Narrative of the Life of John Quincy Adams: When in Slavery, and Now as a Freeman

By John Quincy Adams

A true and powerful story of the resilience of the human spirit. An American classic.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Scarlet Tree Press
• Release date: Nov 23, 2020
• ISBN: 9791220248129

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Narrative of the Life of John Quincy Adams,

When in Slavery, and Now as a Freeman:

John Quincy Adams

PREFACE

         Every book has its preface--a book without a preface would be like a city without a directory, or an animal with only part of the organs necessary to its existence.

        To the friends of progress and elevation I propose to write a narrative of real life as a slave and as a citizen. Believing that every person, who regards those that are striving to educate themselves, will give this little book some encouragement when its author presents it to them, and believing that every gentleman and lady will do so, I feel satisfied to submit the following facts of my life when in slavery and now as a freeman.

        Many persons may think that a man who would publish his life should do it intelligently, and do I. If you cannot write it intelligently

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do the best you can, and next time endeavor to do better. There is not much expected of a man at his first attempt who has spent his early days in slavery, and has had no opportunity to learn to read or write, but believing that this little book will help me to do better in the future I feel encouraged to persevere, as I have always done, to the best of my knowledge. I hope that God will bless me in my effort to publish the true facts and incidents as they occurred from time to time. All intelligent persons know that a man who went to school but four months in his life, and that to night school, and sometimes only three nights in a week, would be incapable to write this little book as it should be written. This book is not published to create any excitement or to accuse any one wrongfully, but the true facts as I can remember them to the best of my knowledge and ability. The strong must bear the infirmities of the week. Remember that.

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THE LIFE

OF

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS

        I was born in Frederick county, Virginia, in 1845, and was the slave of Mr. George F. Calomese. My father and mother were both slaves, and belonged to the same family. My mother was seventeen years old when she was married, and my father eighteen. They are both living, and are in very good health, and enjoying freedom, as well as every other citizen. In my father's family there were twenty-five children, fifteen boys and ten girls. There were four pairs of twins, and I am one of them. My twin mate is living at this time.

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         I remember, when a child, our parents used to tell us that we would not be always slaves. It made me feel glad to think that I would be free some day or other. Though very young I always felt that I would like to know how to read and write, but had no one to teach me. I often heard the white people say that they did not want the negro to learn to read and write. Then I felt satisfied that there was something more than learning to read and write that they did not want the negro to know. When I would hear any one reading I would always go and stand around and listen. They often asked me what I wanted. I would always say nothing, but go