The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois

Micco has grown into a man and married Mahala, a woman of both Indigenous American and European ancestry who yearns to be part of white society. The couple stays on the tribe’s land and decides to start a farm there even when the rest of the tribe moves to a new area. Mahala convinces Micco to buy a slave for her, and although he dislikes the idea because of his own African ancestry, he purchases an enslaved man named Pop George.

One day, a young white traveler named Samuel Pinchard shows up at the farm asking for shelter. He gets along with Micco so well that he ends up staying indefinitely. When Micco confesses to Samuel that he fears nearby white men will one day find out about his Creek blood and kill him to take his land, Samuel suggests that he solve this problem by transferring the deed for the land to him. He also suggests that he, Samuel, should marry Micco’s daughter, Lady.

Micco agrees, but when Samuel comes back from handling this business in town, he no longer acts like an affable guest. He brings five enslaved men with him and makes clear that he will now be running the farm.