Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad

-- WHAT YA' DOIN' MINTY

As a young girl, Minty was often "hired out." This means she was put to work for other families in some capacity. In one case, for example, she was hired out to a weaver...a woman who mistreated her terribly. Minty was beaten on a regular basis. At one point she had the measles, but was still made to work. It was at this time she was able to get back to her mother who nursed her back to health.

Although some enslaved people found ways of making a little money, most were penniless. There were a few people who, with some meager savings and money donated by abolitionists, were able to buy their freedom..but this was rare.

Many of the "owners" of enslaved people were small farmers, "owning" two or three people. The larger plantations might have had many workers. There were some Black slave "owners", probably accounting to fewer than 2%. These were free Black people living in the south as well. Though some "owned" the enslaved people for commercial reasons, a good many were known as "benevolent slave owners." They bought slaves to enable them a better, more tolerable life; they bought family members, to keep them together; they bought them in order to free them (manumission.)

The facts of Minty's early life are sketchy. A few incidents are known however.. Harriet herself retained some memories and was known, in her senior years, to speak to children about her life . One of her distinct memories was of an infant's bed, carved out of a tree, presumably by her father. She also remembered, as a young child , being played with (tossed up and down) by some white girls.

As a child, Minty/Harriet was severely injured when a hard object thrown towards another enslaved person, accidentally hit her head leaving a physical scar . Fainting spells plagued her for the rest of her life. Beatings, mutilations and other severe treatment was suffered by the enslaved people if they committed even the most minor of offenses.

In this song, Minty is refusing to go to her assignment. Her mother and an older sister are terrified that she will get a beating--once again-- so they are urging her to get up and go to work. There is no record of this event actually happening. There is no indication anywhere that the event described in the song ever happened. I made the incident up, it is not even legend. However, the song represents the love and concern family members had for each other.

Minty replies by telling her mother and sister about her longing to be free, and her intentions to break away from her present condition. She tells them that it is not just a dream, but is on her mind as a reality for the future. This song represents both the feelings of hopelessness and yet the yearnings to be free in spite of despair. The song, therefore, is symbolic.

In actuality, as far as we know, Minty's mother, Rit, had a strong , courageous, rebellious spirit of her own as did so many of the enslaved people. It is thought that when her youngest son, Harriet's brother, was to be "sold", Rit
hid him for a month until the "sale" was abandoned.

PLEASE CLICK ON THE ORANGE CIRCLE WITH THE WHITE ARROW TO HEAR THE MUSIC FOR THE SONG. THE LYRICS FOLLOW.

Lyrics

.....MOTHER'S PART

......What ya doin' Minty, Sittin' in the corner?
......Get yourself goin', There's work to be done.

......The missus don't like ..........No lazy slave girl ,
......There aint no rest here, Never fun.

.......MOTHER'S AND SISTER'S PART

.......Com-on, Minty, Get ya-self movin'
.......Life don't change, oh can't ya' see,
.......Plantations for us is sure not free,
.......And won't ...............never be.

......MINTY'S PART

......It aint no fair mama, workin' like a cart horse
......Livin' for the big house, night and day.

,,,,,,I needs to be free, be my own master,
,,,,,,For me, it's the only way.

......I know in my heart......I'm headin' for freedom
,..,,,Ain't just a dream, ....it's on my mind

......May not be today's or tomorrow's plan,
,,..,,But it's freedom for me......that's what I'll find.

Improvisation by Bernie Katzman

Click on the song notation below to see larger view.