The Conjure Woman · Chapter
Sis' Becky's Pickaninny explained
Julius tells the story of Sis' Becky, a field hand separated from her husband and later traded by her owner for a racehorse.
What happens
Julius tells the story of Sis' Becky, a field hand separated from her husband and later traded by her owner for a racehorse. Her baby Mose is sold to a speculator, causing Becky deep despair. Through conjure and the help of Aunt Peggy, she is reunited with her son, who later buys her freedom. The story is framed by Annie's melancholy and her eventual recovery after hearing it, with Julius's rabbit's foot appearing as a token of luck.
Themes in this chapter
Family Separation
Becky is separated from her husband and later her baby Mose due to the whims of slave owners and traders.
Conjure and Superstition
Aunt Peggy uses conjure to reunite Becky with her baby; Julius's rabbit's foot is presented as a charm against misfortune.
Resistance and Agency
Becky's son Mose learns a trade, buys his mother's freedom, and later buys his own, demonstrating agency within the oppressive system.
Characters to notice
- Uncle Julius
Tells the story of Sis' Becky to cheer up Annie; carries a rabbit's foot for luck.
- Annie
Suffers from melancholy; listens to Julius's story and begins to recover afterward.
- Sis' Becky
A field hand traded for a racehorse; separated from her baby Mose; later reunited through conjure.
- Aunt Peggy
The conjure woman who helps reunite Sis' Becky with her baby Mose.
- Kunnel Pen'leton
Owns Sis' Becky; trades her for a racehorse named Lightnin' Bug.
Key passages
“Dis yer Becky useter b'long ter ole Kunnel Pen'leton, who owned a plantation down on de Wim'l'ton Road, 'bout ten miles fum heah, des befo' you gits ter Black Swamp.”
This woman Becky used to be owned by old Colonel Pendleton, who had a plantation about ten miles from here on the Wilmington Road, just before you reach Black Swamp.
Julius introduces the setting and ownership of Sis' Becky.
“Kunnel Pen'leton 'lowed he'd 'a' bought dis nigger, but he had be'n bettin' on hoss races, en didn' hab no money, en so Becky's husban' wuz sol' erway ter Fuhginny.”
Colonel Pendleton said he would have bought that man, but he had been betting on horse races and had no money, so Becky's husband was sold away to Virginia.
Explains the initial family separation due to the owner's gambling debts.
“Ef Sis' Becky had had a rabbit foot, she nebber would 'a' went th'oo all dis trouble.”
If Sis' Becky had possessed a rabbit's foot, she would never have gone through all that trouble.
Julius concludes that the rabbit's foot would have prevented Becky's suffering.