NC Voices; The Civil War Story Modules; Gil Vick-Uncle Ike

My name is Gil Vic, I grew up in Kingston, North Carolina, I was born in 1942 and one of my stories has to do with Uncle Lake, who was a black man that lived on the farm, always had lived on the farm and was born as best anybody can tell in 1864 and was born a slave. My daddy had a corner of the farm, 18 acres and he built our family home. My house, Uncle Lake's house, to the plantation house, was about three quarters of a mile. Uncle Lake's house was about half way and on the road. So as I walked up to see my uncles, who lived in the plantation house, and I would go see them regularly because they always had something going on. It was just great to get out of school and go hang out with my uncles. I'd stop Uncle Lake's house if I saw him out or, and he was an old man sitting there by himself, he was always glad to see somebody, I think that he always had a story to tell is what I remember most.

I just find it interesting that I can say that I have known somebody who was born a slave in 2011, I just find that amazing.