That is a great book. I've read it twice now. I was recently in my hometown for the holidays and Dollar Tree had all these books by African American authors for sale. I purchased 8 books. I just finished reading Passion by T.T. Henderson. It was good for only $1.00.
“We have this idea that love is supposed to last forever. But love isn’t like that. It’s a free-flowing energy that comes and goes when it pleases. Sometimes it stays for life; other times it stays for a second, a day, a month, or a year. So don’t fear love when it comes simply because it makes you vulnerable. But don’t be surprised when it leaves, either. Just be glad you had the opportunity to experience it”
—
Neil Strauss
.."You want to know what they did in slavery times. They were doing what they do now. The white folks was beating the n/word, burn in 'em, working 'em and boilin 'em and doin any other thing they wanted to do with them.." (Alice Johnson, Library of Congress).
..."My master used to throw me in a buck and whip me. He would put my hands together and tie them. Then he would strip me naked. then would make me squat down. Then he would run a stick through behind my knees and in front of m elbows. my knee was up against my chest. my hands was tied together in front of my shins. the stick between my arms and my knees held me in a squat. that's what they call a buck.
You couldn't stand up and you couldn't get out. You couldn't do nothing but just squat there and take what he put on. You couldn't do nothing, couldn't move no way at all. Just try to.
You just fall over on one side and have to stay there till you were turned over by him.
He would whip me on one side till that was sore and full of blood and the he would whip me on the other side till that was all tore up. I got a scar big as the place my ol' mistress hit me.
She took a bull whip once. The bull whip had a piece of iron in the handle of it__and she got mad. She was so mad. She took the whip and hit me over the head with the butt end of it and the blood flew. It ran all down my back and dripped off my heels. (Ella Wilson, Library of Congress).