Look back at life on a Carolina plantation

Historic Brattonsville will offer “By the Sweat of Our Brows,” an authentic interpretation of African American life on a Carolina plantation, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 12, 1444 Brattonsville Road, McConnells.

This year will feature African American descendants of the Bratton family who will be on site in person to share their stories.

At noon in the orientation room, Dr. Lisa Bratton will present her current research as a Bratton descendant titled – “Straight Outta Brattonsville: Amazing Facts about Enslavement that You Won’t Read in History Books.”

From 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., in addition to having the family representatives on site, Historic Brattonsville will have an array of activities that portray what life was like for the enslaved on the Carolina plantation.

Historic cooking over open hearths will be demonstrated in the kitchens and the antebellum homes will be open for guided tours. Outdoors, historically dressed interpreters will be making bricks out of mud from the creek.

Children can make rag dolls and play African American folk games. Ham biscuits, sweet potato pies and other baked goods along with ice tea and lemonade will be available for purchase.

At 3 p.m. guests and descendants of the “Seven Sacred Families of Brattonsville” will unite in front of the Homestead. The Stars of Zion, a gospel choir from Rock Hill will sing. Nationally acclaimed poet Glenis Redmond will honor the voices from the past and beckon the voices of today. “By the Sweat of Our Brows” will culminate with the descendants “calling of the names” from the 1865 “Freedmen’s List.”

Admission: $6, adults; $5, seniors $5, $3, youth $3 and free for Culture & Heritage Museum members and age 3 and younger.

This story was originally published September 3, 2015 at 3:21 PM with the headline "Look back at life on a Carolina plantation."