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

"Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States from Interviews with Former Slaves" is a historical account compiled by the Federal Writers' Project during the late 1930s. This comprehensive work presents a collection of firsthand interviews with individuals who experienced slavery, providing a crucial perspective on this dark chapter of American history. The likely topic of the book revolves around the personal stories of former slaves from various backgrounds as they share their experiences of enslavement, freedom, and life afterward. The opening of this collection introduces a series of interviews, each portraying the voices and memories of different narrators. Informants like Frank Cannon recall their origins, the daily lives they endured, and the complexities of relationships with their masters. Other individuals, such as Zenie Cauley and Willie Buck Charleston Jr., recount pivotal moments of their lives during and after the Civil War, emphasizing their memories of freedom, familial ties, and the lingering repercussions of slavery in their everyday existence. These narratives are not only accounts of hardship and struggle but also reflections on resilience, community, and change in the aftermath of a catastrophic period in American history. Each interview provides invaluable insights into the lived realities of former slaves, ensuring their voices are heard in an era that sought to suppress them. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

The Works Progress Administration was an American New Deal agency that employed millions of jobseekers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads. It was set up on May 6, 1935, by presidential order, as a key part of the Second New Deal.