M
To Fanny Miller (born ca 1797- date of death unknown)
“Be particularly careful in reporting the class Mulatto.
The word is here generic, and includes quadroons, octoroons,
and all persons having any perceptible trace of African blood.
Important scientific results depend uponthe correct
determination of this class in Schedules 1 and 2.”
NINTH CENSUS, UNITED STATES, 1870,
Instructions to Assistant Marshals, page 10
Too white to bend
Too black to blend
Sticking like a finger, sore
not quite in the middle
a blur on the pages of your family bible.
8 thoughts on "M"
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Very well penned, Fanny!
Thank you so much.
Brilliant!
Thank you, Pam. I wasn’t sure about the title. An earlier one was too one the nose. Then I am remembered the initial used the column “color” for the census.
Oh, this is fantastic! Love the word “sore” hanging there – and the last line! The title fits so well.
Thank you, Sylvia. I will keep that title then!
as for the last line, I wondered about shortening it at one point but thought that like the finger, it had to stick out.
It feels like it would flow better with one less syllable.
Maybe ”
“a blur on the pages of family bibles.”
It’s less personal
“a blur on the page of family bibles.” ?
“a blur in the margin of family bibles” ?
“A blur in the margin of your bible” ?
I can’t make up my mind…
Loved the line too black to bend! You nailed this Juneteenth homage!
Thank you Linda. I had this in my drawer (😉 Katerina) for a while. It needed a fresh look. I am still undecided about how to make that last line most impactful.
I am thinking margin rather than pages. I am torn between keeping or tossing “your”.