Tempie Herndon Durham Short Story

The story about Tempie Herndon Durham was published by a man named Travis Jordan. The story is derived from the North Carolina Narratives on slavery. The narrative was published in North Carolina’s third district, which is located near the Outer Banks. This source paints of vivid picture of what plantations looked like and an insight to what a marriage looked like back in the 1930’s for slaves. Tempie describes her wedding from the gown all the wayt to the who attended her wedding. She married a man by the name of Exter Durham, who belonged to Marse Snipes Durham. Tempie was 103 years old when she wrote her narrative. Her memory of her marriage and the plantation she lived on has remained very close to her. I believe Tempie wanted to share

Tempie Durham was 103 years old when this narrative was written. She shares her wedding as a slave and others who she knew within her plantation. While Tempie does not provide many details about herself, she describes her plantation she lived on. Those who read this narrative will notice that Tempie had a surprisingly different outlook on her living conditions. Other slaves she knew were very smart and had talents such as; dying pots and weaving. Before reading the narrative by Tempie, my perspective on slavery was very morbid. I originally thought most of the plantation owners would abuse, torture, and neglect their slaves. After reading the narrative I believe Tempie was able to learn and live much better on the Herndon plantation. While

In this short story, the details of Tempie are not to explicit; however, the memories that Tempie had allow the readers to take a glimpse of what life used to be for those living in slavery. In Tempie’s writing it is apparent that her life as a slave had some negative and positive experiences. She was able to have children, be married, and learn at her plantation; whereas, on other plantations was strictly working all the time, marriages were not allowed, and some woman had children that belonged to their owners. Tempie was aware of what her role was on and the rules the owners had on the plantation. Her narrative describes a life lived as a slave in times where people were whipped, beaten, and sexually abused. Slaves were sold and traded, luckily for Tempie she was able to stay on one plantation where she married and had children. She survived and was able to raise her two children in freedom, instead of slavery. It is rare to find someone who was able to take out of what Tempie did in her years as a slave. Her narrative although I am sure at times they were harder than others, she was able to stay strong for herself and her children. At times most of us can easily forget that slavery was real and it effected millions of lives, for some of them the only remembrance they have are their