Prep Note 10/2

I was struck by the horrible conditions that were casually created for enslaved people to live in, especially Lumpkin’s Jail (the infamous “Devil’s Half Acre”). I can’t imagine going a day without a shower (sometimes two, depending) and a change of clothes, but enslaved “runaways” were left in such horrid conditions for such a long period of time – and that’s not even mentioning the food and water (in both cases, the lack thereof). How did these people ever survive? And for that matter, how did their tormentors ever justify their actions? Was it systematic and unfeeling? Probably, to some extent. Was it malicious? I don’t see how it couldn’t be, just a little bit. I will never understand how a human could treat another human like that and still believe they were in the right, nor do I ever want to. I’m getting tired of writing about atrocities – although those aren’t quite the right words. Maybe, rather, it takes its toll. But that’s why it’s so important, right? If I say, Oh, I’m getting tired of it, then maybe I’m contributing to the problem Campbell was talking about, where so much of the history surrounding slavery and atrocities has been forgotten or swept under the rug. If bringing that stuff out from under the rug means getting dust in our noses and eyes and sneezing for days, we can’t let that stop us. It’s too important. As the saying goes, there’s no growth in your comfort zone, and no comfort in your growth zone. So let’s grow, people! And if we’re uncomfortable along the way, good. I know for me, personally, as a relatively sheltered middle-class white girl, I could stand to be uncomfortable a little more often.