Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States from Interviews with Former Slaves, Volume X, Missouri Narratives

"Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States" is a collection of interviews, recorded in the late 1930s by the Federal Writers’ Project, that captures first-person accounts from people who were once slaves. Told in their own voices, these narratives focus on the experiences, hardships, and strength of African Americans living through slavery. Stories like James Monroe Abbot's, Betty Abernathy's, and Aunt Hannah Allen's reveal the pain but also the spirit of enslaved people in Missouri, from the shock of brutal labor to the sweet taste of emancipation and the incredible bond to family. These stories combined create a vital record of American history, giving life to the individuals who endured slavery.