“Voices Remembering Slavery: Freed People Tell Their Stories” was a project done by the Federal Writers’ Project that interviewed former slaves who discussed their experience as enslaved people. They described vivid memories of slavery as well as the hardships and harsh conditions faced by Black people during and after the Civil War.
Fountain Hughes, a former slave from Baltimore, Marylamd was interviewed by Hermond Norwood on June 11th, 1949. During the interview, Hughes explains how difficult his life was during the 1800’s – mentioning “if ever a slave again, he would end it all right away.” At the time, Blacks were treated as property or even like dogs, Hughes adds. They did not have much and did their best to live according to their means. Hughes mentioned that slaves would often gather into a log cabins for worship and ask God to deliver them from adversity.
When discussing his former life, it was surprising to hear Hughes say that he never had shoes until he was thirteen 1. Yet, he continued his hard labor as he was hired out for “one dollar a month” by his mother. Hearing Hughes compare the dollar value from the 1800’s to the 1900’s was vile. A dollar bill was worth much more than what it was fifty years ago and even today as some slaves were paid only a few cents a day.
Remembering The Voices of the enslaved people in my opinion is imperative to American History. Growing up, I was “told” how blacks were taken from Africa by white colonialists and were forced to work against their will. Though, I was never informed of their inhumane living conditions, the ill- treatment, violence and abuse, and most importantly, their impact on American society. Black people have played a key role when shaping the U.S. today and continue to do so.
Though useful, the interviews had limitations in which many narratives were impaired. The former enslaved people were unable to remember much about past events such as the Civil War as many of them were young in age. Being that they were unaware of the details regarding the Civil War of 1861, events like the Mexican War (1846), the assassination of former U.S. President James A.Garfield (1881), and Tennessee’s adoption of a new constitution abolishing slavery (1865) were more than likely unknown. Historians categorize these historical events and define them as things of the past. However, many of our ancestors have lived through these traumatic events and have experienced the social, economic and political effects of the country.
The former enslaved people were unable to remember much about past events such as the Civil War as many of them were young in age. Being that they were unaware of the details regarding the Civil War of 1861, events like the Mexican War (1846), the assassination of former U.S. President James A. Garfield (1881), and Tennessee’s adoption of a new constitution abolishing slavery (1865) were more than likely unknown. Historians categorize these historical events and define them as things of the past. However, many of our ancestors have lived through these traumatic events and have experienced the social, economic and political effects of the country.
References:
Norwood, Hermond, and Fountain Hughes. Interview with Fountain Hughes, Baltimore, Maryland. Baltimore, Maryland, November , 6, 1949. Pdf. https://www.loc.gov/item/afc1950037_afs09990a/.
The Jefferson Monticello. Getting Word: African American Families of Monticello. Retrieved from https://www.monticello.org/getting-word/people/fountain-hughes.
