Subject
Enslaved persons -- Alabama -- Biography Books
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United States. Work Projects Administration
Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States from Interviews with Former Slaves, Volume I, Alabama Narratives
"Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States from…" is a collection undertaken by the Federal Writers' Project between 1936 and 1938. This massive effort documented over 2,000 interviews with formerly enslaved individuals across seventeen states, preserving their firsthand accounts before their generation disappeared. The collection sparked debate among historians about bias, as white interviewers conducted most interviews during Jim Crow era. These testimonies offer profound insights into slavery's reality and continue influencing historical research and contemporary movements.
Zora Neale Hurston
Cudjo's own story of the last African slaver
"Cudjo's Own Story of the Last African Slaver" by Zora Neale Hurston is a historical account written in the early 20th century. The book presents the firsthand narrative of Cudjo Lewis, the last surviving person from the last ship illegally transporting slaves to America, the "Clotilde", and it recounts his experiences of capture, the Middle Passage, and life in America thereafter. It addresses themes of identity, survival, and cultural history, offering readers a poignant glimpse into the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade through the eyes of one who lived through it. The narrative unfolds with Cudjo describing his life in Africa, detailing the customs, agriculture, and daily life in his homeland, before the violent raid by Dahomey warriors that led to his capture. He vividly recounts the harrowing journey aboard the "Clotilde", emphasizing the suffering endured during the Middle Passage. Once in America, Cudjo's story reflects on the adaptations and struggles faced by him and his fellow captives as they transitioned to life as enslaved individuals in Alabama. His deep yearning for his homeland contrasts with the sense of resilience he and others displayed while building a tight-knit community known as African Town after emancipation. Throughout the text, Cudjo's reflections reveal both the trauma of his past and the strength drawn from his cultural heritage.
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