The Wedding
Storyboard Description
Catherine and Sam lived on the plantation for their entire lives. They don't know anything other than life on the plantation - frequent beatings, being on a specific, rigid schedule, always doing what they were told, and always expecting the worst from their master. However, the two of them were always closest with each other... When things between them get serious, they fear what will happen when their master finds out. But they are in for a surprise
Storyboard Text
- The Wedding
- The year was 1815. Slavery was at an all time high. Plantation life was incredibly strict, and slaves would get punished daily. Being at the forefront of the beatings were bad, but witnessing them were just as scarring. There were many things that slaves could not do.
- Slaves couldn't learn to read or write. They were not allowed to leave what they were doing unless they were called for by their slave master. They were punished if they did their chores wrong. They were punished if they tried to run away. It felt like they were always being punished.
- They only knew work on the plantation. They only knew work. But there were 2 slaves who were more curious than the others; Sam and Catherine. The two of them had always felt a special connection, and grew close over the many years they lived and worked together. They became engaged and although excited, the two of them had no idea what a wedding would entail.
- They had heard stories from other slaves - In some instances the lovers were encouraged to get married by their masters. They felt that the slaves would be less likely to run away if they had something to lose. In other instances, the couple wasn't always so lucky. Sam and Catherine worried over this immensely, and they knew they had to tell their master.
- Although they feared the worst, Sam and Catherine told their masters. Much to their surprise, their master encouraged this marriage. His wife was apprehensive, but the master already gave them his go-ahead. But something still bothered them... they couldn't understand why they were allowing this!
- The masters wife couldn't understand why her husband was so excited for the marriage. After all, slaves weren't supposed to enjoy themselves. "Don't you see!" he said. "If they are married, they have something to lose! They'll be less likely to run away now! We're practically guaranteed these 2 slaves, and all their children!" After some time, she was finally convinced and they went about with planning the wedding.
- But something didn't seem right about this marriage. Typically, the usual slave marriage was not legally binding. This was because a marriage never meant anything to the masters. It would be officiated by the couple jumping the broom. This signified the couples entrance into domestic life and was a sign as to what awaited slaves specifically. The slaves who were "married" would still be sold and separated, so the word meant nothing. Once the couple were "married" child bearing would begin, and this was the reason many marriages were encouraged by the masters - they were getting more slaves out of the deal.
- MATRIMONY?
- Despite their doubts, Sam and Catherine were married in the slaves quarters. Their masters made them jump the broom, but they somehow managed to convince the young couple that this was a tradition that meant they were jumping over hurdles and into new beginnings.
- Time went on, and Catherine became pregnant. But her and Sam had been fearing this their entire marriage. Having a child meant that child being sold, all so their master could make more money. There was no way to avoid their worst nightmare.
- And so was their fate. They gave birth to a son, Nathan, but that child was soon sold. They were only able to truly have the child for 2 months before he was ripped away.
- To be continued...
- The couple was distraught. They knew they couldn't stay on the plantation - their was too much sadness and grief and hurt. So they did the only thing they could think of - they ran away. They knew the consequences of what would be if they were caught. But they okay with what they knew would happen. They decided that anything was better than living without their precious child. As long as they were together, they would make it through.
Image Attributions
- Golden_Dollar_Sign - bsperan - (License Attribution )
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