Being an Autobiography of
KATE DRUMGOOLD.
BROOKLYN—NEW YORK.
1898
Once a slave girl, I have endeavored to fill the pages withsome of the most interesting thoughts that my mind is so fullof, and not with something that is dry.
This sketch is written for the good of those that havewritten and prayed that the slaves might be a freed people,and have schools and books and learn to read and write forthemselves; and the Lord, in His love for us and to us as arace, has ever found favor in His sight, for when we werein the land of bondage He heard the prayers of the faithfulones, and came to deliver them out of the Land of Egypt.
For God loves those that are oppressed, and will save themwhen they cry unto him, and when they put their trust inHim.
Some of the dear ones have gone to the better land, butthis is one of the answers to their prayers.
We, as the Negro Race, are a free people, and God bepraised for it. We as the Negro Race, need to feel proud ofthe race, and I for one do with all my heart and soul andmind, knowing as I do, for I have labored for the good ofthe race, that their children might be the bright and shininglights. And we can see the progress that we are making in aneducational way in a short time, and I think that we shouldfeel very grateful to God and those who are trying to help usforward. God bless such with their health, and heart full ofthat same love, that this world can not give nor taketh away.
There are many doors that are shut to keep us back as a[Pg 4]race, but some are opened to us, and God be praised for thosethat are opened to the race, and I hope that they will be trueto their trust and be of the greatest help to those that havegiven them a chance.
There are many that have lost their lives in the far Southin trying to get an education, but there are many that havedone well, and we feel like giving God all the praise.
I was born in Old Virginia, in or near the Valley, theother side of Petersburg, of slave parents, and I can just callto mind the time when the war began, for I was not troubledthen about wars, as I was feeling as free as any one couldfeel, for I was sought by all of the rich whites of theneighborhood, as they all loved me, as noble whites will lovea child, like I was in those days, and they would send for meif I should be at my play and have me to talk for them, andall of their friends learned to love me and send me presents,and I would stand and talk and preach for some time forthem.
My dear mother was sold at the beginning of the war,from all of her little ones, after the death of the lady that shebelonged to, and who was so kind to my dear mother and allof the rest of the negroes of the place; and she never likedthe idea of holding us as slaves, and she always said that wewere all that she had on the earth to love; and she did loveme to the last.
The money that my mother was sold for was to keep therich man from going to the field of battle, as he sent a poorwhite man in his stead, and should the war end in his favor,the poor white man should have given to him one negro, andthat would fully pay for all of his service in the army. Butmy God moves in a way unknown to men, and they cannever understand His ways, for He can plant His footsteps[Pg 5]on the North, the South, the East, the West, and outride anyman's ideas; and how wonderful are all of his ways. And ifwe, as a race, will only put our