Mighty Rough Times, I Tell You: Personal Accounts of Slavery in Tennessee

by Andrea Sutcliffe (Editor)

In 1929, the Social Sciences Department at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, began recording the oral histories of former slaves. During the mid-1930s, the Federal Writers’ Project undertook a similar effort, ultimately compiling more than two thousand interviews and ten thousand pages of material in seventeen states. In this volume, thirty-six former slaves living in Tennessee recount what it was like to live under the yoke. Tennessee was not a large slaveholding state compared with others in the South. On the other hand, it was a leader in the abolition movement prior to 1830 and a powder keg of mixed Union and Confederate sympathies at the time of the Civil War. The voices in this volume thus recall the extreme conditions of slavery in the border country. Originally from San Antonio, Andrea Sutcliffe has a journalism degree from the University of Texas at Austin. She was a writer, editor, and publications manager in the Washington, DC, area for twenty years. Her writing and editing career began in 1990 as director of the EEI Press in Alexandria, Virginia. In 1996, Andrea Sutcliffe moved to Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley to devote herself full-time to writing. Andrea’s love of her new home in the mountains of western Virginia, and a desire to learn more about the region’s fascinating history, led to her book,  Touring the Shenandoah Valley Backroads .

Genres: History, Race, Nonfiction, Biography

103 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2000

About the author

Originally from San Antonio, Andrea Sutcliffe has a journalism degree from the University of Texas at Austin. She was a writer, editor, and publications manager in the Washington, DC, area for twenty years. Her writing and editing career began in 1990 as director of the EEI Press in Alexandria, Virginia. In 1996, Andrea Sutcliffe moved to Virginias Shenandoah Valley to devote herself full-time to writing. Andreas love of her new home in the mountains of western Virginia, and a desire to learn more about the regions fascinating history, led to her book, Touring the Shenandoah Valley Backroads. "

Reviews

[Melinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love reading first hand slave narratives and these were interesting, but I do wish the author would have stayed true to the dialect of the speaker the way most slave narratives do.

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Feels like an odd thing to assign stars to

[B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating book - if you take it for what it is. Accounts from former slaves regarding activities of daily living, both prior to and following their freedom from slavery. That being said, the blurb for the book and the title of the book are both misnomers. Simply because the interview and transcription process was conducted by a Tennessee institute of higher education does not mean that there is a relationship between the stories told and Tennessee. I acquired the book to learn more of Tennessee history and I got more about Georgia or the price of bacon or clothing acquisition than I did anything else. If you are expecting historical perspectives, you will be disappointed. That said, the stories told are still very interesting. It's true history. It should be read at least once. And man, boy would it be nice if bacon was still a dollar per pound.

[In · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of oral testimonies from former slaves. The WPA and others conducted hundreds of interviews in the 30's and beyond with folks that had been slaves. Andrea Sutcliffe put together this collection after finding them in archives through Tennessee. These are primary source stories about slave auctions right on the Nashville courthouse grounds, accounts of family members lost, and memories of all types from people who lived through this dark time in our history.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hearing first hand accounts from former slaves was eye opening and so very sad. This book gave me a much better understanding of what went on during slavery. I bought this book at a historic house in Charleston South Carolina but I'm sure it can be found online. I highly recommend it.

[Jeffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are from the "Real Voices, Real History" series and chronicles the personal accounts of slaves before & during the Civil War.

[Beeba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking stories.

[sarafem · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great book telling the stories of former slaves in Tennessee. The only reason I gave it only three stars is because it really shook me that these former slaves almost all would talk about how kind their "marsters" were, and then in the next sentence talk about being beaten and starved, and their parents and children sold.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting book and a quick read. The chapters are short stories so it is very easy to a read a chapter here and there. It was very interesting to hear about slavery directly from people who lived it.

[Robert Ferry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unforgettable perspectives on a terrible history.