Fantasy Baby Lab
Friday, May 6, 2011
Friday, April 10, 2009
Slave Diary
January 2, 1851
This guy named Mr. White bought me as his slave, and as soon as he took me back to his plantation he put me to work. The only thing he gave me was a basket to put the cottons I pick for him. Also I had to help him water a whole bunch of not grown cottons. He is treating me like I can do all the things at once, which I am not! Why would I be sold to this evil slave owner Mr. White? Already, I can’t take it anymore!
January 3, 1851
Everyday I have wake up before the sun raises and work in the cotton field until the sun goes down. The only job for me is to pick the cottons out of their pods in the burning hot sun. We couldn’t even stop for a rest! My master hired overseers to supervise us. The only thing they care about is what we give them and nothing else. My work would never be finished. Even when after the dark, I still have water to carry, wood to split, pigs to feed, corn to shuck, cottons to clean, and much more other chores to do. I never know when it was time for me to rest. Some of the lighter skin slaves, who are the lucky ones, got to work in the master’s house. But that was not the job I could get because my skins are dark…..
January 18, 1851
Although we got houses to live in, all the slaves crowed together. The house was built with logs and bare ground. I can barely live i
n this house. Sometimes I even have to dash outside to get some fresh air. Not only that, I am always so hungry. We only get a ration of cornmeal, bacon, and molasses once a week. My master only provides what was needed to keep us healthy enough to work for him. Also, I only got what was called “Negro Clothes”, which are two coarse linen trousers, one jacket, one pair of trousers for winter, one pair of stocking, and one pair of shoes to wear. And I only get it once a year, I never even got a second of warmth by wearing it. We were only what they called “their tools”.
Februrary 8, 1851
Slave masters like mine encouraged their slaves to attend church on Sunday. They read the Bible to us and made
us pray with them. I don’t want to pray to their God, why can’t I have my freedom to religion? Instead of listening to my master reading the bible, I would sneak into the woods to gather with the other slaves. We call there “invisible church” because it should not be noticeable and the slave owners doesn’t want us to gather together. We would sing hymns together and read the Bible together.The only thing is to be careful. If we were ever caught, we would receive harsh punishments.
March 15, 1851
Families were always a dream for black slaves. It was even an impossible thing to do because the white owners would not allow us to get married. Even if you could have a family, it would be a hard thing too. One of your family members might be sold by your master at anytime they want. Some people don’t even know who their parents are and how they look like. As a slave, the only things you could get in a family are pain and tears.
March 23, 1851
Although we always have to work, there are still a little bit of leisure time for us, which are Saturday an
d Sunday nights. On Saturdays, we had social events like corn-husking or pea-shelling parties, which combined work and fun. These hours are precious to us. Once we lose it, we could not get it back. Women gathered to work and talk. They were free to express themselves with needle and cloth, which I myself can’t do. When they were done with the sewing, men joined the party for a “quilting feast” and dancing. We made music out of anything we could use. Sunday was the day for religion and recreation. We spent our time in the church, hunting, eating, drinking whiskey, telling tales, and gambling. When it was leisure time, I sometimes forget that I am a slave.
This guy named Mr. White bought me as his slave, and as soon as he took me back to his plantation he put me to work. The only thing he gave me was a basket to put the cottons I pick for him. Also I had to help him water a whole bunch of not grown cottons. He is treating me like I can do all the things at once, which I am not! Why would I be sold to this evil slave owner Mr. White? Already, I can’t take it anymore!
January 3, 1851Everyday I have wake up before the sun raises and work in the cotton field until the sun goes down. The only job for me is to pick the cottons out of their pods in the burning hot sun. We couldn’t even stop for a rest! My master hired overseers to supervise us. The only thing they care about is what we give them and nothing else. My work would never be finished. Even when after the dark, I still have water to carry, wood to split, pigs to feed, corn to shuck, cottons to clean, and much more other chores to do. I never know when it was time for me to rest. Some of the lighter skin slaves, who are the lucky ones, got to work in the master’s house. But that was not the job I could get because my skins are dark…..
