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Folk History of Slavery in the United States: From Interviews with Former Slaves

Herman Melville

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Published in Slave Narratives: A Folk History Of Slavery In The United States From Interviews With Former Slaves Georgia Narratives Part 1

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Slavery was a brutal and dehumanizing institution that existed in the United States for over 200 years. During that time, millions of Africans were forcibly brought to the Americas and sold into slavery. They were forced to work in inhumane conditions, and they were denied basic human rights.

Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves Georgia Narratives, Part 1

by Cristina Rebière

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Despite the horrors of slavery, enslaved people found ways to resist their oppression. They sang songs, told stories, and created a rich culture that helped them to maintain their sense of identity. They also formed communities that provided them with support and strength.

In the years after the Civil War, former slaves began to share their stories with historians and researchers. These interviews provide a valuable glimpse into the lives of enslaved people and the ways in which they resisted their oppression.

Resistance

Enslaved people resisted their oppression in a variety of ways. They ran away from their plantations, they staged revolts, and they refused to work. They also used more subtle forms of resistance, such as singing songs that mocked their masters or telling stories that celebrated their African heritage.

One of the most famous examples of slave resistance is the Nat Turner Rebellion. In 1831, Turner led a group of slaves in a revolt that killed 55 white people. The rebellion was eventually crushed, but it sent a shockwave through the South and helped to inspire other slave revolts.

Another form of slave resistance was the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was a network of secret routes and safe houses that helped slaves to escape to freedom. Thousands of slaves escaped to freedom via the Underground Railroad, and it played a major role in the abolition of slavery.

Culture

Despite the horrors of slavery, enslaved people managed to create a rich culture that helped them to maintain their sense of identity. They sang songs, told stories, and played games that reflected their African heritage.

One of the most important aspects of slave culture was music. Enslaved people sang songs that expressed their pain, their hopes, and their dreams. They also used music to communicate with each other and to organize resistance activities.

Storytelling was another important part of slave culture. Enslaved people told stories that passed down their history and culture from generation to generation. They also told stories that celebrated their African heritage and that expressed their hopes for freedom.

Games were also an important part of slave culture. Enslaved people played games that helped them to relax and to forget their troubles. They also played games that taught them skills that they could use to survive in a hostile environment.

Community

Enslaved people formed communities that provided them with support and strength. They lived in close quarters and they shared their food, their clothing, and their stories. They also helped each other to raise their children and to care for the sick and elderly.

Communities were essential for the survival of enslaved people. They provided them with a sense of belonging and they helped them to cope with the horrors of slavery.

The folk history of slavery in the United States is a story of resistance, culture, and community. Enslaved people found ways to resist their oppression, they preserved their culture, and they created a sense of community that helped them to survive.

The stories of former slaves are a valuable reminder of the horrors of slavery and the resilience of the human spirit. They also provide us with a glimpse into the lives of the people who built our country and who helped to shape our history.

Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves Georgia Narratives, Part 1

by Cristina Rebière

4.6 out of 5