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The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman
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13th Amendment is Passed
The 13th amendment is passed freeing all of the slaves. Originally known as Ticey, Miss Jane changes her name to Jane to symbolize that she is free. Jane leaves the plantation in hopes of reaching Ohio. "My names Jane, Unc Isom" I said. "And I'm heading for Ohio." This shows how Jane understands that she is free and she can do whatever she wants. She is becoming independant. -
Massacre
While traveling north with a group of former slaves, troops and patrollers from the Secesh army kill the majority of the members. One of the victims being Big Laura, a mother of a young boy named Ned. Jane and Ned managed to hide from the Secesh, they were among the only survivors. Jane decided to take Ned in and raise him "I sat there looking at Ned, wondering what i was go'n do next." This shows how she realizes what a big responsibility she is taking on and how willing she is to do so. -
Jane Moves to a New Plantation
A short while after the massacre, Ned and Jane are lead to a new plantation that is ran by Mr. Bone. At first Mr. Bone is skeptical about letting them stay there because they are just young children and they wouldn't be very useful to the plantation. Mr. Bone finally tells Jane, "All right, I'll give you a try. But you still spare and I won't pay you more than six a month. Take it or leave it." Jane takes his offer and becomes one of the hardest workers there. -
Ned Leaves Home
While living at the plantation, Ned hears about a commitee that is dedicated to investigating the treatment of former slaves and decides to join it. He is forced to leave the south because a bunch of men on horses with white sheets on (known as the Ku Klux Klan) come to Jane's cabin serching for Ned. They continuously asked her "Where's he at?" but she refused to tell them. They most likely had the intention to kill him. -
Death of Joe Pittman
Jane's husband Joe was killed by a horse. "They said Joe had cornered and roped the stallion, but with no saddle to tie the rope on, the stallion had jecked him off his horse and had dragged him through the swamps. When they found him he was tangled in the rope, already dead." This event was one of the very tragic things that happened to Miss Jane because he was one of the closest people to her. -
Ned Visits Home With His Family
This event was significant because it shows how much Ned cares for Miss Jane and how he wanted to see her. She was like his mother and he actually did call her "Mama." "I hadn't seen Ned in twenty years, but I knowed it was him the moment I saw him standing on the gallery. Not from the way he looked. He didn't look nothing like he did when he left here for Kansas." This quote shows how strong the connection Jane had was. -
Ned is Killed
"Cluveau shot him (Ned) in the leg-the white people had told him Cluveau to make Ned crawl before killing him. When Cluveau shot him, he fell to one knee, then got back up. Cluveau shot again. This time he tored off half his chest." The death of Ned is significant because it shows how even though the colored people are free, there are still many people against them. -
Albert Cluveau Dies
Albert Cluveau falls ill and is on his death bed. He claims that he hears the "Chariot of Hell." Adeline, one of his daughters, claims that Miss Jane put some of her "hoo-doo" on her father when she told him,"Mr. Albert Cluveau, when the Chariot of Hell come rattling for you, the people will hear you screaming all over this parish. Now, you just ride on." This is significant because it symbolizes all of the murders Cluveau took part in and how now it is his turn to suffer. -
Miss Jane Moves to Samson
After the death of Ned, Jane moves to a plantation owned by the Samsons. She cooks for the family and gets payed to do so. Tee Bob, one of the Samsons, falls in love with the teacher that moves on to the plantation but can't be with her because she is part black. "He killed himself before he learned how he was supposed to live in this world", this quote shows how segregated society. He killed himself because he couldn't be with the person he loved just because she was half black. -
Miss Jane Finds Religion
Religion was an important aspect in many people's lives. When colored people said that they had "found religion" it means that they talked to god or had an expierence with god. Miss Jane describes her experience as "The Savior was there. He smiled down at me and raised the load off my shoulder. I wanted to bow to His feet, but He told me rise I had been born again." Finding religion was very important because it gave the blacks inspiration during rough times. -
Death of Jimmy "The One"
When a baby named Jimmy is born at the Samson plantation many people asl if he is the "One" (a great leader to guide them through the Civil Rights Movement). When he is grown up, he begins to have an interest in politics and pushes for Civil Rights. Miss Jane said that,"..he didnt know we had already made him the One, but he was already doing things the One is supposed to do." He is shot at one of his displays of civil disobedience. -
Miss Jane Leads a Group to a Civil Rights Movement
After the death of Jimmy, Miss Jane believes that, "Just a little piece of him is dead. The rest of him is waiting in Bayonne. And i will go with Alex." Jimmy inspired Miss Jane and even though she is over the age of 100 she wants to help make a difference.
