I highly suggest Frederick Douglass’ My Bondage and My Freedom.
Douglass explains how the overseer of the plantation would pick a trust worthy and obedient slave to trek to Master’s house around the first of the month to pick up rations; clothes, food, medicine, and other supplies.
Just the act of seeing Master’s house was considered a blessing.
When the rations were brought back to the slave quarters, they were given to a “caretaker” who distributed the rations ‘fairly’. Douglass points out the girth of the “caretaker” compared to the other slaves.
Those who don’t learn from history are destined to repeat it…..