How Black Farm Workers Endured Slavery in the American South – Lancaster Farming

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A photograph of a man who probably escaped from slavery in Louisiana in 1863 shows scars from whippings on his back.
Enslaved Black farm workers pick cotton under an overseer’s watch in the American South around 1850.
Frederick Douglass escaped from slavery on a Maryland plantation and became one of slavery’s most eloquent critics.
A slave cabin built around 1830 and partially restored at Sotterly Plantation in St. Mary’s County, Md.
Sojourner Truth was born into slavery on a New York farm but became a leading abolitionist.
Agriculture 250 is a series of stories by Philip Gruber telling the story of U.S. agricultural history for the nation’s 250th anniversary.
A photograph of a man who probably escaped from slavery in Louisiana in 1863 shows scars from whippings on his back.
This article is part of Lancaster Farming’s Agriculture 250 series. Agriculture 250 is a series of stories rediscovering, reflecting on and celebrating America’s farming history as the nation celebrates its 250th birthday in 2026. Click here for more stories from this series.
For Old Barney and Young Barney, life revolved around the stable.
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Agriculture 250 is a series of stories by Philip Gruber telling the story of U.S. agricultural history for the nation’s 250th anniversary.
A slave cabin built around 1830 and partially restored at Sotterly Plantation in St. Mary’s County, Md.
Sojourner Truth was born into slavery on a New York farm but became a leading abolitionist.
Frederick Douglass escaped from slavery on a Maryland plantation and became one of slavery’s most eloquent critics.
Enslaved Black farm workers pick cotton under an overseer’s watch in the American South around 1850.
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Both Native Americans and colonists had successful farming systems, but only one could win the battle for New England’s soil.
The farmers who became the Pennsylvania Dutch endured economic hardship and religious persecution as they sought to leave Germany and Switzerland.
As the United States celebrates its 250th birthday in 2026, Lancaster Farming is rediscovering America’s farming history with stories througho…

Phil Gruber is the news manager at Lancaster Farming. He can be reached at 717-721-4427 or pgruber@lancasterfarming.com.
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Gilliam Nii Lighter

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