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Those were hard times, after slavery days. Much of the South was scarred by the Civil War and there wasn’t much food or supplies among the whites, let alone the Negroes. Most of the slaves, when they were freed, wandered about the countryside like shell-shocked soldiers.

In Part II, “I Am Free!” midway through Chapter 5, Bessie and Sadie reflect on the lives of former slaves. This quotation provides important context for their father’s struggle to improve his situation and that of his family. Like veterans of a war scarred by the horrors of battle, Black Americans have a similar experience under slavery. During slavery, as in war, the basic laws governing human society, including the humane and respectful treatment of others, are removed. Many people are permanently damaged from this dehumanizing experience and have difficulty finding a place for themselves in the impoverished South. Some have never known a home besides their owner’s. Culot, with her inability to throw anything away, and Uncle Jessie, in the dilapidated shack at Saint Aug’s, both exemplify the struggle to cope after slavery. Because Henry Delany is only seven years old when the Civil War ends slavery and because his family is literate, he avoids the “shell shock” experienced by many others. Though Henry emerges from slavery with nothing but his family, the ability to read, and the shirt on his back, he is considered highly privileged, compared with many in his situation.

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