Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States from Interviews with Former Slaves, Volume XVI, Texas Narratives, Part 4

The volume gathers firsthand accounts collected during the 1930s by a federal writing team, preserving the words of former enslaved people who lived through the Civil War and its aftermath. Listeners will hear a range of experiences—from Mazique Sanco, who was born on a South Carolina plantation, served in the Tenth Cavalry, and later became a celebrated hotel chef in Texas, to Clarissa Scales, who recalled her mother’s journey from Louisiana to a Texas farm and her own work caring for livestock and tending fires. Each narrative is presented with the original dialect and detail that bring the era to life.

Beyond the personal stories, the collection offers a broader picture of how emancipation reshaped families, labor, and community ties across the South and the West. The interwoven photographs provide visual context, while the interview notes reveal the interviewers’ respectful attempts to capture memory. Listening to these voices gives a rare, intimate glimpse into a pivotal chapter of American history, reminding us of resilience and the everyday struggles that shaped generations.