Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States from Interviews with Former Slaves, Volume II, Arkansas Narratives, Part 2

A unique portrait of life in the Deep South emerges from this collection of first‑hand interviews, captured in the 1930s by the Federal Writers’ Project. Former enslaved Arkansans speak directly to the microphone, sharing the names of their families, the fields they tended, and the rhythms of the plantations where they lived. Their voices, preserved alongside period photographs, bring an immediacy that written histories often lack.

Listeners will hear stories of childhood games, the sound of whittling wooden spoons, and the quiet moments spent around a fire as elders taught obedience and survival. The narratives reveal how religion, music, and community helped people endure harsh labor, the ever‑present overseer, and the complexities of family ties that blended African, Native, and American experiences. These accounts also touch on small acts of resistance—hidden books, secret gatherings, and the yearning for education.

Together, the interviews form a vivid folk history that invites you to step into the world of those who lived through slavery in Arkansas, offering insight, empathy, and a deeper appreciation for the courage of those who survived.