MetaChat - A letter written in 1865

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30 January 2012

A letter written in 1865 from a former slave to his old master, who had contacted him and asked if he'd be interested in coming back to work for him.

post by: BoringPostcards at: 21:31 | 19 comments

Absolutely wonderful.

posted by Specklet 30 January | 22:14

What a great response.

posted by deborah 30 January | 22:15

I love it.

posted by occhiblu 30 January | 22:43

This was posted on MeFi.

posted by Orange Swan 30 January | 23:48

Extraordinary. Thanks you so much for posting this.

posted by MonkeyButter 31 January | 00:32

Sweet Buttery Jesus that's a fine letter!

posted by arse_hat 31 January | 02:18

I LOVE YOU ORIGINAL SOURCE DOCUMENTS I KISS YOU ON THE MOUTH

posted by The Whelk 31 January | 02:34

Wow, that was amazing, particularly where he asked for his back wages as a sign of good faith.

posted by Senyar 31 January | 08:40

I hope that he had a long and happy post-emancipation life.

posted by danf 31 January | 09:22

I am in awe. Just in awe!

posted by halonine 31 January | 11:39

That's Awesome

posted by rollick 31 January | 12:33

Fantastic. I wonder if he ever went back. My guess is he never got his back wages, though. Still, an incredibly graceful and eloquent way to respond to an almost farcical request.

posted by dg 31 January | 17:15

Brilliant. Jonathan Swift would have been proud.

Imagine the chutzpah of that colonel.

posted by Pips 31 January | 18:25

The literacy in it is what stood out to me; yet he and his family were still slaves.

Not the same, but it reminded me of too many employers today.

posted by buzzman 31 January | 18:25

(dg, you do realize it was satire, right? And at its finest -- Mr. Anderson, of course, never had any intentions of returning, anymore than Swift really intended anyone eat children)

I just noticed he did still have his former master's last name -- common practice, I realize, but I wonder if they were related.

posted by Pips 31 January | 18:36

Yes, I did realise that (my comment clearly doesn't reflect that, though). Still a graceful way to respond, given the first inclination would most likely be simply "Fuck Off you nigger-hating bastard".

posted by dg 31 January | 19:05

True enough. (I shouldn't have doubted ; )

posted by Pips 31 January | 19:13

All good - on re-reading my comment, I certainly gave the wrong impression.

posted by dg 31 January | 19:59

The literacy in it is what stood out to me; yet he and his family were still slaves.

The notes are that the letter was dictated, but the oral fluidity doesn't surprise me in the least - if you ever hang around in the South, particularly listening to a lot of sermons, you will get some kickin' language abilities.

posted by Miko 02 February | 00:59

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