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Then one day along come a Friday and that a unlucky star…

“Then one day along come a Friday and that a unlucky star day and I playin' round de house and marster Williams come up and say, "Delis, will you 'low Jim walk down the street with me?" My mammy say, "All right, Jim, you be a good boy," and dat de las' time I ever heard her speak, or ever see her…” quote by James Green
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“Then one day along come a Friday and that a unlucky star day and I playin' round de house and marster Williams come up and say, "Delis, will you 'low Jim walk down the street with me?" My mammy say, "All right, Jim, you be a good boy," and dat de las' time I ever heard her speak, or ever see her. We walks down whar de houses grows close together and pretty soon comes to de slave market. I ain't seed it 'fore, but when marster Williams says, "Git up on de block," I got a funny feelin', and I knows what has happened.”

James Green

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A storyteller recounts a tense encounter with a slave trader, hinting at impending danger and a sense of foreboding.

In simple terms: A tale of fear and looming threat during a slave market visit.

Key Takeaway

Recognize warning signs and act cautiously.

Themes

history slavery danger

Mood

somber thoughtful

Type

historical educational

When to use this quote

  • historical education
  • cultural preservation
  • social justice advocacy

Key Concepts

oral tradition African American folklore power dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does this story reveal about resistance?
  • How can we honor such narratives today?
A Different Perspective

Historical context may be incomplete.

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