3 Review(s)

Burton was born into slavery on a plantation in Alabama. In her narrative, she describes the cruel conditions under which enslaved people lived and worked, including the physical hardships and emotional toll of separation from family. Despite these challenges, Burton also recounts moments of kindness and resilience among the enslaved community, as well as her early desire for education and freedom. These early experiences shaped her determination to improve her life once she gained her freedom.After the end of the Civil War, Burton, like many formerly enslaved people, faced the difficulties of adapting to life as a free person in a country still deeply divided by race. She worked as a domestic servant and later as a cook, constantly seeking opportunities for self-improvement and independence. Her narrative reflects the broader struggles of African Americans during Reconstruction and beyond, including the systemic barriers they faced as they sought to carve out new identities in a racially hostile environment.