Elizabeth West
Appearances
Under Yazoo Clay
A Southern Ethos
When I share these stories, there's just a lot of silence. You know, because what can you say? It's a lot to take in. I am Elizabeth West. My ancestor, family member, his name was Hillman Systron. And actually, I had no knowledge of him up until about, I don't know, five years ago. The people who were omitted were the people who had the direct line to a history that we have mixed feelings about.
Under Yazoo Clay
A Southern Ethos
You know, many people, black and white, don't want to remember the country's period of slavery. Even when they want to remember it, they just don't want to remember the slavery part. And for many of us, you know, we are told to just look forward. There's no point in looking back. But I don't think we've gotten to the point where we sit down and really talk about it, because there's just no words.
Under Yazoo Clay
A Southern Ethos
You just take it in, and you start seeing how these things in the past have this direct line to where you are in this moment. And it's a lot to think about.