Sur Slavery Documents Libretto

In the mid-1980's Mr. Sur spent two years researching and writing the libretto for the piece, which contains excerpts from Cotton Mather's The Negro Christianized, a catechism for slaves; want ads compiled in the anti-slavery publication American Slavery As It Is, by abolitionists Theodore Weld and Angelina Grimke; pro-slavery advocate William Grayson's poem "The Hireling and the Slave"' the original Confessions of Nat Turner; letters of the Huguenot missionary Francis Le Jau describing treatment of slaves and attitudes of slave owners in South Carolina; South Carolina's Slave Statute; and the Bible. In the course of his research, Mr. Sur traveled to South Carolina to study the slave song tradition of Johns Island. He also studied the trial record of Nat Turner; the newspaper account of escaped slave Margaret Garner's killing of her children in the face of their capture and re-enslavement; and the diary of Mary Chesnut, wife of South Carolina's senator before the war.

Selected Text from Donald Sur's Slavery Documents
Who is that Great GOD whom you and all men are to serve? The Great GOD is the Eternal Spirit who made everything, and is everywhere; and there is no God but he. (source: Mather, Cotton. The Negro Christianized.)

Is it possible that any of my slaves could go to Heaven, and must I see them there? (source: Memoir of the Huguenot missionary Le Jeu)

Since charity and the Christian religion obliges us to wish well to the souls of all men, and that no persons may neglect to baptize their negroes or slaves. Be it therefore enacted, That it shall be lawful for any negro or Indian slave to receive and profess the Christian faith, and be thereunto baptized. But that notwithstanding such slave shall receive and profess the Christian religion, and be baptized, he shall not thereby be set free. (source: South Carolina's Slave Statute)

But the reason of my return was, that the Spirit appeared to me and said I had my wishes directed to the things of this world, and not to the kingdom of Heaven, and that I should return to the service of my earthly master--"For he who knoweth his Master's will, and doeth it not, shall be beaten with many stripes, and thus have I chastened you." (source: Confessions of Nat Turner)

For visiting a plantation without a written pass, ten lashes; for keeping or carrying a club, thirty-nine lashes; for having any article for sale, without a ticket from his master, ten lashes; for traveling in any other than the most usual and accustomed road, when going alone to any place, forty lashes; for traveling in the night, without a pass, forty lashes; for being found in another person's negro-quarters, forty lashes; for hunting with dogs in the woods, thirty lashes; for being on horseback without the written permission of his master, twenty lashes. (source: Grimke, Angelina and Weld, Theodore. American Slavery As It Is.)

Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ. (source: Bible - Eph. 6:5-8)

What was our condition, when God made the first man, at the Beginning of the World?

God made one man, and one woman, Adam and Eve, in His own Image, holy and righteous. (source: Mather, Cotton. The Negro Christianized.)

And Christian slaves may challenge as their own,
The blessings claimed in fabled states alone--
The cabin home, not comfortless, though rude,
Light daily labour, and abundant food,
The sturdy health, that temperate habits yield,
The cheerful song, that rings in every field,

Ranaway, a negro man named Squire--had on a chain locked with a house-lock, around his neck.

The long, loud laugh, that freemen seldom share,
Heaven's boon to bosoms unapproached by care,
And boisterous jest and humour unrefined,
That leave, though, no painful sting behind;

Ranaway, a negro named David--with some iron hobbles around each ankle.

While, nestling near, to bless their humble lot,
Warm social joys surround the Negro's cot,

Ranaway, negress Caroline--had on a collar with one prong turned down.

The evening dance its merriment imparts,

Ranaway, my slave Amos, had a chain attached to one of his legs.

Ranaway, the negress Fanny--had on an iron band about her neck.

Love, with his rapture, fills their youthful hearts,

Ranaway, a negro man named Charles--had on a drawing chain, fastened around his ankle with a house lock.

Ranaway, a negro boy named Daniel, about nineteen years old, and was handcuffed.

Ranaway, a negro named John--having an iron around his right foot.

Ranaway, the negro boy Teams--he had on his neck an iron collar.
And placid age, the task of labour done,

Ranaway, Betsey--when she left she had on her neck an iron collar.

Ranaway, a negro woman and two children; a few days before she went off, I burnt her with a hot iron, on the left side of her face, I tried to make the letter M.
(source: Grayson, William. "The Hireling and the Slave")
(want ads from American Slavery As It Is)


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