Response to Critical Reading
Slave narratives account for the establishment of white sovereignty in the South from slavery in the 18th century to early 20th-century disfranchisement and segregation (Bouie, Louis, and Onion). These narrations gave expression to lineages of black individuals who, despite not being included in the white southern narratives. Anticipated to deliberate witness slavery account, many of those who were enslaved became I-witnesses as well, revealing their struggle (Burt). A lot of these narratives and writings gained momentum in the South as many wanted to know what transpired during those times. Contextual and political power influence would not have granted the writers such an opportunity to have the slave story told. If at all these accounts could be narrated, then I suppose a lot of alterations to fit the white supremacy would have been reflected in the narrations.
The aspects of the 1930s WPA that we have read include the enormous unemployment of the Great Depression and are considered unemployment workers on public-works projects. However, the government tried to put people back to work and helped writers to interview former slaves, by then people who were older than seventy years who provide accounts on the civil war that happened when they were teenagers (Audible). There were narratives already collected before consent was given from Washington, signifying the commencement of the historical collections. There was the use of project personnel to conduct the interviews from the ex-slaves. Some slaves were interviewed as a quest for traditional and mundane African-American folk materials and practices.
Work Cited
Bouie, Jamelle, Louis Henry, and Onion, Rebecca. Who Should Tell the Story of Slavery? Retrieved from https://slate.com/human-interest/2015/07/history-of-american-slavery- transcript-Henry-Louis-gates-on-slave-narratives-and-historical-study.html
Burt, George. “Readings from the Slave Narratives.” Youtube, 17 Jan. 2017, https://youtu.be/F2oqbab4VzQ.
Audible. “Conversation with Colson Whitehead, Author of ‘The Underground Railroad.’” Youtube, 11 Nov. 2016, https://youtu.be/AtKGs1LQgL0.