When her first child - Benjamin (Benny) is born, she curses the institution of slavery for making a wish that her own son would die in instead of remaining in slavery. She explains how difficult it was knowing it could be taken away from her at any time. Harriet moves from these situations to the hypocrisy of white Christians in the South and how slaves lobbied for access to reading and writing so they could take over Christianity, but seen their wishes refused. Harriet worries about her child's future, knowing that the doctor might come after her son. When he learns that she is pregnant again, he becomes even more enraged and mad, insulting and beating her. When Harriet's second child is born and she learns it's a girl, she is melancholy, knowing that her daughter is inevitable.