Missouri Slave Narratives

by Work Projects Administration (Compiler)

The view that slavery could best be described by those who had themselves experienced it personally has found expression in several thousand commentaries, autobiographies, narratives, and interviews with those who "endured." Although most of these accounts appeared before the Civil War, more than one-third are the result of the ambitious efforts of the Federal Writers' Project of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) to interview surviving ex-slaves during the 1930s. The result of these efforts was the Slave Narrative Collection, a group of autobiographical accounts of former slaves that today stands as one of the most enduring and noteworthy achievements of the WPA. Compiled in seventeen states during the years 1936-38, the collection consists of more than two thousand interviews with former slaves, most of them first-person accounts of slave life and the respondents' own reactions to bondage. The interviews afforded aged ex-slaves an unparalleled opportunity to give their personal accounts of life under the "peculiar institution," to describe in their own words what it felt like to be a slave in the United States. -Norman R. Yetman, American Memory, Library of Congress This paperback edition of selected Missouri narratives is reprinted in facsimile from the typewritten pages of the interviewers, just as they were originally typed.

Genres: History

168 pages, Paperback

First published January 31, 1999

Reviews

[Majenta · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was remarkable how old so many of the interviewees got to be, and how much they were able to remember! Many of them (when asked) claimed to be not the biggest fans of modern (1930s) young people. I wonder what they'd think of the most current young generation! :)

[Michael A. Simmons, Sr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent compendium of stories about life as a slave

Must reading for those who would like to know how slavery really was as related by former slaves themselves. By all means,, put this on your list

[pegi johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a Southerner

Because I'm a Southerner, I enjoyed this book immensely. White children in the South, when I was growing up never heard the truth about slavery or black culture. I find that I would recommend this book to young people so they can learn what the history books don't teach.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Difficult reading not only due to subject matter, but also in the interviews were written in the dialect of the interviewee. Some of the stories were quite revealing as to the slaves attitudes towards enslavement as well as emancipation. I was most amazed at the ages and strength of these former slaves.

[Autumn Stars · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of knowledge gained in this read!