It may explain why many — particularly house personnel — look back at  
their time of slavery with some nostalgia. Reading those narratives  
reminded me very much of talking to middle aged and elderly Russians  
and hear that same longing for the cruel but steady days of Stalin.

-- Stephan

On 7 Oct 2008, at 19:08, David Kiracofe wrote:

> It is not debunking to point out that the interviewees were elderly  
> black people living in poverty during the Great Depression.  It is  
> merely adding an important context for understanding why life under  
> slavery -- with even the limited benefits supplied by paternalist  
> masters -- might evoke some nostalgia.  As Kevin Hardwick points  
> out, this tells us a lot about how sad their lives were in the  
> 1930s as much as it gives us information about the conditions of  
> slavery.
>
> David Kiracofe
>
> David Kiracofe
> History
> Tidewater Community College
> Chesapeake Campus
> 1428 Cedar Road
> Chesapeake, Virginia 23322
> 757-822-5136
>>>> <[log in to unmask]> 10/07/08 2:00 PM >>>
>
> Historians like to debunk the slave narratives because, inter alia,  
> many of  those interviewed took the position that their lives were  
> better under slavery  than under freedom.  I have a copy on CD, and  
> was amazed at how many former  slaves wished for the good old days  
> under the massa.
>
> J South
>
>
>
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