Understanding 19th-Century Slave Narratives

African American slave narratives of the 19th century recorded the grim realities of the antebellum South; they also provide the foundation for this compelling and revealing work on African American history and experiences.

• Presents information and primary source documents that support such key subject areas as American history, ethnic studies, and African American history, among other areas

• Introduces readers to unique slave narratives that often center on such topics as entrepreneurship, racial violence and resistance, gender, and subjects regarding the color line like pigmentation and passing

• Situates each slave narrative in historical context through the use of a document introduction and annotations

• Supplies slave narratives that are important primary sources and will help students with building interpretive, critical-thinking skills needed to be successful 21st-century learners