This content was created by Lauren Bedsole. The last update was by David Squires.
Keys to the Archive: A Gathering of Old MenMain MenuAboutIntroductionKeyword EntriesTracesCreative responses to the archival collectionsThe CollectionsBibliographyDavid Squiresc613f45970ae89ef70516076df94370392b06674
Unpublished Typescript Draft of Mathu
1media/Gaines Mathu Redact_thumb.jpg2020-11-19T18:58:20+00:00Lauren Bedsole928cfa58c1ab3dbffdd93d8421e7eca140059c2e52Typescript Draft of Mathusalaplain2021-01-26T17:49:16+00:00David Squiresc613f45970ae89ef70516076df94370392b06674
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1media/Dirt Road between Plantations.jpg2020-11-16T23:03:09+00:00Mathusala Redacted22image_header2021-06-01T21:23:19+00:00By Lauren Barker Bedsole
As I considered a topic for this redaction poem, I felt especially drawn to Mathu. Enslavers tried to take his life and his heritage, but Mathu proved to be a giant of a man, even according to those who enslaved him. The redaction aims to crystallize description of his personality while centering him as a character. The original draft features Mathu as the object of a bet; this redaction poem makes him an agent of his own history.
All right look at him sitting grinning with confidence A hundred A hundred a hundred against life my name is Ma th u bet? bet Jack you know something about this world I don’t know? It’s possible Jack you’re my witness you you picture him as a boy who named him Mathusala – Mathusala Jack Later he shortened it to Mathu Mathu is what he was all his life He was older and older grew up and fought to hit back Jack.