A Freedman Writes His Former Master
May 20, 2023 9:04 AM Subscribe
Jourdon Anderson, a formerly enslaved person, responds to a request from his former master to return to work for him.
This letter reminds me of one of the best podcasts I've listened to, The Civil War and Reconstruction Era, a Yale lecture course that's free as a podcast.
posted by little onion at 9:19 AM on May 20, 2023 [14 favorites]
posted by little onion at 9:19 AM on May 20, 2023 [14 favorites]
P.S.— Say howdy to George Carter, and thank him for taking the pistol from you when you were shooting at me.
Citation is to The Civil War and Reconstruction: A Documentary Collection and this letter was included in The Freedmen's Book (as noted in the previously).
Reconstruction should really get more coverage in US history courses. For civics reasons, and also just interesting times reasons.
posted by the primroses were over at 9:20 AM on May 20, 2023 [17 favorites]
Citation is to The Civil War and Reconstruction: A Documentary Collection and this letter was included in The Freedmen's Book (as noted in the previously).
Reconstruction should really get more coverage in US history courses. For civics reasons, and also just interesting times reasons.
posted by the primroses were over at 9:20 AM on May 20, 2023 [17 favorites]
Wow - talk about some serious and well deserved shade. I wonder if the guy ever responded. Feel 100% confident he didn't send any back wages.
posted by leslies at 9:24 AM on May 20, 2023 [8 favorites]
posted by leslies at 9:24 AM on May 20, 2023 [8 favorites]
If you fail to pay us for faithful labors in the past, we can have little faith in your promises in the future.
Oh indeed, indeed.
This should be posted in the hallway of every high school in America next to all those patriotic pablums.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 9:34 AM on May 20, 2023 [51 favorites]
Oh indeed, indeed.
This should be posted in the hallway of every high school in America next to all those patriotic pablums.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 9:34 AM on May 20, 2023 [51 favorites]
>Surely there will be a day of reckoning for those who defraud the laborer of his hire.
You'd like to think.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 9:40 AM on May 20, 2023 [25 favorites]
You'd like to think.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 9:40 AM on May 20, 2023 [25 favorites]
Here's a 2012 article from the Salt Lake Tribune on some of the backstory of the letter.
Incredibly:
Incredibly:
In a 2006 speech at a conference on slavery reparations, historian Raymond Winbush retold the story of Anderson's letter. He also revealed that he had tracked down some of Patrick Henry Anderson's descendants, still living in Big Spring.posted by Reverend John at 10:52 AM on May 20, 2023 [51 favorites]
"What's amazing is that the current living relatives of Col. Anderson are still angry at Jordan for not coming back," knowing that the plantation was in serious disrepair after the war, said Winbush, director of the Institute for Urban Research at Maryland's Morgan State University.
Folks up here call her Mrs Anderson.
Omnomnom. Delish.
posted by Iteki at 11:44 AM on May 20, 2023 [9 favorites]
Omnomnom. Delish.
posted by Iteki at 11:44 AM on May 20, 2023 [9 favorites]
This letter is a thing of BEAUTY: gracious, discerning, and burning with a self-respect hotter than the heart of the sun.
leslies, my mind went immediately to Junior LaBeija: we’re not going to be shady - just FIERCE
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 11:47 AM on May 20, 2023 [10 favorites]
leslies, my mind went immediately to Junior LaBeija: we’re not going to be shady - just FIERCE
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 11:47 AM on May 20, 2023 [10 favorites]
This letter is the perfect summation of “forgive, but don’t forget.”
posted by azpenguin at 12:18 PM on May 20, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by azpenguin at 12:18 PM on May 20, 2023 [4 favorites]
This is amazing. I'm happy that this letter survived. What a human being, Mr Anderson.
Thanks for the post.
posted by SoberHighland at 3:42 PM on May 20, 2023
Thanks for the post.
posted by SoberHighland at 3:42 PM on May 20, 2023
A polite and dignified raised middle finger...
posted by jim in austin at 4:26 PM on May 20, 2023 [8 favorites]
posted by jim in austin at 4:26 PM on May 20, 2023 [8 favorites]
I teach Ethnic Studies in high school. Every year, we read Frederick Douglass' "What to the Slave is the 4th of July", Solomon Northup Visits a Slave Market, and Mary Polk-Branch Remembers Plantation Life. This one will be a nice addition to the other three.
(And, for those who are interested, the American Yawp Reader has some fabulous stuff.)
posted by dfm500 at 5:25 PM on May 20, 2023 [13 favorites]
(And, for those who are interested, the American Yawp Reader has some fabulous stuff.)
posted by dfm500 at 5:25 PM on May 20, 2023 [13 favorites]
Colonel P. H. Anderson
Big Spring, Tennessee
Dear Colonel Anderson,
Attached is a letter that I received on August 3, 1865. I feel that you should be aware that some asshole is signing your name to stupid letters.
Very truly yours,
Jourdon Anderson
posted by kirkaracha at 5:32 PM on May 20, 2023 [33 favorites]
Big Spring, Tennessee
Dear Colonel Anderson,
Attached is a letter that I received on August 3, 1865. I feel that you should be aware that some asshole is signing your name to stupid letters.
Very truly yours,
Jourdon Anderson
posted by kirkaracha at 5:32 PM on May 20, 2023 [33 favorites]
I like to go back and read this every now and again because it's just the most eloquent, polite "...and the horse you rode in on, sunshine" that I've ever seen.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 3:07 AM on May 22, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 3:07 AM on May 22, 2023 [2 favorites]
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I think I must have remembered it from the 2010 post. But I'm glad to read it again! It's just a barn-burner of a letter. It takes my breath away every time I read it.
posted by heyitsgogi at 9:12 AM on May 20, 2023 [13 favorites]