The Motherly Role Dana Took On

The more Dana was present throughout Rufus’ life, the more Dana took on a very motherly role to not only Rufus but also some of the slave children on the plantation. Alice even mistook her for her mother when she called out “mammy” as she nursed Alice from the pain she had endured. Dana cared for the children not only like a doctor would, bandaging up bruised ribs and healing sore wounds, but also as a social worker, as a listener and as a friend who gave advise and prevented the children from making bad decisions. When Alice decided for herself the best thing to do was to go to Rufus that night, it was because Dana had presented all of the possible consequences to her if she did or didn’t, but never made the decision for her. Dana was the only person the slaves felt comfortable talking to, so comfortable that they could take out all of their anger on her knowing that she would rather take it than let them take it out on the wrong person at the wrong time. “Why you let me run you down like that? You done everything you could for me, maybe even saved my life…and you’re the only one I can take it out on, the only one I can hurt and not get hurt back.” Because Dana knew what the future would be like, she was able to inspire the children with confidence knowing that things would soon be getting better one day. Her purpose may have only been to save Rufus, but in turn she ended up saving more people than she bargained for just by staying the positive and caring person she was, showing motherly love to many of the people she encountered.