Bodies in dissent: spectacular performances of race and freedom, 1850-1910

I wonder if dis is me?By golly, I is free as a frog.But maybe I is mistaken; maybe dis ain't me.Cato, is dis you?Yes, seer.Well, now it is me, an' I em a free man.But, stop!I muss change my name, kase ole massa might foller me, and somebody might tell him dat dey see Cato; so I'll change my name, and den he won't know me ef he sees me.Now, what shall I call myself ?I'm now in a suspectable part of the country, an' I muss have a suspectable name.Ah! I'll call myself Alexander Washington Napoleon Pompey Caesar.Dar, now, dat's a good long, suspectable name, and everybody will suspect me.Let me see; I wonder ef I can't make up a song on my escape!I'll try.As he subsequently confesses in song, Cato has literally…