Heah

Richard Toler, a former slave from Virginia, recounts his difficult life on the Tolah plantation. Despite enduring harsh conditions, including forced labor and minimal rights, he resisted punishment by running away. Toler shares his experience with racial violence and oppression, including witnessing the brutality of the Ku Klux Klan. After the Civil War, he moved to Cincinnati, where he worked as a blacksmith and embraced opportunities for education and family life. Now, he reflects on the joy of freedom and his love for music, expressing gratitude for his survival.