I don't read the various comments made concerning the WPA recollections as attempting rebuttal, but only supplying the caveat of considering the historical context in which the documents were created. I'm quite sure that many elderly, formerly-enslaved people living in the depths of the Depression would be nostalgic for a time when their material needs were taken care of, however meanly. But context does still matter. For example, there are a few examples among the WPA narratives of individuals who were interviewed twice -- once by a white reporter and subsequently by a black reporter -- with marked differences in the telling of their stories. Evidently there was some reluctance in talking freely with the white WPA reporter. Are we surprised? Isn't that information relevant as we try to figure the reason for those different versions? Why then wouldn't the age of the person -- how long a recollection -- or their particular economic and social circumstances -- how nostalgic -- at least merit a mention as well?
Consideration of context is responsible historical scholarship.
David Kiracofe
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From: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jeff Southmayd [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, May 14, 2012 8:05 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: The Peculiar Institution's End Without The Intervention Of The Civil War
I am amused by the attempts to rebut the first hand recollections of actual Black slaves when those recollections are inconsistent with the PC views of slavery held by current members of academia. There is really no reason to not take those recollections at face value, PC considerations aside, other than it may make "research" and works issued pursuant thereto or published seem specious and irrelevant.
JDS
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