Rising. Jane Beal

said I had to marry, marry Thomas, for Thomas

      was Dumont’s slave. Dumont saw I could

      have babies and still work, and me and my babies

      were strong. He wanted ’em for himself and his farm,

      so that’s how it happened. I married Thomas,

      and we had five children, all belonging to the man

      who called himself Master—that’s what he thought was.

      But the first with my new husband, my baby boy Thomas,

      he died, right in my arms, the day he was born.

      Glory, glory, hallelujah!

      The truth is marching on!

      Finding Freedom

      But Peter, Elizabeth, and Sophia, they lived.

      My last three babies lived in those days when

      the State of New York, they were going to emancipate

      us all, and we’d be free. Well, freedom looks different

      from my side, yes, it sure does. Dumont said

      he would set me free a year before the day,

      but he changed his mind, yes, he sure did, claiming

      my injured hand stopped me from doing all

      the work I should. All the work I should!

      I spun him 100 pounds of wool and walked off.

      All the work I should, please. I didn’t run! I walked

      because I knew I was free. He promised, and I was free.