Forty Acres and a Mule

As slavery had just been ended, reparations were being handed out to all former slaves who had taken the time to apply for them, which was a topic largely unspoken about. The idea at the time was to gift each former slave with 40 acres of land and a mule to help plow the fields. 

Every single slave who had applied for such reparations was granted both the 40 acres and the mule. There wasn’t a single case in which an application wasn’t accepted, which begs the question: was this government aid not made public? Was there such little exposure about the aid those applicable could receive? Why didn’t more former slaves cash in?  

This aid would’ve greatly aided those former slaves trying to make something of their lives with their newfound freedom, especially as many of them had already had an abundance of skills which involved farming techniques and hard labor. One would easily think the ploy was to hide such reparations from the slaves to further ensnare them into the cycle of poverty which would ensue, but there truly was immediate reparations made by Uncle Sam. 

The issue of being uneducated was likely a very key factor. As if the former slaves didn’t possess the ability to read, how would they have even known there was assistance, even if it were advertised in a local paper or two?

Virgil Williams, a former slave, had had a different upbringing than most slaves, however. Mabel William, the daughter of the plantation owner, Abraham William, who had owned one of the largest plantations in all of the state of Mississippi, had befriended Virgil when he was very young, which played to a huge advantage he would have had once the Emancipation Proclamation had been ratified, and all slaves would become free men. 

While most slaves had never learned to read within the confines of slavery, good ‘ole Virgil had had many private lessons for Miss Mabel William, who was only a few years older than himself. When Virgil was first bought when he was 9-years-old, the 11-year-old Mabel had taken a keen interest with the newest slave.

Throughout the years leading up to all slaves’ freedom, Mabel had been tutoring Virgil in all the subjects she had been privy to during her schooling, which was rather expansive given the affluence of her father, as he wished for her to be one of the wisest women of her age. 

Abraham loved Mabel with his entire heart, and he wasn’t this horrid plantation owner either. He very rarely used lashing as a punishment, and some of the slaves were even given a room in the manner. For those who didn’t have a room in the manner, the slaves’ quarters were quite nice, though they weren’t nearly as luxurious as the houses within the main house.

In fact, most of his slaves never truly felt like slaves, as he refused to brand them like cattle, and he greatly appreciated their role within the wealth he’d accrued over the time. While Abraham didn’t explicitly tell Mabel to somewhat foster Virgil, he hadn’t had the slightest protest when he learned his daughter was teaching one of his slaves to read, write, and basic arithmetic.

Overall, the general idea was that the slaves were indeed property, but he treated all of them as if they were family. The overall sentiments about William Plantation were rather positive. And even the lowest ranking of the slaves had enjoyed great freedoms, as there had been many ways in which Abraham celebrated their good work, as he often allowed several slaves to go into town with a whole quarter to spend. The tradition occurred weekly, and the three of the hardest working slaves were taken— on a carriage— into the neighboring town of Vicksburg to perhaps buy a few candies or a new outfit.

The tradition inspired much compliance from all of the slaves, as it was positive reinforcement for jobs well done. While a good bit of the larger plantations had cruel practices, the William Plantation was perhaps one of the most virtuosic manners to have had ever been. There weren’t many— if any— plantations who could have said their slaves were treated better. 

It was a week before the 13th Amendment would abolish slavery for good. The day was November 30th, 1865. The Emancipation Proclamation had already been in effect for a full two years, but the truth was that the slaves of William Plantation truly didn’t wish to leave. Some of them yearned for perhaps a home to call their own— not in protest to the rather small private units within the slaves’ quarters, but rather simply to truly be their own person, to live and thrive on their own.

The truth was that Abraham had to force them out to freedom, but many of them were a bit apprehensive due to the overall horrid climate surrounding African Americans, especially in the south. They had been treated so well, they weren’t sure what awaited them would be any better. As far as slaves go; they ate fairly high on the hog, they were treated with respect, they weren’t overworked, and their quarters were fairly decent. 

Throughout most of their time within slavery, they’d heard poor, white sharecroppers were worse off than they were. To think, these slaves didn’t want to leave because they were treated better than poor white people. In which, very little would truly be given to the slaves as a parting gift; most of them truly would’ve started with nothing.

To add to the anxiety felt by many of the slaves to leave William Plantation, Abraham hadn’t heard of the reparations meant to give them a step up on a good life, so he was of no help to them in that way. Though he did give each slave who left five dollars, in which some of them had a better understanding of what that could buy in the free world, as some of them had been into town many times with a quarter. Though a quarter didn’t award anything truly magnificent, the fact Abraham allowed his slaves an opportunity to conduct themselves as their own entity was a huge reward for the slaves of William Plantation. 

“Please, Master Abraham, let me work for you!” Virgil pled on the days before slavery had been abolished.

“I can’t keep y’all, Dib,” Abraham said somewhat reluctantly, as he truly wished he had the funds to pay them all, to the 19-year-old Virgil, who had been nicknamed Dib within the quarters’ of the slaves. “I wish I could, but it’s simply not an option. I’m not the wealthiest of plantation owners; you know that. I just can’t afford to keep all of you and pay each of y’all, even if I only paid minimum wage. I know y’all don’t think of this, but it’s cost a lot simply to feed you all. I’ve made sure— as far as slaves go— y’all ate well.”

