Day of Tears by Julius Lester

The Day of Tears by Julius Lester.  Los Angeles: Disney, Jump at the Sun.

Lester recounts the true story of the largest auction of slaves in American history on March 2 and 3, 1859 in Savannah, Georgia.  Over 400 slaves (429 or 436) that had belonged to Pierce Butler were sold to help pay off some of his gambling debts and stock market losses.  Butler had been married to the English actress and abolitionist, Fanny Kemble. The couple divorced over the issue of slavery, and the two daughters Sarah and Frances were raised by their father who had custody of the two girls.  These four characters, and list of real slaves and the prices they were sold for were woven into this story told by a variety of fictional characters.

The account starts with the rain that fell so hard for two days while the auction was in session. Mattie and Will, two black slaves, are in the Butlers kitchen discussing the rain.  "The rain is coming down as hard as regret.  "Will said, 'This ain't rain. This is God's tears.'" (Lester, 2005, p. 1). The rain that pours in the story is like a collective of tears from the sadness and anger that came from the slaves that are being sold.  The Day of Tears examines the thoughts of each character involved from the broken hearts of the slaves, the regret of the plantation owner, to the slave trader's ambition.  It encompasses perspectives from both sides of the issue.  It brings to life characters that lived in the past and humanizes the slave experience.  It shows both the good and bad of all the people involved.  The story also tells of the whites who helped the slaves escape and gain freedom, even at the risk of breaking the law.  This is a human story.  One that is complex, but told beautifully through dialogue.  And the rain, played an important part of this history as a metaphor for the sadness that is part of our American history.

Lester, J. (2005). The Day of Tears by Julius Lester.  Los Angeles: Disney, Jump at the Sun.

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