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

"Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States from Interviews with Former Slaves" by the United States Work Projects Administration is a collection of powerful, first-person stories from people who lived through slavery in the United States, offering an unvarnished look at a brutal period in American history through the eyes of those who experienced it directly. Gathered during the late 1930s, these accounts from former slaves, including individuals like Frances Batson and Julia Casey, detail their early lives, family relationships, and the often-harsh realities of their interactions with slaveholders in Tennessee; together, the stories reveal the day-to-day existence of enslaved people, along with their persistent fight for freedom and the challenges they faced even after emancipation. This compilation of personal histories highlights the themes of endurance, the deep-seated desire for liberty, and the intricate social structure that defined life both during and after the Civil War, painting a picture of human strength against the backdrop of injustice, and preserving the memories of a generation forever impacted by enslavement.