Program Information

During the Civil War, a South Carolina slave father rejected a Union officer’s promise of freedom, later saying “[I] would not leave my family.” Before the war, not many were given that choice.

A Moment in Time is a brief, exciting and compelling journey into the past. Created to excite and enlighten the public about the past, its relevance to the present and its impact on the future, A Moment In Time is a captivating historical narrative that is currently broadcast worldwide.

Transcript

Lead: During the Civil War, a South Carolina slave father rejected a Union officer’s promise of freedom, later saying “[I] would not leave my family.” Before the war, not many were given that choice.

Intro.: A Moment in Time with Dan Roberts.

Content: The break-up of man and wife, parent and child began in slavery in Africa and continued in the Americas. Once relocated to plantations and farms, many of the slaves tried to create family units to meet emotional, economic, and security needs. Many owners eventually realized that slave family life helped improve stability for their property. It was not easy for the slaves. It was hard to find eligible partners on the same plantation or farms, especially smaller ones. To marry someone from another plantation, called marrying ”off” or marrying “abroad,” the slaves had to obtain permission from their owners. Unfortunately, they and later their children couldn’t meet on a daily basis. Better off were slaves who married on the “home” plantation. They could operate as a family unit. After that the strategy was to appear as effective, united, efficient and compliant, to stave off the biggest threat—sale.

Even as, in the later years of American slavery, when opposition to slavery became more vociferous, aggressive owners continued to break up families, mainly through sales. Some owners dismissed their personal qualms by explaining that slaves were a different class of human who really didn’t experience emotions as intensely. On the other hand, some owners did experience regret: Thomas Chaplin of Beaufort, South Carolina, wrote ashamedly in his journal of his need “to separate families, mothers and daughters, brothers and sisters—all to pay for your extravagance.” Whether he meant that as a criticism of his own extravagance or a loved one’s, the sale proceeded anyway to satisfy his $2,500 debt. Next time: The pain of selling south.

At the University of Richmond, this is Dan Roberts.

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