Sometime before 1818, an enslaved young man named Dave was brought to Edgefield, in the
heart of South Carolina’s pottery-producing area. From the time he was first taught to turn a
potter’s wheel, Dave showed exceptional natural talent. Soon he was creating pieces of great
beauty and often massive size. He also learned to read and write, even though South Carolina
had laws prohibiting slave literacy. And then Dave did something even more daring: he began to
sign his jars and carve many of them with sayings and short poems that reflected his daily life
and experiences. With these courageous acts, Dave quietly protested the brutality of slavery and
asserted his humanity.
Here is an evocative portrait of Dave as memorable as one of his jars. Through simple yet
powerful poetry, including some of Dave’s inscriptions, we learn his extraordinary story of
perseverance, creative inspiration, and hope. Today Dave’s legacy lives on in the artistry of his
pottery, in his intriguing words, and as a reminder of the dignity and resilience of the human
spirit.
