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- To make the situation even scarier and confusing for Ocazima, she couldn't understand what the American people were saying. She had no idea where she was going and how much her life would change.
- 13-year-old Ocazima was one of the children abducted from their home in West Africa to go to America to be a slave. She and her four siblings were alone as their parents were off at work. Then some men and women kidnapped them and brought them far away to their house. Ocazima was incredibly frightened, upset, and confused. Thoughts like, "Who are these people?", "Why do they want me?" , and "Will I ever see my parents and family again?" ran through her head as she was awake on an incredibly scary and sleepless night.
- Ocazima, her siblings, and a number of African people were forced on to a cramped ship. The journey would be horrifying for Ocazima. She had to stay in the lower deck for most of the long, months-long trip. Many people were sick and injured on the boat. She was chained up and had no belongings anymore. Her brother died from beatings and her sister died from an illness. Ocazima was devastated, angry, hurt, ill, and confused when she arrived in America. She was thrust into an alien, cruel world that she did nothing to deserve.
- When she got to America she was sold at a market like an animal to a rich man Mr. Williams and his wife. They had about 40 other slaves on their cotton plantation. Now Ocazima was separated from her only family member left, her younger brother.
- When she arrived at the plantation, Ocazima was sent to work in fields for hours. She was glad that she was now provided with a bed and decent food. But the work was very tough. It was especially difficult for her as she was young and quite malnourished.
- As time went on Mrs. Williams got ill and needed someone to watch her young twins more often. She knew Ocazima was intelligent and good with children and gave her the job of watching them. Although Ocazima would rather have been watching her own younger siblings, she knew she was lucky that she didn't have to work in the field. During this time she learned English quite well by just listening to conversations. Later that year, Mrs. Williams died along with their oldest son.
- After the death of his wife and son, Mr. William's heart hardened even more. He was crueler to the slaves and ignored his daughters as they reminded him of his wife. Yet he knew Ocazima was like a mother to his daughters so he didn't kick her out.
- Even with all her trauma in her life, Ocazima selflessly and kindly cared for the children. She knew what it was like to lose a parent and sibling too. She also knew many slaves would much rather be in her position. She tried to help the slaves working in the fields as well. Slavery was an incredibly sad and terrible part of American history. Yet throughout her life, Ocazima showed so much bravery, maturity, and kindness that I think we all can learn from.
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