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

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

28170

Title

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

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This collection preserves the voices of South Carolina's oldest ex-slaves, offering intimate, dialect-rich oral histories of plantation life, Civil War experiences, and the transition to freedom. Featuring narratives from centenarians like Mary Raines and Frank Range, the volume captures enduring themes of resilience, community, and the complex legacy of slavery through firsthand accounts collected by the Federal Writers' Project.

Summary up to 500 words

Compiled by the Federal Writers' Project between 1936 and 1938, Volume XIV of the Slave Narratives offers a profound folk history of slavery in South Carolina through the voices of former enslaved people, many over eighty years old at the time of recording. The collection opens with Mary Raines, a 99-year-old woman who recounts her life from childhood on a plantation to her service in both fields and house. Her narrative illustrates the harsh realities of enslaved life, including severe discipline, yet also highlights subtle acts of resistance, such as secretly taking extra food for children, and the deep familial bonds that sustained the community. Another central figure is Frank Range, a 103-year-old Civil War veteran who served as a cook and heroically rescued his master from a collapsed breastwork during a bombardment at Richmond. Range attributes his longevity to sobriety and hard work, offering a humorous and dignified perspective on his survival. Other contributors include Sam Rawls, who describes his escape after Union soldiers threatened his master, and Jessie Sparrow, who details her later years caring for white employers while navigating poverty and age. The narratives also feature "Uncle" Bill Young, who contrasts the relative plenty of slavery with modern hardships, and Bob Young, who reflects on the moral decay of fast living versus the virtue of walking and service. Themes of faith, the terror of the Ku Klux Klan, the economic struggles of sharecropping, and the loss of Confederate currency are woven throughout the text. Collectively, these stories paint a picture of a community that endured immense suffering yet maintained dignity, humor, and strong ties. Preserved in authentic dialect and oral style, this volume humanizes the statistics of slavery with personal, emotional depth, serving as a vital historical document of the American experience.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Biography
• History
• Social Conditions