There Was Something Sweet and Clean about the Harvest

Era Bell Thompson's story is the only one we know about growing up black and female on a prairie farm. We've chosen a chapter from her book, American Daughter, that describes the first year on a farm in south-central North Dakota in 1914. Her father, whom she calls “Pop” works the farm with his son, Tom. In fact, her account shows that Tom was the better farmer. While the mother sticks pretty much to the “inside” work, Era Bell participates in all the outside activities.