Slave Culture
A Documentary Collection of the Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers' Project [3 volumes]
Published on 28. May 2014
Book
978-1-4408-0086-3 (ISBN)
Description
For the first time, the WPA Slave Narratives are organized by theme, making it easier to examine-and understand-specific aspects of slave life and culture.
There is no better way to appreciate history than to experience it through the eyes of those who lived it. Slave Culture: A Documentary Collection of the Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers' Project brings together the memories of the last generation of enslaved African Americans gathered through interviews conducted between 1936 and 1938. This three-volume work stands apart from previous Slave Narrative collections in that it organizes the narratives thematically, bringing the rich tapestry of slave culture to life in a fresh way. Within each thematic area, multiple excerpts span time, gender, and geography. An introductory essay for each theme and a contextual explanation for each narrative help readers draw lessons from this vast collection, while an introduction to the work explains the Works Progress Administration's Slave Narrative project-illuminating still another era in American history.
There is no better way to appreciate history than to experience it through the eyes of those who lived it. Slave Culture: A Documentary Collection of the Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers' Project brings together the memories of the last generation of enslaved African Americans gathered through interviews conducted between 1936 and 1938. This three-volume work stands apart from previous Slave Narrative collections in that it organizes the narratives thematically, bringing the rich tapestry of slave culture to life in a fresh way. Within each thematic area, multiple excerpts span time, gender, and geography. An introductory essay for each theme and a contextual explanation for each narrative help readers draw lessons from this vast collection, while an introduction to the work explains the Works Progress Administration's Slave Narrative project-illuminating still another era in American history.
Reviews / Votes
The editors have created a solid resource for students by organizing the narratives into categories, using selections that focus on particular reflections of the enslaved life. . . . This is a valuable contribution to United States history. Slave Culture is well-written and organized; it is ideal for the high school and undergraduate student. Upper-level college students and researchers will find some use for this book as well. * ARBA * Although some aspects of slavery remained consistent across history, readers should keep in mind that this set represents only a snapshot in time, namely the last days of slavery as related seven decades after the Civil War, mostly by people who were children in the 1860s. Nonetheless, the power of their stories is not diminished. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-level undergraduates through researchers/faculty; general readers. * Choice * What the editors do in Slave Culture that is so valuable is to sort the material in a way that makes it easy to locate testimonials about the varied aspects of life under slavery. . . . The result is an easily searchable reference work that puts primary source information at the researcher's fingertips. While many incarnations of the Federal Slave Narratives exist, few are as intuitively easy to use as the three volumes of Slave Culture. Slavery in America has spawned a whole school of historical inquiry, and countless books on the topic. Few of those secondary sources speak with the power of the words spoken by those who lived as slaves, chronicled by the federal government in the depths of a deep national tragedy. Slave Culture does an outstanding job of presenting their testimony in a way that is poignant, easy to use, and a stark reminder of what the Lost Cause was really all about. * Carolina Chronicles Magazine *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Interest Age: From 7 to 17 years
Illustrations
156 bw illus
Weight
3147 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4408-0086-3 (9781440800863)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Spencer Crew, PhD, is Clarence J. Robinson Professor of History at George Mason University.
Lonnie Bunch is the founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture at the Smithsonian Institution.
Clement Price, PhD, is Board of Governors Distinguished Service Professor of History and director of the Institute on Ethnicity, Culture, and the Modern Experience at Rutgers University.
Lonnie Bunch is the founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture at the Smithsonian Institution.
Clement Price, PhD, is Board of Governors Distinguished Service Professor of History and director of the Institute on Ethnicity, Culture, and the Modern Experience at Rutgers University.
