Slave Cabins

Growing Up a Slave

From the earliest age, children were trained to do their parents' work. They were terrified of the punishment their parents endured. Parents taught their enslaved children strict obedience so they could survive. And yet, like children today, they still found time to play.

To a cabin in woodland drear

You've come a mammy's heart to cheer,

In this ole slave cabin,

You heart strings grabbin,

Jes lay your head upon my bres,

An snuggle close an res an res,

My little colored chile.

Yo daddy ploughs the ole massa's corn,

Yo mammy does the cooking,

She'll give dinner to a hungry chile

When nobody is a lookin'

Don't be ashamed my chile, I beg,