Slave Narratives, Volume XVI: Texas Narratives, Part 3
is part of the monumental collection of firsthand recollections gathered by the Federal Writers' Project during the 1930s. This volume preserves the memories of formerly enslaved men and women from Texas, offering vivid, personal accounts of life under slavery and the profound transition into freedom.
Through interviews, dialect-rich storytelling, and reflections shaped by decades of lived experience, these narrators describe plantation labor, family life, punishments, resistance, spiritual traditions, and the long-lasting effects of bondage. Their voices-sometimes painful, sometimes humorous, always deeply human-provide an essential counterpoint to traditional historical narratives.
Part 3 continues documenting Texas's unique role in the history of American slavery, revealing regional customs, cultural practices, and the experiences of those who lived through the final frontier of the institution. This volume stands as a critical historical resource for scholars, educators, genealogists, and readers seeking authentic primary sources on African American history and the legacy of slavery in the United States.