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

This volume brings together the voices of dozens of former enslaved people from Texas, recorded in the late 1930s as part of a nationwide oral‑history project. The interviews capture vivid recollections of childhood, work, family ties, and the everyday rituals that sustained them—whether it’s the way a mother dyed cloth with walnut and cedar moss or the charms a man wore for protection against “conjuremen.” Listeners will hear the distinctive dialects and personal anecdotes that reveal how these individuals made sense of a world shaped by hardship and resilience.

Beyond the raw details of labor and household chores, the narratives reveal the rich cultural landscape of Texas plantations and towns, offering glimpses into music, superstition, and community life. The collection is accompanied by period photographs that put faces to the stories, deepening the sense of connection. Together, these testimonies form a folk history that honors the memory of those who lived through slavery and provides a nuanced window into a pivotal chapter of American life.