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In August of 1865, a Colonel P.H. Anderson of Big Spring, Tennessee, wrote to his former slave, Jourdan Anderson, and requested that he come back to work on his farm. Jourdan — who, since being emancipated, had moved to Ohio, found paid work, and was now supporting his family — responded spectacularly by way of the letter seen below (a letter which, according to newspapers at the time, he dictated).
Fascinating. I have read a ton of ex-Slave letters, diaries and accounts. This one is near the top of those for sarcasm. I didn't recognize it until Jourdon asked for back wages. I would love to find out more of the back story. He noted he got his free papers in Nashville in 1864... I wll research to see if I can find out more about our friend, Jourdon Anderson...
Great website, thanks for sharing. I agree that it was a very well written piece of sarcasm, but you can just sense the hope for the future by way of education for his children.
This letter was "dictated" to the New York Daily News. Although the slave and his family were real, the NYDN was an abolitionist newspaper run by Horace Greeley and had a reformist agenda which included temperance and women's rights. The letter was not written by the slave himself (his case was probably used by some reporter) and should be interpreted with the slant and embellishment of the newspaper in mind.
This letter was "dictated" to the New York Daily News. Although the slave and his family were real, the NYDN was an abolitionist newspaper run by Horace Greeley and had a reformist agenda which included temperance and women's rights. The letter was not written by the slave himself (his case was probably used by some reporter) and should be interpreted with the slant and embellishment of the newspaper in mind.
Agreed that this was a very good point. I didn't look too deeply other then the fact the letter was dictated. If people think journalists play loose with the truth and over embellish today, the practices back then would shock you. My guess is exactly what you said, the paper lent a bit of "creativity" to an otherwise common story to further their agenda.
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