My name is Giselle Johnson, I am a 87 years old african American and I been through a lot in my time. I live in Asheville, North Carolina. My purpose of my testimony is to let yous know about us slaves and what we went through as we were growing up. I began the title as a slave when I was aout four years old, my mother told me that I was a like a little mouse at that age because my first masters was a owner of a farm and that farm was so busy everyday and I was told to do everything to pick the corns to cleaning the house to even cook.
My first masters were some what evil, well thats how I like to put it. it was my mother, my younger brother and me. My brother was sold off to my masters friend. I didnt get a chance to say goodbye becasue the send him off while I was sleeping. When I awake that morning he was 10 miles away and my master wouldnt let me see him. My mother and I were hurt really bad, but we were not to slack off or show any feelings because my maters would whip us if we cryed or looked sad. My mom pasted away when I was about 13, my master came home late one night and my mom was up cleaning still he was so drunk he raped my mom, she fought as much as she could and punched and kiked until he knocked her out. That morning my mother can to were I was sleeping and told me to run as fast as I can. I havent known wat had happen but i did what my mother told me. we didnt get far my master cought up to us and 15 miles onto running and killed my mother in front of me. I was so hurt that i didnt do anything i was told to do so they would send me to the cellur and beat me so bad I could bearly stand on my own. After my mother and as i refused to do anything that all my masters would do is beat me, they decided to sell me.
I was sound to a Mr. and Mrs. Handerson. They were the most kind heart humanbeans i have every meet. They tought me how to read and speak fluetly. They treated me like if i was one of their kids. I was well respected at there home. I do what ever I was told. i would take care of the kids they had while they go on their monthly trips. I would go with them to church and was aloud to eat dinner with them as a family. I was with the Handersons for a good 16 years until they gave me my freedom. I would never 4 get the Handersons because they showed me so much and loved me and toke good care of me and with them I wasnt treated as a slave.
My first masters were some what evil, well thats how I like to put it. it was my mother, my younger brother and me. My brother was sold off to my masters friend. I didnt get a chance to say goodbye becasue the send him off while I was sleeping. When I awake that morning he was 10 miles away and my master wouldnt let me see him. My mother and I were hurt really bad, but we were not to slack off or show any feelings because my maters would whip us if we cryed or looked sad. My mom pasted away when I was about 13, my master came home late one night and my mom was up cleaning still he was so drunk he raped my mom, she fought as much as she could and punched and kiked until he knocked her out. That morning my mother can to were I was sleeping and told me to run as fast as I can. I havent known wat had happen but i did what my mother told me. we didnt get far my master cought up to us and 15 miles onto running and killed my mother in front of me. I was so hurt that i didnt do anything i was told to do so they would send me to the cellur and beat me so bad I could bearly stand on my own. After my mother and as i refused to do anything that all my masters would do is beat me, they decided to sell me.
I was sound to a Mr. and Mrs. Handerson. They were the most kind heart humanbeans i have every meet. They tought me how to read and speak fluetly. They treated me like if i was one of their kids. I was well respected at there home. I do what ever I was told. i would take care of the kids they had while they go on their monthly trips. I would go with them to church and was aloud to eat dinner with them as a family. I was with the Handersons for a good 16 years until they gave me my freedom. I would never 4 get the Handersons because they showed me so much and loved me and toke good care of me and with them I wasnt treated as a slave.
