Eliza: Your family has a
fairly long lineage
attached to Salem and
has done wonderful
things for the
prosperity of the town,
but it also has ties to
slavery. How do you
grapple with that?
Carrie: I try not to. It is a
fresh wound that will
take more than my
lifetime to heal, if it ever does. I will not lie and say that the family is ashamed or sorry because I do not know, but we fought a War over it, and it is done. The Negro men and women in Salem are a resilient people and I believe they will make the most of the freedom they have been granted. They have as good of a chance as any to find their place here and live in peace.
Eliza: I think we can agree Salem has been through some changes and can look forward to great success in the future. How would you describe the War’s impact on Salem?
Carrie: The impact is in the legacy we see now. Negroes have their freedom and are making the most of it. Women have proven they can hold their own in times of trouble and are just as capable as men in caring for more than children. Salem is growing and is very much up with the times. I think the War only proved our capabilities to the surrounding communities and it will continue to grow even through the hardest of times.
Eliza: Thank you for joining me today. I've known you for many years and we have come together in so many different ways I am excited that the rest of Salem will get to enjoy your thoughts.