Slave Narratives (ePub)

The United States Work Projects Administration (WPA), not typically classified as a conventional 'author', was a pivotal New Deal agency founded by Presidential order under Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935. Born out of the economic necessities of the Great Depression, the WPA aimed to employ millions of jobseekers in public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads. Among its divisions, the Federal Writers' Project became an instrumental part in the documentation of American history. One of the most significant legacies of this project is the 'Slave Narratives', an expansive collection of autobiographical accounts from former slaves, portraying the stark realities of bondage and life in the antebellum South. These narratives are not only a testament to the resilience of the human spirit but also serve as an invaluable primary source for historical and cultural research. The literary style of the 'Slave Narratives' is raw and poignant, an amalgam of dialects capturing the voices and experiences of individuals whose stories might otherwise have been lost. This work remains a cornerstone in the study of American slavery and African American history. Ascribing a singular literary style or authorship to the WPA's body of work is inherently complex due to the collaborative nature of its projects and confluence of voices brought together under its auspices.