Slavery- Amanda McCray

Amanda McCray was born and trained as a house servant on the Pamell Plantation in Florida, she enjoyed making dresses for her mistress and was taught everything by her blind mother who had also spent the majority of her adult life at the plantation. Although her mother was blind, she was determined not to let this disability affect her work, passing down her knowledge to the younger generations, this goes to show the resilience and determination of many of the slaves in America at this time, that they would not let anything interfere with doing their job.

When recalling her time at the plantation, she speaks of it fondly, saying that although her owner had over one hundred slaves, he treated them fairly and kindly, a situation that would not have been common among the majority of slave owning plantations. Unlike some plantations where children would be put to work as soon as they could walk, children at this plantation led a "carefree existence" until aged 13 when they were given light chores. Some children at Pamell were even given a small amount of education, although many, like Amanda, never knew their exact age. At this particular plantation, children led a fairly normal childhood and were even given small gifts from their owners at Christmas.

Slaves at Pamell were also given access to a black minister, allowing them to exercise their right to free religion. During services they would often pray for the slaves who were treated badly by their owners. Clearly the slaves at Pamell knew that they were in a good position and were grateful for what they had, some may have even felt guilty because they had a good life at the plantation, while others had to endure beatings and threats.

Very few slaves chose to leave the Pamell Plantation because Mr Pamell had been so good to them and promised those who stayed housing grants. Many of them would have been unsure of what life outside of the plantation might have been like and were happy to stay at Pamell where it was familiar.

Amanda "seems happiest talking about the past that was a bit kinder to her". This is showing us that life for slaves wasn't entirely bad, especially for those at plantations like Pamell. Some slaves, like Amanda were treated very well, were cared for by the owners. They were not beaten and were free to learn and practice religion. However, this was not the norm, and most slaves at plantations would not describe their time there as the happiest time of their lives.