“There Was Never Any Pay-day For the Negroes”

Excellent stuff:

Dayton, Ohio, August 7, 1865: A letter from a freed slave to his former master, in response to the latter’s request that he return to the homestead.

The whole thing is brilliantly written and laden with a certain grim wit, but the post script just seals it:

“Say howdy to George Carter, and thank him for taking the pistol from you when you were shooting at me.”

Read it at History Mattershere.

via 3QD

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