'Ole Massa' told the landlord that he has "a nigger dat kin tell fortunes." So the two men make an official bet, each betting his own plantation and then some. 'Ole Massa' bets that John can predict the fortune and the landlord bets that he cannot. The time comes for the bet to be settled and the landlord catches a raccoon and places it under a wash-pot. John circles the pot then finally says "Well, you got the old coon at last." The Massa thus wins the plantation and he and his wife leave to go on a trip. Jim decides to have a party and invited every Negro within 3 miles North, East, South and West. He then sees two dirty white folks come in and he thinks nothing of it. Those two white folks turn out to be 'Ole Massa' and 'Ole Miss' covered in dirt. Massa threatens to hand John but John has a friend sit high in the tree to strike a match every time during his last prayer he says the word 'lightning'. The 'Ole Massa' sees the match strike and runs away, thinking it to be lightning and John correct.

I believe this image is a proper illustration for that story because the part that stuck out in my mind was the party. John tells four Negroes to go 3 miles North, East, South, and West because he wants to celebrate his being correct. There is a passage in the text that says John is telling his guests to "Choose yo' partners." and "Couples to yo' places like horses to do traces." and I thought this image fit those words, but I ultimately wanted to capture the glee and happiness in such a story and have that be the key note instead of the oppression and hardships of the times.

By Kristin Jensen (kjen3)

[|Chapter 5 - How the Negroes Got Their Freedom]

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