Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States from Interviews with Former Slaves, Volume XIV, South Carolina Narratives, Part 3

This volume brings together the spoken memories of former enslaved people living in South Carolina, recorded by the Federal Writers’ Project in the late 1930s. Listeners hear the steady cadence of Adeline Jackson, an 88‑year‑old who recalls the plantation she served, the rhythms of field work, the sounds of church gatherings, and the everyday negotiations that shaped her world.

The narratives paint a portrait of family ties, religious life, and the seasonal customs that sustained a community under oppression. Through vivid detail—descriptions of large homes, modest quarters, and the colorful celebrations of Christmas—the stories reveal both the hardships and the resilient humanity of those who lived through slavery’s final decades. Together, these first‑hand accounts offer a rare, intimate glimpse into a past often left unspoken.