Slave Narrative of Berry Smith
Berry Smith, a centenarian born into slavery in Alabama, recounts his life as a house servant and laborer across several plantations in Mississippi. He shares memories of both hardships and small joys, detailing his experiences with overseers, family, and community, alongside moments of play and resistance against oppression. After the Civil War, Smith navigated freedom while working various jobs, including cooking for soldiers. Now living independently, he reflects on a lifetime of labor, the changing dynamics of youth today, and his hope for a peaceful afterlife.