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TITLE (EDIT)
The Merchantilers |
DESCRIPTION
A story of how illiterate African Americans were treated even unto the mid 1900s.
[560 words] |
AUTHOR
Bo Turner |
ABOUT
THE AUTHOR
Seventy odd year old Retired Salesman, reflecting from "the corners of his mind", offers up some history about which some had rather not admit having been a participant,
[February 2009] |
AUTHOR'S E-MAIL ADDRESS
boturner@earthlink.net |
The Merchantilers
Bo Turner
THE MERCHANTIELERS
Broadway and various movies such as "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and "The Long Hot Summer" have touched on the old south's landlord/tenant system. In simple terms it involved the use of exorbitant "carrying charges" (interest and fees) imposed on the poorest of the poor share croppers. Huge fortunes were accumulated by some of these huge merchant/landowners whose wealth exists today. Though the descendants of these rouges were not part and parcel to the thievery, they are oft referred to as "graveyard aristocrats", living off the spoils garnered by their forefathers.
There is a joke nearly the age of Methuselah about an old colored farmer riding his mule and wagon past his neighbor on the way from the cotton gin. "Uncle George", asked the neighbor, "Did you get a good price for your cotton?" Frowning, George replied; "Well, I recon I didn't do too bad, but de ducks got mo dan ah did." "What you talkin bout?" the neighbor inquired. "Well, George complained, De deducts so much fo ginning, de deducts so much fo bagging and ties, de deducts fo de sto'age, de deducts fo de grading, and time de gits through deducting all dat, de wont much left fo me." There is more truth than fiction in that old joke.
That, my friends was just the 'tip of the iceberg" The following is a TRUE story overheard from the office of one prominent merchantiler whose name I will keep anonymous and refer to him as only Mr. "S".
Uncle Jim had farmed a two-horse crop (forty acres) as a sharecropper with Mr. S for many many years! Throughout the year Uncle Jim bought all his farming supplies, his groceries, and even needed household items such as Aunt Lucy's sewing machine from Mr. S. store. Every year Mr. S., usually around Christmas, would "settle" with Uncle Jim. It is important to note here than Uncle Jim was totally illiterate. So, every year Mr. S. would proclaim, after having gone over Uncle Jim account, "Uncle Jim, It looks like I don't owe you nothing and you don't owe me nothing. We are even again." At that point Uncle Jim would, hat in hand and with head bowed, go out into Mr. S' store and buy a small gift for Aunt Lucy and "put it on de book" for next year. On this particular year Mr. S was through "settling" with Uncle Jim again saying the same "Uncle Jim it looks like you don't owe me nothing and I don't owe you nothing." Uncle Jim, looking inquisitively at Mr. S., asked; Well, Mist S, whut is ah s'pposed to do wit de fo' bales o' cotton ah has in mah front yard?" Mr. S. looking astonished jumped up from his desk and exclaimed; "Damn it, Uncle Jim!! Why didn't you tell me about having four bales of cotton before we started "settling up"? Now I have to figure your account all over again”.
There were many honest and fair people who worked with share croppers in those days and who saw to it that they were well provided for when needs arose. When Doctors or Hospitals were required, it was put on the merchantilers' account and never denied. Thus, they even had health care provided by their employers. The above story is about one of the worst~
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"I believe this guy is writting about a merchant from my town and that some of his descendants are casaul friends! From what I've heard over the years from some of the family, the story is TRUE! Damn!" -- Arthur, Tarboro, USA, NC.
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COPYRIGHT NOTICE
© 2002 Bo Turner |
STORYMANIA PUBLICATION DATE
February 2009 |
NUMBER OF TIMES TITLE VIEWED
1705
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