Content
Preface
Introduction: The History of the Slave Narratives
Interviewing Formerly Enslaved People
Controversy Over Use of the Narratives
Growing Respect for Oral Histories
Chronology of Slavery in the United States
VOLUME 1
Chapter 1: The Enslaved Community Culture
Religion and the Enslaved Community
Approved Religious Services
Narratives
Religious Services on the Plantation
Narratives
Worshipping in Secret
Narratives
Holidays and Special Occasions: Times of Celebration and Rest
Important Holidays
Narratives
Corn Huskings and Frolics
Narratives
Weddings
Narratives
Funerals
Narratives
Music and Other Forms of Cultural Expression
Narratives
Chapter 2: Childhood for the Enslaved
Familial Bonds
Forced Separations of Parent and Child
Narratives
The Slaveholder as Surrogate Parent
Narratives
Day-to-Day Care of Enslaved Children
Clothing and Food
Parent and Child Interaction
Narratives
Transition from Childhood to Productive Worker
Narratives
Childhood Games (The Chance Just to Be a Child)
Narratives
VOLUME 2
Chapter 3: The Enslaved Family
Challenges of Marriages and Unions for the Enslaved
Narratives
Loss of Family Members: Separation of Couples and Families
Narratives
Mixed Family: White Fathers
Narratives
Providing Support for Family Members
Narratives
Preserving Family History and Heritage
Narratives
Chapter 4: Enslaved Women
The Workday for Enslaved Women
Field Labor
Domestic Work
Narratives
Enslaved Women and Their Families
The Joy and Pain of Establishing a Family
Protecting Family and Pushing Back
Narratives
Enslaved Women and Marriage
Narratives
Sexual Imposition and Enslaved Women
Narratives
VOLUME 3
Chapter 5: Work and Slavery
Field Workers
Seeking a Break from the Work Routine
Child Workers
Narratives
Domestic Workers
Narratives
Skilled Workers
Narratives
Hiring Out Enslaved Workers
Narratives
Chapter 6: Physical Abuse and Intimidation
Punishing Field Workers
Narratives
Punishing Domestic Workers
Mistreatment by Female Enslavers
Narratives
Crushing Signs of Rebelliousness
Narratives
Chapter 7: Runaways and the Quest for Freedom
Reasons for Deciding to Run
Narratives
Crafting a Plan of Escape
Narratives
Fleeing Not Too Far Distant
Narratives
Discouraging Freedom
Narratives
The Impact of the Civil War
Narratives
Emancipation
Narratives
Appendix: The Long Road to the Cabin Door: Historians on American Slavery
Recommended Resources
Name Index
Subject Index
Introduction: The History of the Slave Narratives
Interviewing Formerly Enslaved People
Controversy Over Use of the Narratives
Growing Respect for Oral Histories
Chronology of Slavery in the United States
VOLUME 1
Chapter 1: The Enslaved Community Culture
Religion and the Enslaved Community
Approved Religious Services
Narratives
Religious Services on the Plantation
Narratives
Worshipping in Secret
Narratives
Holidays and Special Occasions: Times of Celebration and Rest
Important Holidays
Narratives
Corn Huskings and Frolics
Narratives
Weddings
Narratives
Funerals
Narratives
Music and Other Forms of Cultural Expression
Narratives
Chapter 2: Childhood for the Enslaved
Familial Bonds
Forced Separations of Parent and Child
Narratives
The Slaveholder as Surrogate Parent
Narratives
Day-to-Day Care of Enslaved Children
Clothing and Food
Parent and Child Interaction
Narratives
Transition from Childhood to Productive Worker
Narratives
Childhood Games (The Chance Just to Be a Child)
Narratives
VOLUME 2
Chapter 3: The Enslaved Family
Challenges of Marriages and Unions for the Enslaved
Narratives
Loss of Family Members: Separation of Couples and Families
Narratives
Mixed Family: White Fathers
Narratives
Providing Support for Family Members
Narratives
Preserving Family History and Heritage
Narratives
Chapter 4: Enslaved Women
The Workday for Enslaved Women
Field Labor
Domestic Work
Narratives
Enslaved Women and Their Families
The Joy and Pain of Establishing a Family
Protecting Family and Pushing Back
Narratives
Enslaved Women and Marriage
Narratives
Sexual Imposition and Enslaved Women
Narratives
VOLUME 3
Chapter 5: Work and Slavery
Field Workers
Seeking a Break from the Work Routine
Child Workers
Narratives
Domestic Workers
Narratives
Skilled Workers
Narratives
Hiring Out Enslaved Workers
Narratives
Chapter 6: Physical Abuse and Intimidation
Punishing Field Workers
Narratives
Punishing Domestic Workers
Mistreatment by Female Enslavers
Narratives
Crushing Signs of Rebelliousness
Narratives
Chapter 7: Runaways and the Quest for Freedom
Reasons for Deciding to Run
Narratives
Crafting a Plan of Escape
Narratives
Fleeing Not Too Far Distant
Narratives
Discouraging Freedom
Narratives
The Impact of the Civil War
Narratives
Emancipation
Narratives
Appendix: The Long Road to the Cabin Door: Historians on American Slavery
Recommended Resources
Name Index
Subject Index