“Not at Sweet home, my niggers is men every one of em. Bought em thataway, raised em that way. Men every one”
Paul D remembers when Mr Garner would say this about his slaves. Mr Garner treated the slaves at Sweet Home with respect and trust. He even allowed them to work for extra money and use a gun. Most importantly he taught them how to read all things that a regular or free “man” were given. Other slave owners did not grant their slaves such privileges and so Mr Garner regarded himself as a God sent. This all went away after Mr Garner dies and so the author reminds us that even though Mr Garner treated his slaves differently they were still slaves, tied to the white man’s good will. Regardless of man or woman they were lacking free will and determination.
