Reconstruction after civil war Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Reconstruction after civil war - Essay Example Had I known of the treacherous journey that laid in wait for me, maybe I would have reconsidered my decision to move south? However, I thank God since I arrived here in one piece. The period of the reconstruction was a nightmare to many slaves like me. Working on the large cotton and corn farms was as horrific as the death itself. The mere mentioning of dawn in the life of a slave during these times was itself treacherous as the southern journey. The sucking mincing whip of the master frightened even the sickest worker; mild fevers miraculously disappeared, and we immediately got meticulous in our work. The messengers from the south came in the good news, news of mild freedom, a brighter future and a promising life. None of us wanted to remain and so the civil wars presented just the best moment for our repatriation. We made almost the entire journey on foot save for a few instances when we used the train or climbed on donkeys backs, wait! It was in turns. None of us had a donkey to himself. The younger ones were given the first consideration. The sick, the old and weaklings got the second opportunity to ride with the donkeys and then women. What was to unfold for men like me? For sure the thorns of the desert, the scorching sun of the desert, the cold of Mississippi were just but a few woes to recount. At one instance, I was privileged to ride on one of the few donkeys we had, and this marked the last time I ever removed my feet from the ground. Even though much of the journey could have been made by train, the opportunity presented itself just for a few miles and the old train stalled on the rails, never to move again. We waited eagerly at the train station for a week not to catch a glimpse of any help. All this time we hid ourselves in the bushes. Like animals, our bodies gave rise of hairs a nd our beards grew long to cover our faces. A month passed by as we gathered enough food to cater for the remaining part of the