Mandingo

I was born in this time

to never be free

born in this time

to never be free

wait all my time for freedom

now

it's too far

up a hill for me

now, you know, my feeling

is all I ever owned

yeah

you know, my feeling, now

is all I ever owned

well, you know, ah, happiness is one thing

mmm

I have never known

yeah, I don't understand

and I don't know who to blame

well-well, I don't understand

and I don't know who to blame

yeah, and I just keep on livin'

I just keep on livin' the same

I am so tired

but I can't take my rest

yeah, and I'm so tired

but I can't take my rest

yeah, you know, my back

is so worn

and I ain't

feel that strong

dear lord in heaven

can you hear my lonesome prayer?

oh, dear lord in heaven

can you hear my lonesome prayer?

oh, save me from trouble

mmm

trouble an'

despair

I was born in this time

to never be free

well, I was born in this time

mmm

to never be free

well, you know, my time for freedom

way up-way up there

with a halo on me

way on-way up there

where heaven be

way, way, way up there

where heaven be

How much for this wench and sucker?

She ought to be worth 650.

That's too much.

I can't get more than seven for them in New Orleans.

Shuck down your pants.

Bend over.

You're wasting time.

He ain't got hemorrhoids.

You alter some of them?

My pa never altered a nigger,

Nor have I.

On this plantation, there's no altered horse nor nigger.

When the bucks run a- scared of that,

I wouldn't be blaming them.

This buck's Cicero, a runner.

Talks a lot.

Talks, preaches.

Stops the others from doing.

Else, he's a prime worker.

Make a deal on him.

Go fetch.

Ah. He moves fast.

A sound buck.

Good for the sugar cane.

Yeah. He might last 7, 8 years.

1,500 for the 3 of them.

That's this one here and them two.

2,500.

Done.

Don't want to see another batch?

No, that's enough for now.

All right, mem,

Send them back to quarters.

See that those three bucks

Is chained in the barn tonight.

Yes, master Maxwell, sir.

Back to quarters, everybody.

Papa! Papa.

Brownlee is the correct cognomen,

Is it not, sir?

That is, sir.

Ham, this here's Mr. Brownlee.

Right charmed by the honor of your company.

Well, I'm right charmed my own self.

Mr. Brownlee is a trader.

Well, you gonna have slaves,

You got to have traders.

That's right.

You can't eat them,

And you can't plow them under.

Papa. Papa, doc Redfield come about big pearl.

Well, you know...

If she has vomit or temperature,

She got to be isolated.

No, doc Redfield, nothing like that.

Well, let's see.

All right, now, pearl, breathe deep.

Git! Git!

What ails her, doc?

Doc Redfield's the best veterinarian anywhere around here.

She a virgin?

Oh.

Well, I reckon.

But you can't never be sure

About a black wench.

Lucy?

She pure.

I've been saving her

Like master Maxwell tell me.

She a Mandingo wench.

You don't let just any buck get to her.

Hmm.

Big pearl, you the only one

Who can tell us most certain.

Mm-hmm.

Well...

Nothing ailing the wench-

Except she cravin'-

In the bud of heat.

She's hipped, plum hipped.

Old doc Redfield-

Nothing he don't know

About nigger nature, nigger symptoms.

Hammond, son...

You pleasure her, she'll get better.

You don't...

She'll fall off.

I too black, master, sir.

I not fitting for you.

Master's duty

To pleasure the wenches first time,

You know that.

Oh.

Pure Mandingo.

You got bucks, too?

I'd give s3,000 for a Mandingo buck.

Need one to breed her.

When I was your age, Hammond,

There wasn't no 14-year-old virgins

Around falconhurst.

Hammond craves the bright-skinned ones.

Why ever you don't hanker for big pearl.

I do hanker, papa, it's...

She's powerful musky is all.

No need for musk to bother you.

Just soak them good

In manganade and potash water.

I need some more milk.

Yes, sir, master.

Agamemnon, you black scoundrel,

Get in here, help Lucrezia Borgia.

Tell them how many suckers you brung us, Lucrezia Borgia.

24, master.

24.

These twins...

Are two of them.

She bred out now-

Too old.

Yes, sir, Massa.

I'm calling you, mem.

I'm begging you to step face.

Papa, don't get yourself riled now.

It ain't good for your rheumatism.

I'll get master Hammond

To take a piece of your hide off of you.

Oh, no, Massa, don't hide me. Please, sir.

I- I be spry.

Do you have any religion

For your niggers, Mr. Maxwell?

Hell, no.

More religions they gets, the ornerier they gets.

Harder to drive.

Don't worry none about their immortal souls?

They ain't got no immortal souls.

They gets to thinking they has souls.

They gets to thinking

They's as good as white folk.

Mem, you reckon you got a soul?

Well, a lazy, no-account,

Stupid, god-forsaken nigger like me

Can't have a soul, Massa.

Well, some folks think they got souls

And go to heaven, too.

Them abolitionists up north done say they's good as whites.

Damn sons of bitches.

Slavery was ordained by god-

By god hisself.

Niggers are right happy eating, working,

Fornicating...

Abolitionists!