Shmi Skywalker

When pirates captured her parents during a space voyage in the Outer Rim, young Shmi Skywalker was sold into slavery and separated from her family. During a difficult childhood, Shmi was taken from one system to another by several masters of various species while serving as a house servant. When no longer a girl, Shmi was dropped from house servant status and was forced into cleaning work. Although slavery is illegal in the Republic, laws do not reach all parts of the galaxy-and while inexpensive droids can perform menial tasks as well as humans, living slaves give great status and prestige to their owners.

Tantalized several times by the false possibility of freedom, Shmi now accepts her life and finds joy in her son Anakin, whom she loves dearly. Shmi and Anakin live together in the Slave Quarter of Mos Espa, a collection of adobe hovels piled together at the edge of town. Shmi learned her technical skills under a former master, Pi-Lippa, who planned to grant Shmi her freedom. However, when Pi-Lippa died Shmi was sold to a relative. Shmi can always sense when Anakin is nearby, even when she cannot see or hear him. When Shmi is not working at Watto’s home, she is permitted to clean computer memory devices to bring in a modest income.