January 18, 1851
Although we got houses to live in, all the slaves crowed together. The house was built with logs and bare ground. I can barely live i
n this house. Sometimes I even have to dash outside to get some fresh air. Not only that, I am always so hungry. We only get a ration of cornmeal, bacon, and molasses once a week. My master only provides what was needed to keep us healthy enough to work for him. Also, I only got what was called “Negro Clothes”, which are two coarse linen trousers, one jacket, one pair of trousers for winter, one pair of stocking, and one pair of shoes to wear. And I only get it once a year, I never even got a second of warmth by wearing it. We were only what they called “their tools”.Februrary 8, 1851
Slave masters like mine encouraged their slaves to attend church on Sunday. They read the Bible to us and made
us pray with them. I don’t want to pray to their God, why can’t I have my freedom to religion? Instead of listening to my master reading the bible, I would sneak into the woods to gather with the other slaves. We call there “invisible church” because it should not be noticeable and the slave owners doesn’t want us to gather together. We would sing hymns together and read the Bible together.The only thing is to be careful. If we were ever caught, we would receive harsh punishments.
March 15, 1851
Families were always a dream for black slaves. It was even an impossible thing to do because the white owners would not allow us to get married. Even if you could have a family, it would be a hard thing too. One of your family members might be sold by your master at anytime they want. Some people don’t even know who their parents are and how they look like. As a slave, the only things you could get in a family are pain and tears. March 23, 1851
Although we always have to work, there are still a little bit of leisure time for us, which are Saturday an
d Sunday nights. On Saturdays, we had social events like corn-husking or pea-shelling parties, which combined work and fun. These hours are precious to us. Once we lose it, we could not get it back. Women gathered to work and talk. They were free to express themselves with needle and cloth, which I myself can’t do. When they were done with the sewing, men joined the party for a “quilting feast” and dancing. We made music out of anything we could use. Sunday was the day for religion and recreation. We spent our time in the church, hunting, eating, drinking whiskey, telling tales, and gambling. When it was leisure time, I sometimes forget that I am a slave. May 25, 1851
Things my master does crushed all my spirits, it seems that all the power and law is always on his side. Why can’t I be in control of myself? We are all human, it’s just that my skin is darker than his. This is so not fair! It’s time for us to fight back and kill the whites! I am going to join the others to pull down the fences, break the tools, and work sloppily. But what I am doing is not the worst. Some of the slaves even sneak the foods out of the master’s kitchen, pretended to be dumb, clumsy, sick, or insane to escape work. One slave even avoided working for years because of becoming nearly blind. And some of them even thought of escaping, which I am thinking of too. But it’s not an easy thing to do, I have no choice.
Things my master does crushed all my spirits, it seems that all the power and law is always on his side. Why can’t I be in control of myself? We are all human, it’s just that my skin is darker than his. This is so not fair! It’s time for us to fight back and kill the whites! I am going to join the others to pull down the fences, break the tools, and work sloppily. But what I am doing is not the worst. Some of the slaves even sneak the foods out of the master’s kitchen, pretended to be dumb, clumsy, sick, or insane to escape work. One slave even avoided working for years because of becoming nearly blind. And some of them even thought of escaping, which I am thinking of too. But it’s not an easy thing to do, I have no choice.May 26, 1851 
Ouch! My master caught me and some other slaves escaping and we are being whipped for our punishment. Some owners used harsh punishments just like mine to keep us under their control. But sometimes it’s a bad thing for them to punish us. When we are too weak after their punishment, we are not able to work for them. What they preferred to do is to make us feel totally dependent for them. They also tried to make us as ignorant as possible, only to obey our master and nothing else.
Ouch! My master caught me and some other slaves escaping and we are being whipped for our punishment. Some owners used harsh punishments just like mine to keep us under their control. But sometimes it’s a bad thing for them to punish us. When we are too weak after their punishment, we are not able to work for them. What they preferred to do is to make us feel totally dependent for them. They also tried to make us as ignorant as possible, only to obey our master and nothing else.
49ers Script
Characters:Moses,Chin,William,Elisabeth
All four characters enter room
Moses: I’m Moses, I come from South America, I crossed dangerous jungles in search for gold in America*wave to audience
Chin: Ni how, my name is chin! I’ve come from china, I’ve taken a boat across the ruff and dangerous pacific, to reach California and its abundant gold.*bow to audience
William: I am Sir William and I’ve traveled across the pacific, from Europe*bow to audience
Elisabeth: I made the difficult journey over land from my hometown New York!*curtsy to audience
Moses holds up sign that says ‘’Hi 49ers’’*all 49ers shake hands
William and Moses: we all decided to move west to find gold
Elisabeth and Chin: and begin a better and more prosperous life for our family!
Elisabeth: life in mining camps were odd for women. Women were scarce and sometimes I’d see one of them once every month. One person asked for a biscuit and offered me $5! When i hesitated to question his sanity he doubled his offer!
*Play the scene as Elisabeth specks; let William be the man offering
William: I really wanted to have food i didn’t have to make myself. Everything else is so expensive these days! A dozen eggs for $6 is crazy!
