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Slavery and the Making of AmericaPhoto of a group slaves on a Beaufort, South Carolina plantation
Time and Place Slave Memories Resources The Slave Experience

The Slave Experience: Responses to Enslavement
Intro Historical Overview Character Spotlight Slave Decisions Personal Narratives Original Docs
The Decisions Slaves Madereturn to introduction
Link to Cynthia Link to Slave Ship Robert Link to Josiah Henson Link to John Mason Link to William Grimes Link to Charles Ball
Cynthia

Cynthia was a mulatto woman born in St. Louis. She was, in the eyes of friend and former slave William Wells Brown, "one of the most beautiful women." Cynthia was purchased by Mr. Walker, a slave trader, who gave her two options: to become his mistress whereupon he would take her back to St. Louis to work in his house, or to be sold into servitude as a field hand on the worst plantation along the river. 		Do you think Cynthia:

a. Ran away?
b. Refused Mr. Walker's advances and became a field worker?
c. Accepted Mr. Walker's proposal to move to St. Louis as his maid and mistress?
Outcome
 Illustration of slave woman

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SLAVERY AND THE MAKING OF AMERICA is a production of Thirteen/WNET New York.
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