Slave Narratives (eBook)

A Folk History of Slavery in the United States. From Interviews with Former Slaves / Maryland Narratives

United States. Work Projects Administration (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2022
56 Seiten
DigiCat (Verlag)
859-654724692-3 (EAN)

Infos

"Slave Narratives," compiled by the United States Work Projects Administration during the mid-20th century, is a poignant anthology that assembles firsthand accounts from formerly enslaved individuals. This groundbreaking collection offers a rich and textured literary style that blends oral history with the complexities of African American voices. The narratives, diverse in perspective, reveal insights into the daily lives, struggles, and resilience of enslaved people, carefully preserving their unique dialects, emotions, and experiences. As a vital historical document, it situates itself within the broader context of American literature and social justice, serving as both a testament to survival and a call for acknowledgment of America's tangled racial legacy. The Work Projects Administration, established during the Great Depression, aimed to provide employment and document American life through various cultural initiatives. This monumental task required dedicated scholars and interviewers to connect with aging former slaves, bringing their stories into public consciousness. Their motivation stemmed from a desire to capture an essential yet often overlooked aspect of American history, ensuring that these voices were not silenced or forgotten. "Slave Narratives" is an essential read for anyone seeking to understand the profound implications of slavery in America. It provides rich material for scholars, students, and general readers alike, unfolding the human experience behind historical statistics. This compilation not only honors the history of enslaved individuals but also serves as a crucial reminder of the resilience that continues to shape American society.

Autor

The United States Work Projects Administration (WPA), not typically classified as a conventional 'author', was a pivotal New Deal agency founded by Presidential order under Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935. Born out of the economic necessities of the Great Depression, the WPA aimed to employ millions of jobseekers in public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads. Among its divisions, the Federal Writers' Project became an instrumental part in the documentation of American history. One of the most significant legacies of this project is the 'Slave Narratives', an expansive collection of autobiographical accounts from former slaves, portraying the stark realities of bondage and life in the antebellum South. These narratives are not only a testament to the resilience of the human spirit but also serve as an invaluable primary source for historical and cultural research. The literary style of the 'Slave Narratives' is raw and poignant, an amalgam of dialects capturing the voices and experiences of individuals whose stories might otherwise have been lost. This work remains a cornerstone in the study of American slavery and African American history. Ascribing a singular literary style or authorship to the WPA's body of work is inherently complex due to the collaborative nature of its projects and confluence of voices brought together under its auspices.

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 4.9.2022
• Verlagsort: Prague
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur
• Themenwelt: Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Geschichte / Politik ► Regional- / Landesgeschichte
• Themenwelt: Sozialwissenschaften ► Soziologie ► Gender Studies
• Schlagworte: 19th Century America • 19th century memoirs • abolitionist movement • African American History • African Americans • american folklore • American literature classics • american slavery • Biography • Civil Rights Movement • emancipation stories • first-hand accounts • Historical interviews • historical narratives • human rights issues • Human Spirit • Maryland • Oral History • oral history collection • Oral History Collections • personal testimonies • primary source documents • Race relations • racial injustice • resilience in bondage • slave autobiography • slave narratives • Slavery • Slavery narratives • slaves • Social conditions • Social Inequality • southern United States • southern u.s. history • Work Projects Administration