The quote addresses the limited understanding one might have about the lives of enslaved individuals, suggesting that what they recall is shaped by what was intentionally shared with them. It implies that even in a seemingly humane setting like Davis Bend, the struggles and sorrows of the enslaved were concealed from the memory of their owners, creating a false sense of reality.

This concealment is presented as a form of protection or affection from the enslaved towards their owners, suggesting that they shielded their memories and experiences from those in power. The idea of safeguarding one’s memory highlights the complex relationships between enslaved people and their enslavers, where the pain of the former often remained hidden from the latter.