Bumaye

By Daryl Omar

Rarely in our lives do we get to step into the shoes of our ancestors. Step into the animus and relive as Noah Thomas, a 15 year old slave in North Carolina. Embrace the brutal heat of 1864 as war brews and America tries to establish itself as a world power. Building capitalism upon brutalized black backs, ignorant of the weigh of oppression and

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Writing Lifestyle
• Release date: Apr 25, 2022
• ISBN: 9781736142585

Daryl Omar

Daryl Omar Shabazz, an American Descendent of Slavery residing and raised in New Jersey. Began writing in the 3rd game and never stopped.

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Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter One

Noah didn't have all the time in the world to be making escape arrangements. The guys were waiting on him to decide their date to head off the plantation. The hope was before the winter blew in. How could a fella leave without his main gal?

Noah creapt about in the night to his lover’s hovels on the opposite side of their barracks. He knew the village off the plantation like he knew his name. All the training from his mentor came in handy as he ran alongside the wooden shacks, barely big enough for a couple of cots and a fireplace. He ran on the balls of his feet, making no noise as he came up to May's hovel.

He knocked gently on the open window as it became a habit. Fifty percent of the time May’s father came shouting and hollering. The other half, he got to lift May straight out and head to a hiding spot to spend the night. May came without making him knock twice.

Whatchu doin here, Noah? My papa's gonna kill you! May whisper shouts, punching his arm.

I've come to rescue you, He steals a kiss on her lips, climb on out here before your papa break my neck. he offers her his hand.

She bites her lip, looking over to her family, sleeping all over the floor. There were five kids, including her, who had to share the pallets on the floor.

I need ta get back before they wake up, she whispers in his ear as he lifts her on the window seal.

Then hurry, Noah helps her over the ledge and spins her in the air. She covers her mouth, muffling her giggles as they run out hand and hand.

Where are you taking me? May asks once they're far enough from her family.

Ssh! We're not supposed to be out he hushes her up.

Noah spent most of his nights sneaking around at night. He knew how lightly some of the others slept. Fearful an overseer might come in the night starting trouble. A number didn't sleep at all. Their panic had been long instilled. The days blurred together as one in their hysteria.

You gonna get me into trouble! She punches his arm again, take me back, Noah!

Hush on up now! Noah stops running and turns into May, holding her hips as she turns her head away, refusing to kiss him, don't be that way, girl.

I don't know what type of girl you think I am. Just gonna take me to the stables to jump my bones with the horses. No sir! May stomps her foot.

Ha. The thought never crossed my mind it lived there. Come on, May. Why do you have to act so difficult?

Cuz you always in trouble and don't nobody wanna be round you but the boys always gettin whipped. she sighs, my papa don't trust you.

You know me better than anyone May. We've known each other since we were kids. You know I'm good.

I know Noah, but- Fine, fine for a Lil bit, but I can't spend all night with you! she smooths out her rucksack nightdress. Hurry, it's cold. she giggles, nuzzling up to him for warmth.

He kisses her. She receives him, wrapping her arms around his neck. He spins, lifting her off her feet, carrying her as she giggles in the night air. She follows him up to the stable, where James sat with his rifle. The man was usually asleep or nodding off, making it easy for Noah. Instead, the older man sat alert. His eyes focused on Noah as he approached.

Noah... He grunts, Goddammit boy, not again.

Whatchu mean again? May snaps, looking at him, don't tell me you were bringing Joanna or Sarah up in here! She fumes, "I swear, let me find out-

Hush up now... Noah puts a finger to his lips, then turns back to James, who stands up, "come on now, Mister James, I just need me a place to stay tonight. My mama's mad because-

Yeah, I heard, boy. If you were my son, I'd tear a layer off your ass talking ta me like that! Don't let Jimmy or the others hear you're going off like this.

I talk to Jimmy like that too... Noah blew his lips.

You see, that's what I mean. You can't be talking to white folk like that! James groans, If Henry wasn't your father, they'd string you up.

Whatchu mean? He talks to me like that. Get tired of that slick talkin' boy Jimmy after a while. One of these days, I'm gonna catch him wit no white folk round.

