Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States from Interviews with Former Slaves, Volume XI, North Carolina Narratives, Part 1

This volume brings together a vivid chorus of voices recorded in the late 1930s by the Federal Writers’ Project, preserving the memories of former enslaved people from North Carolina. Each interview is presented exactly as it was spoken, complete with the dialect, pauses, and personal anecdotes that give listeners a direct line to the past. The collection includes a wide range of informants—farm laborers, women, men, and children—who share the details of their daily lives, family ties, and the people who shaped their experiences.

Listeners will hear stories of wedding dresses, work in the fields, and the rhythms of plantation routines, all narrated in the speakers’ own words. The interviews also capture moments of both hardship and resilience, revealing how community, faith, and perseverance helped individuals navigate an oppressive system. As an oral history, the book offers an intimate, human perspective on a pivotal chapter of American history, inviting listeners to connect with the personal realities behind the broader narrative.