My Nana McCarty’s Will

I’mma let one of my ancestors speak for herself, y’all—for realz!

I’ve been on this ancestry kick a couple weeks. It’s a mo’ fuggin’ rollercoaster ride of who’s really who and picking through other people lazy research for “facts.” Dots connecting theyselves, as I dig deeper, get crossed in my fucked up family tree. I’m still cross-checking the Shakespeare thing, while “Princess” Vanderburg turns family Ana-fucking-stasia. Dead ass doh, my way great grands from both mom and pop’s was slave holders—dead ass.

To cut to the meat o’ popular belief about the role of white women during slavery. There’s a trope about women going against evil “Massuh” to show kindness to the “poor slaves.” This is my 4th great grandmother Sarah McCarthy, y’all:

“In the name of god I do give grant or bargain unto my Son W.B. Funderburgh my Negro Boy Ambrus. I do also give grant or bequeath my Negro girl Dafney unto Martha Celona Funderburgh Daughter of my Son W.B. Funderburgh her said Dafney and her increase unto my above wrote Grand Child Martha to her and her heirs of her body for ever. I also give grant or bequeath one feather bed and furniture unto each of my daughters Lucinda Foreman and Charlotte Oden.

I do also give grant or bequeath my Stock of Cattle unto my Son W.B. Funderburgh and the more better to secure the title of my Negro Girl Emily which I have given unto my Daughter Elizabeth McCarty. I do give grant or bequeath the said girl Emily and her increase unto the Said Elizabeth and the heirs of her body for ever in witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my hand and seal...”

Irony here is daughter Lucinda did have a kid, Frances, for to pass her claim on Emily. Frances’ daughter, Fannie, married Black man Walter Hendricks—blessing, curse or what have you. I ain’t blamin' Nana McCarthy. If any o’ y’all do, then go ahead and cancel me too. I see how a lot o’ y’all do. Fuck, I benefit from the society her “sin” helped to make.

Fannie had Bette (my grandma), who had Kitty, who pushed me out into this world. That’s my legacy of slavery. At least a piece of it.

Let me know if this family shit is getting old. If not, I got five hundred years of this shit for your ass.