W.L Bost was an ex-slave who lived through the struggles of slavery, the civil war, and the immense change that happened afterwards. Although slavery had ended after the civil war, it was no easier, and the former slaves would have little chance to rise up. During slavery, the “women got 15 lashes and the men 30. That is for jes bein’ out without a pass. ” (Bost). He lived on a plantation in which the master was kinder than the other plantation owners, but outside the plantation, the rules were strict, and slaves had extremely harsh punishments. The war didn’t affect him much, as there was not much fighting in the area of the plantation. After the war, he was told by union troops that they were to leave the plantation if they were not given
