Journal entry# 22 Booker T. Washington

Siu Faat Jimmy Wong
English 48b
February 8, 2008
Professor Lankford

Quote:

Some of the slaves would even beg for the privilege of sitting up at night to nurse their wounded slaves… He felt that he could not enjoy his freedom till he had fulfilled his promise.

Summary:

The slaves would take care of their masters when they were injured.

Response:

Undoubtedly, most of the people might think that the relationship between the slaves and the masters must be very bad. However, this quote showed me that what I thought was not always true. In the story, the slave actually concerned about their masters. After they got hurt, the slaves were willing to nurse them. The slaves were really sweet. Moreover, Washington also tells that the slaves even gave money to their masters when they were suffering in a financial problem. I don’t think many people nowadays will do something like this. If the bosses or employees are having troubles, many employers will just probably quit the job and go to work for other better ones. The relationships similar to the slaves and the masters are really hard to be found in today’s world.

Furthermore, after reading this part of the book, I really feel sorry to the slaves. I think that they should not be treated so badly. Actually they have no difference with normal human beings. The last part of the quote also impressed me. After the slave was freed by the Emancipation Proclamation, he still went back to his former master and returned his money. The slaves understood that their low social statuses do not harm their personality. They still could have a very good personality. Therefore, in the story, the slave would go to fulfill his promise after he was freed. Otherwise, he still owed someone for the money which meant he was still not totally free.