Freeborn Slave [Paperback]

Jasper Rastus Nall (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1996

Throughout his life, Jasper Nall was transfixed by the stories his mother and grandmother told—stories of the family’s origins and plantation life in Alabama and the Carolinas. These he recorded with his own recollections in this series of dictated memoirs transcribed by his daughter Maude in 1936.

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Crane Hill Publishers (January 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1575871653
• ISBN-13: 978-1575871653
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 4.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,827,425 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A blast from the past, February 15, 1999

By 

Troy Nalls "DJ Judah is in The House www.djju... (Dallas TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Freeborn Slave (Hardcover)

This was a short easy to read book. Don't be fooled by the length! This book was full of power. Jasper was a incredible man. He gives an insight on what it is to be born a free man, but still be oppressed. But rather than walking with his head down, he leads a prosperous life. Thank you Jasper for documenting your life before you passed. It enables me to share our history with my children.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unexpected revelations!, September 2, 2000

By 

BONNIE F LEWIS (PENSACOLA, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Freeborn Slave (Hardcover)

This small book has a surprising message of slave loyalty and affection for the white master. It was a pleasure to read, took about 2 hours, and I couldn't put it down. Brought back a lot of memories of stories my Grandma told about our ancestors in Alabama. I am descended from Nall slave owners and, although I've always been ashamed of that, this humble story creates more of an understanding of that day and time for me. I highly recommend it for anyone.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling Personal Narrative, May 4, 2007

By 

Alvin J. Nall Jr. "AJ Nall" (Providence, RI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Freeborn Slave (Paperback)

Jasper Rastus Nall was my great-grandfather and I am very moved by this thought-provoking book. Although this diary has circulated the globe and was entered into the Library of Congress, it was intended for a much smaller audience, his descendants.

J.R. Nall was born into slavery, but says he "never slaved any." He never attended school, but eventually learned to read and write and caught most of his education "in the air." Throughout most of his life he knew nothing but hard work and dedicated himself to the education of his six children. He was most proud of his work in building a school in the town where he lived, and claims to be the only man who saw his wife and all of his children educated there.

His myriad jobs included miner, butcher, and mailman, just to name a few. What J.R. Nall lacked in formal education, he made up in common sense. His values of honesty, morality, and commitment, are a model for all generations to follow.