Fifty Years in Chains

Informal Economies and Masculine Hierarchies in Slave Communities of the US South, 1800–65

“…When he was made a driver in Georgia he admitted that 'the men left under my charge did not consider me a very lenient overseer', but he essentially denigrated their complaints by noting that this simply reflected his own propensity for hard work: 'I in truth compelled them to work very hard, as I did myself'. 57 Ball frequently described how he was willing to help those he felt deserving, but at times he offered more barbed observations of men in the community, whose economic failings served to highlight his sacrifice and skills. While in South Carolina, Ball emphasised his economic success by noting: 'all the people on the plantation did not live as well as our family did, for many of the men did not understand trapping game, and others were too indolent to go far enough from home to find good places for setting their traps'.…”

“…While in South Carolina, Ball emphasised his economic success by noting: 'all the people on the plantation did not live as well as our family did, for many of the men did not understand trapping game, and others were too indolent to go far enough from home to find good places for setting their traps'. 58 The sense that men should be held responsible for familial provision was clear, but so too is an implicit sense of hierarchy in which Ball felt his efforts marked him above other men. Furthermore, while some were apparently less talented than Ball, his highest level of disdain appeared to be reserved for those who were 'indolent'.…”

“…Furthermore, what appeared to inspire more anger in Ball was that this failure of masculine duty was not caused by the horrors of slavery, but, according to Ball, at least, was due to the 'lazy indignity' of this man. 59 During this time Ball lived with another family and helped contribute to this domestic economy. Yet despite initially applauding the father's efforts, Ball appeared to suggest that his additions to this family's sustenance were more significant.…”

“…While these efforts had offered the family some benefits, Ball highlighted the significance of his contributions by direct comparison to the father's previous work: 'After I came among them and had acquired some knowledge of the surrounding country, I made as many baskets and mats as he did, and took time to go twice a week to look at all my traps'. 60 While the father had attempted to provide for his family, Ball's emphasis on the comparative laziness of this man, as well as the gendered contrast of hunting with domestic labour, suggests that masculine identities forged in work could be consolidated in comparison. 61 The emphasis of some former slaves and abolitionists on personal characteristics as key to enslaved men's success may have been a challenge to conventional myths about black male laziness.…”