Laurence Fishburne reads a former slave's incredible letter to his old master

In 1864, Jourdon Anderson and his wife escaped a life of slavery and moved to Ohio. A year later, he received a desperate letter from the man who used to own him, in which he was asked to return to work on his now ailing plantation. Jourdon's magnificent reply, performed here by none other than Laurence Fishburne at Letters Live at The Town Hall in New York back in 2018, was dictated by Jourdon and reprinted in numerous newspapers.

Jourdon Anderson never returned to Big Spring, Tennessee. He passed away in 1907, aged 81, and is buried alongside his wife and eleven children.

[drparnassus]

"Surely there will be a day of reckoning for those who defraud the labourer of his hire." Fishburne's delivery of this line is perfect

[Peanutjoepap]

What an incredible writer. Formal yet conversational, hilarious yet restrained, a respectful tone yet absolutely scathing.

[remmieesta]

Nothing makes me believe in cosmic justice more than reading that Jordan Anderson died at 81 and his wife Mandy lived until 87 while his enslaver? Died broke and angry at 44. He talks about the wish of his children getting an education and one of his sons achieved a doctorate and coauthored the Dayton, Ohio's first black newspaper.

[ladyredl]

The quietly suppressed rage just under the humor/sarcasm is brilliant. This man is amazing.

[kyleethekelt]

I'd love to have been a fly on the wall when the colonel received the letter. Well said and read.

[kitwhitfield]

I love how, even amidst all his sarcasm and justice, down the years we can still hear how very proud he was of his children. Here’s hoping they led great lives together.

[jenniferlobelle]

That was the most eloquent, most polite way to say the biggest F you I’ve ever heard. Amazing. I salute you sir.

[venkatwarren]

Perfect example of how the “ slave” reveals to the “ master” his class, grace and dignity . Three cheers to him.

[duckingtonedits]

30 years being mistreated as a slave and he was never broken and retain his humor.

[alarin]

What is left unsaid about Mathilda and Catherine leaves me with chills.

[bradlevantis]

Lawrence Fishburn is the perfect choice to read this. He sounds like everyone’s favourite uncle. The wise and firm family leader

[deanna]

To be able to show his former "Master", after 32yrs of enslavement, his value, was invaluable. Beautifully worded example of his patience and tolerance, of a profoundly personal human injustice.

[realhorrorshow]

A while ago I clicked over to the Letters Live site and read this. It is my absolute favourite. Anderson is a wonderful deadpan wit who frames his argument devastatingly well. He was cheated of his calling as a writer in my view. I'm glad to know he lived to 81 years and had 11 children. We can hope his legacy lives on.
"Say howdy to George Carter, and thank him for taking the pistol from you when you were shooting at me."

[fretless]

For a man (and his loved ones) to be so aggrieved for so long and to retain their sense of humor in dealing with their tormentor amazes me. Sounds like a great man.

[theotherside]

I googled his name to see if there ever was a reply or to see how the letter survived - as you would expect the recipient to have destroyed it in anger. An article says "historian Raymond Winbush tracked down some of the Colonel’s descendants still living in Big Spring. Colonel Anderson, it seems, was forced to sell the land after his plea to Jordan failed, and he died not long after at age 44. (Jordan Anderson died in 1907 at age 81.) What’s amazing, says Winbush, “is that the current living relatives of Colonel Anderson are still angry at Jordan for not coming back.”

[DanHammonds]

“Living well is the best revenge, " George Herbert.

Incredible. The man was a slave, deprived of education, and yet he writes better than most modern-day academics and has a better grasp of sarcasm and irony than most modern-day comedians.

[chasm]

Such a beautifully crafted letter. So many lines resonate. “If you fail to pay us for our faithful labours in the past, we can have little faith in your promises of the future”.

[quadcannon]

Bless the spirit of Jourdon Anderson and his wife, and may their grandchildren's grandchildren still be alive and well, continuing to live with the same spirit.

[gibsonrickenbacker]

They call her Mrs. Anderson. That made my heart smile.

[timothylarsen]

This former slave sounds like one very smart man. The letter is brilliant. I love it