Talkin' like that boy! May slaps Noah's arm.

At least this girl has half a cent in her head. James spits out his dip and wipes his mouth, setting down his rifle, but I s'pose I wasn't much better your age. My daddy used to have to crack my skull. He rolls the idea over in his head as he presses his lips to his gums, squeezing out the bitter tobacco juice. Ight boy, but you better make things right first thing in the morning. Your daddy's a good man. he gives them a nod.

You're the only overseer that makes any sense. Noah grinned.

James was usually the one who comes to talk to Noah before the boy got into trouble. He said since Noah was a kid, he always had a sparkle in his eye when he was gonna do something he'll get a whoopin for.

You're not the coolest one, though. Ole Stoney was the man before- well, he got caught givin us extra rations. Sent his ass right back to the fields.

James chuckled, He still does it. They never took his keys. Now, he knows to be more secretive. he gives me a wink. But you know all about that now, huh? Jeremiah took you under his wing?

Yes, suh. Noah grinned.

Go on now before someone see y’all out here. James nods toward the barn.

Before they see you not chewing my ear off. Noah corrects him.

Boy, you betta go! May shoved him along, not wanting to get caught.

May called herself a Christian. Said she they couldn't make love until they jumped the broom. She wanted him to lie there all night, staring at the moon and looking out on the stars.

She was telling him all about how she hates cotton needles. Showing him all her pricks as he showed her his pricks, bruises, and whips marks, not giving half a damn. He expected many more. He survived this place by not talking about it. He kept pressing his mind for tomorrow and what lay beyond the stars.

She kept asking, Why on earth would God ever make something so demonic to make clothes? My papa says we should be using sheep as they did back home.

When he told her they used to all be naked, she starting catching on to the bullshit, continuing.

Why cotton, when God made sheep to sheer? Torture, Torture. Noah stretched out. Man, this is all a joke to them too... they don't even care, ya know?

You don't think that... my mama says it's because we're evil. The sons of Ham. May did as the majority of the slaves did.

They were attempting to justify their situation and torment. Instead of being able to accept the evil and cruelness of their captors truly.

My papa told me about that too. Out of the whole book, they only repeat the same five verses and sections. I read the whole book with my papa. The passage says the Hamites weren't Negroes. They were talking about a different part of Africa. Lamentations and Hebrews say we Israelites. And anyone who acts against the children of God will burn in hell. Man, this is fucked up. The bible tells you all about it. They don't be teaching you the whole bible, just the parts they like. Most of these white people ain't even Christian! Look at them. We got the Ten Commandments, and they don't listen to not one of them. But y’all negroes worship them like these Crackas God himself, when we the real children of the Adonai, Yahweh. It says in Revelations Jesus Black too, but they don't read that because revelations tells on these crackas.

You know how to read? she whispers, the only part she caught, You're not supposed to read... they'll kill you.

You can hear why they don't want us reading, Noah grins, I mean, I can read a few books. You saw a book before?

No! What! Boy, you are bad... then she slaps his arm even harder, You know you are gonna get your eyes burned out for that!

You have to read, May. It's how to free yourself from this. There's a whole world out there. Noah points.

You mean in Raleigh?

What? Noah laughed, No, there are entire countries.

Like... North Carolina? she asked, confused. She had never left the plantation, never even been to the road before.

North Carolina's a state. May, I mean, there are entire landmasses of people living. Most of them don't even have slavery, entire countries with people who look like us. Others got different colors and tongues, their histories too. Ain't even that many White people on the planet, just here in America.

What? There ain't not been slavery! My whole life, we have been slaves, Noah. May rolled her eyes, You're a liar. You ain't never been off the plantation.

Well, no, not since we've been alive, but we're young, you know? Jeremiah had been all over. Noah says, He showed me in the books. That's why you need to read, May. There are whole worlds in there.

You gonna get me in trouble. I can't do this with you, Noah. You're gonna get me killed. she gets up out of the hay and begins marching off.

May! May! I ain't even said, nothing girl!

Stay away from me, Noah! May warns, You're a bad influence like my daddy said!

Noah sighed, looking at James, She doesn't know...