Chin holds up sign that says; ‘’gasp’’
Moses: it is also dangerous here! There are no police to keep order, so fights happen everyday
Elisabeth holds up ‘’gasp’’ sign
*Chin hit Elisabeth and they fight
Chin: finding gold is also super hard. We spend long days in icy water only to find out the gold are all gone
Moses: during the gold rush 250,000 people came to California
William: between 1848- 1870 warfare and disease reduced their numbers from 150,000 to just 30,000
Chin: by 1850 California had enough people to become the first state far west!
Elisabeth: these new Californians helped to transform the golden state into a diverse land of economic opportunity!
William holds up clap sign
All four characters enter room
Moses: I’m Moses, I come from South America, I crossed dangerous jungles in search for gold in America*wave to audience
Chin: Ni how, my name is chin! I’ve come from china, I’ve taken a boat across the ruff and dangerous pacific, to reach California and its abundant gold.*bow to audience
William: I am Sir William and I’ve traveled across the pacific, from Europe*bow to audience
Elisabeth: I made the difficult journey over land from my hometown New York!*curtsy to audience
Moses holds up sign that says ‘’Hi 49ers’’*all 49ers shake hands
William and Moses: we all decided to move west to find gold
Elisabeth and Chin: and begin a better and more prosperous life for our family!
Elisabeth: life in mining camps were odd for women. Women were scarce and sometimes I’d see one of them once every month. One person asked for a biscuit and offered me $5! When i hesitated to question his sanity he doubled his offer!
*Play the scene as Elisabeth specks; let William be the man offering
William: I really wanted to have food i didn’t have to make myself. Everything else is so expensive these days! A dozen eggs for $6 is crazy!
Chin holds up sign that says; ‘’gasp’’
Moses: it is also dangerous here! There are no police to keep order, so fights happen everyday
Elisabeth holds up ‘’gasp’’ sign
*Chin hit Elisabeth and they fight
Chin: finding gold is also super hard. We spend long days in icy water only to find out the gold are all gone
Moses: during the gold rush 250,000 people came to California
William: between 1848- 1870 warfare and disease reduced their numbers from 150,000 to just 30,000
Chin: by 1850 California had enough people to become the first state far west!
Elisabeth: these new Californians helped to transform the golden state into a diverse land of economic opportunity!
William holds up clap sign
THE END
Friday, March 20, 2009
Manifest Destiny
Diary Entry
February 14,1849
I heard that there are gold found in California, United States. My life was bad from the day I was born. The only thing I could do now is to join the other ten thousand gold seekers in order to get a better life. I know it is a very difficult to cross the Atlantic Ocean and travel from the East of The United States to the West. However, what esle can I do?
February 14,1849
I heard that there are gold found in California, United States. My life was bad from the day I was born. The only thing I could do now is to join the other ten thousand gold seekers in order to get a better life. I know it is a very difficult to cross the Atlantic Ocean and travel from the East of The United States to the West. However, what esle can I do?
March 23,1849
Finally there is a ship avalible that head towards The United States. But the ship fare was to
o expensive. I had to use half of all my money to buy one. But I know it's worth it. If I get the gold, I will get ten times more than what I paid. Also I know it will be a long trip, hope I don't get seasick.
April 1,1849
Ahh...I am finally here in The United Staes. The air is so fresh! But my stomach is so hungry! There are biscuits for sale, I want it! What!? A small biscuit for six dollars each!? So expensive! If my stomach was not hungry, I won't even buy it... What I have to do next is to get to California. But how can I get there? What!? Three dollars for one ride to California? That is so cheap! Even cheaper than the biscuit! I pay the man three dollars and got on his wagon. And I am so sleepy, I am going to take a rest..
April 3,1849
Where am I? Am I in California already? A group of men is walking by and I ask them where I am. They answered me that it is Washington D.C. I am still in the East? So I tell them what happened, and get the answer of April Fools.... These foolish Americans!!
May 28,1849 
After all the fools they played, I finally here at California! The first thing I will do is to find gold for money! Still the air is fresh and I love it! Ouch! What is that shinning thing on my arm? It's gold! I cant believe what is happening! I didn't even start digging for gold and it falls onto my arms! The fools they played was worth it! With this gold I can buy some good digging tools!
July 4,1849
Today is the Independence Day and I am just sitting in my house yard and talking with some friends. It is very relaxing especially when I don't have to do anything. I still remember the time when I was digging for gold and it was a pain. So many people came to California for gold and 
nothing was left so quickly. Because of the high population, California became the first state in the West!
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