In Dark Princess, Du Bois describes the mind-numbingly boring task of paring potatoes (37).
Potatoes were domesticated by the Andeans in a South American mountain range with highly variable temperatures. Early potatoes contained toxic chemicals, so they would submerge them in a slurry of clay and water to draw out the toxins. Later, less toxic potatoes were developed. When Spaniards arrived in 1532, they copied the indigenous peoples and started eating potatoes. Potatoes took a while to catch on in Europe, but were useful during famine, like in Prussia in 1744 (Mann).
In the book, these potatoes are on a cross-Atlantic journey back to the Americas with Matthew. He’s paring, or peeling the skin off the potatoes. This could be the first step for the preparation of many dishes. Andeans used many cooking techniques for potatoes, like boiling, baking, and mashing (Mann).
The language is repetitive and restrictive, reflecting the nature of the work Matthew is doing. Importantly, Matthew notes that there is a machine that can do the same work but it’s cheaper to have him do it. This speaks to the dehumanization of black people in America during this time – how they were valued only for their labor, exploited to such a level that it’s cheaper to have someone do rote manual labor than employ a machine already in the boss’ possession. It emphasizes the depth of his commitment to deliver this letter – he puts aside his pride to do menial tasks during his voyage when he left the US for the sake of his pride and dignity originally.
Mann, Charles C. How the Potato Changed the World. 1 Nov. 2011, www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-the-potato-changed-the-world-108470605/.