“T’was greatly appreciated as well,” Virgil offered, “but you already have the quarters built. Is there truly no way we can all stay?” Virgil posed. 

“I know these times are scary for negros,” Abraham admitted, “but the sharecroppers labor is even cheaper than y’all’s, as I don’t have to feed them nor house them. I’m sure you understand, my boy, but it’s a business decision to at least let most of y’all walk into freedom,” Abraham concluded.

Virgil hung his head in disappointment, “I understand, Master Abraham,” he said dejectedly.

“I’m not your master anymore, Dib,” Abraham patted him on the back, “but you’ve been one of the hardest workers, so perhaps you can keep your room in the manner in exchange for some help on the fields. I know these times are crazy, but Mabel especially seems to like you, so you’ll always be welcome, but you really must search for work elsewhere. Of that, I can help you!” 

“Thank you, Mr. William! You know I’d do anything to stay here. I was so scared when I landed here, but you have always treated me like a family member. I even think of Mabel as a sister a lot of times. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” Virgil said, almost jumping for joy, not even aware of the fact he could have 40 acres of his own land and a mule to go along with his freedom.

As the 13th Amendment was being pushed swiftly through the depths of the government, a few of Abraham’s former slaves had already left in order to test their luck, in which Abraham urged them to move north, as he had the thought negros would’ve been treated much better in the north, as it was a huge factor in which forced the nation to temporarily become two: the Confederacy and the Union. A lot of his former slaves listened to him. To speed up the process, he even parted ways with a carriage and a few horses as well. Abraham William was a good man, and it had become more and more evident. 

Those slaves who remained on William Plantation knew they wouldn’t be able to stay long, though Abraham had made matters very clear that should they need a place to sleep, the quarters would always be welcome to them. Some of the slaves even looked disappointed and dejected to be leaving, but the fact Abraham had to pay them a fair wage now meant he could only staff about 15 to 20 of them, which was only like a fifth of those more apprehensive about leaving, which made Abraham feel a bit disappointed in himself. He wished he could’ve done more.

While Abraham loved Virgil like a son, he had to see him walk as well, as he was surer Virgil’s ability to read, write and do basic arithmetic would aid him in finding work rather quickly. Abraham had even been honest with him in private, “the reason I didn’t select you to stay, Dib, is because I don’t think those I selected could make it on their own. It’s nothing personal,” Abraham told him as Dib readied the horse Abraham gifted him for the ride, in what may have had been their last encounter.

“I understand,” Virgil lightly smiled, “you’re a damn good man, Mr. Abraham! I wish it didn’t have to be this way, but you’ve always done well by us. I hope our paths cross again,” Virgil said as he climbed aboard the black and white horse, almost fitting the horse should be multicolored.

After Virgil had began his trek away from the William Plantation, Abraham shouted one last remark to Dib, “the road to freedom is likely north!” 

Virgil chuckled a bit to himself and waved his straw hat to the master he once had, as he was certain the hostility towards negros was likely less severe in the north. 

Virgil did indeed travel north as well, following the Northern Star so many runaways from wicked men had taken. The weather was agreeable as well, which made sleeping rather comfortable outside, though the air was a bit crisper than Virgil would’ve liked.

Under the stars, Virgil had devised a plan to venture a bit farther east, as he’d heard there was an abundance of good farming land there, which he thought would’ve yielded more job prospects, but he was unprepared for the overall hostility towards new negros in Virginia. On his way northeast, he had seen an add on the front page of a newspaper he acted interested in purchasing, he was met with a thud, “these papers ain’t for niggers!” The rude clerk had sworn. “You cain’t even read, can ya, boy?” 

Virgil didn’t want the situation to escalate, for he’d heard of some of the most egregious beatings and hangings in other parts of the world, even though that was hardly how the William’s slaves were treated. “No, sir,” Virgil calmed the man as he replied as the man snatched the paper from Virgil’s hands, as Virgil knew even greater hostility could’ve become of the moment if Virgil was an educated African American man, as many southerners had the thought negros couldn’t and shouldn’t be educated.

“Bugger off then, nigger,” the man sneered, “don’t want ya to frighten good, paying customers!”

“How much does a paper run nowadays?” Virgil asked as he began his trot farther north after having read of the “heinous” nature of the reparations the U.S. government had proposed for all former slaves. 

“More than you could afford, boy,” the man shooed him away swiftly in a foul swoop of blatant racism.

But the damage was already done, Virgil knew the good-hearted politicians had devised a way for former slaves to thrive. The only question became: what state would Virgil want his 40 acres of land to be?

As someone who had never left William Plantation after he’d arrived there, as when he received one of the spots to go to Vicksburg, he would often ask Master Abraham if he could select another to go so he could continue to study with Mabel. 

Virgil had very few material needs. All he truly cared about was having a good pair of britches that fit well and a cotton shirt. He hardly displayed avarice, but the idea of having land of his own truly appealed to him, and where else would he choose to go? The vacant lands near his former master were available, which brought Virgil a bit of joy as he may have the ability to pay Mr. Abraham and Mabel a visit from time to time; Virgil hated the idea of never seeing either of them again, so he rode straight back to Vicksburg to start his new life. A freed man, in both mind, body and spirit.