“It’s why the other slaves always avoided them, they were outsiders,” Ralph said, as if things made a lot more sense to him now. It didn’t to me.

My blood reached a boiling point, but I forced my voice to remain steady as I said, “That still doesn’t make it right. Not one of them called for help the night our mom bled out in father’s arms. Not a single one even lifted a finger to help us when they knew father had fallen into despair and could barely care for a newborn and ...