as the great day drew nearer, there was more singing in the slave quarters than usual. It was bolder, had more ring, and lasted later into he night. Most of the verses of the plantation songs had some reference to freedom. Some man who seemed to be a stranger (a United The long paper the officer read aloud was most likely- tates officer, I presume) made a little speech and then read a rather long paper nd could go when and where we pleased. My mother, who was standing by my side, leaned over and kissed her children, while tears of joy After the reading we were told that we were all free, the Gettysburg Address an down her cheeks. She explained to us what it all meant, that this was the day for which she had been so long praying, but fearing that he would never live to see. the Secession Act of South Carolina --Booker T. Washington, Up from Slavery: An Autobiography, 1901 the first Thanksgiving Proclamation the Emancipation Proclamation O O o O o o

as the great day drew nearer, there was more singing in the slave quarters than usual. It was bolder, had more ring, and lasted later into he night. Most of the verses of the plantation songs had some reference to freedom. Some man who seemed to be a stranger (a United The long paper the officer read aloud was most likely- tates officer, I presume) made a little speech and then read a rather long paper nd could go when and where we pleased. My mother, who was standing by my side, leaned over and kissed her children, while tears of joy After the reading we were told that we were all free, the Gettysburg Address an down her cheeks. She explained to us what it all meant, that this was the day for which she had been so long praying, but fearing that he would never live to see. the Secession Act of South Carolina --Booker T. Washington, Up from Slavery: An Autobiography, 1901 the first Thanksgiving Proclamation the Emancipation Proclamation O O o O o o