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

A rare and intimate portrait of the American South emerges from a series of recorded interviews with former enslaved people who lived and labored in Alabama. Compiled during the late 1930s, these oral histories were gathered by a federal writers’ project and preserve the voices of those who experienced slavery firsthand. Listeners will hear the cadence of their speech, the texture of memory, and the details that official records often omit.

One interview follows a man who recalls being sold as a child, the rhythm of six‑to‑six field work, and the modest comforts of Saturday evenings spent singing and praying in the cabins. He describes the harsh oversight of a white overseer, the occasional holiday gatherings, and his unexpected role as a bodyguard to a young Confederate officer during the siege of Vicksburg. Through his recollections, the collection offers a vivid glimpse into daily life, family ties, and the complex human relationships that shaped an era.