The Mandingo Overseer

The original oil painting is available, size, 16.5′ x 25″ to see click here

On big estates, the overseer—typically a white man, though occasionally a black slave—known as a “driver”—was in charge of overseeing the slaves’ daily work. He was appointed to the role by his owner. Particularly in the Deep South or on plantations where the master was frequently absent, several estates maintained both a white overseer and a black driver. Former slaves share unpleasant memories of white overseers.

The Mandingo Overseer– “I plant seeds for harvest, but not of cotton as I stand here in burlap. My obedient work has cut a body of desire. From as I remember I do all white people’s desires. I’m more brutal on those who do the harvest I meaner than Massa is. I top cock in the hen house and get to sleep around”.

All slave owners had a challenge to select obedient and well temperate negroes to teach and delegate responsibilities to. Which in turn gave a particular slave benefit that other slaves did not have.

Giclee Canvas print size; 17″ x 25″