Interviewer: Mrs. Bernice Bowden
Person interviewed: Willie Wallace
40th and Georgia Streets, Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Age: 80


"I was born in Green County, Alabama. Elihu Steele was my old master.
Miss Julia was old missis. She was Elihu's wife. Her mother's name was
Penny Hatter. Miss Penny give my mother to her daughter Julia.

"I was a twin and they choosed us for the cook and washer and ironer,
but surrender come along 'fore we got big enough to do anything.

"My father was crippled and couldn't work in the field, and I remember
he used to carry the children out to the field to be suckled.

"They had a right smart of slaves. My mother had twelve children and I'm
the baby.

"I remember they'd make up a big pot of corn bread and pot-liquor and
they'd say, 'Eat, chillun, eat.'

"I remember one time the white folks had some stock tied out, and I know
my sister's little boy didn't know no better and he showed the Yankees
where they was.