“When I did vote I voted Republican or I thought I did.  But now if I did vote, I might change up.  Times have changed.

“I don’t know much about the young generation.  I do talk with them—­some.  They are coming up in a changed time.  I wouldn’t talk against the colored race of people.  Some of them work—­are good.  Some don’t.  I think some will not work.  Maybe they would.  I come to know mighty little about them—­no more than I know about the white girls and boys.  I see them on the streets about as much as I ever see colored folks anywhere.”

Interviewer:  Mrs. Bernice Bowden
Person interviewed:  Jane Reece
                    819 W. Ninth Street, Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Age:  85

“I know this—­I’m 85.  I was born in North Carolina.

“Oh, yes’m, I ’member the War.

“I’m three thousand miles from my home.

“Old John Blue (Belew?) was my white folks.

“I did have good white folks.  Yes ma’am, I’ll say that.  Stayed there a long time after we was sot free.  They was good to us.

“My mother was the mother of twelve chillun—­she was a fast breeder.

“I was the onliest girl and old missis was just wild about me.  I had good owners.  I don’t remember no hard treatment among ’em.

“I ‘member she used to have me runnin’ from house to house totin’ a little note.  That’s the reason I had such a good time.  Heap of times I slept up at the big house with old missis.

“I got a good memory.  We was allowed to sing and pray.  I know our white folks was good that way.  I’ll say that for ’em.  I won’t go back on ’em.

“Our folks stayed right on there a long time.

“My father died three years after ever’thing had done got quiet and peaceful.

“I left my husband back there and come here to Arkansas with my mother.

“The bigges’ work I done—­I used to be terrible ‘bout cookin’, washin’ and ironin’, and field work.  Ever’thing a man ever done I’ve done—­cut wood, cut down sprouts, barn brush—­I’ve done ever’thing.

“Oh yes, I went to school a whole lot.  Got so I could read.  Used to write too, but all that done left me.

“I’m gwine tell you the truth, lady.  I don’t know whether the folks is better off free or not.  They is better off in one way—­they is free—­but this young race is the devil.”

Interviewer:  Mrs. Bernice Bowden
Person interviewed:  Frank Reed,
                    1004 Missouri Street, Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Age:  78

“I was a little boy pickin’ up chips and helpin’ feed the hog in slavery times for old master.  Name was George Houston.  That was in Alabama.

“I reckon I do remember George Houston.  As far as I know he was good to us.  I remember when he died.

“Our people stayed right there after freedom.  My mother was a Houston till she married.

“I reckon I do remember the paddyrollers.  I remember the hounds runnin’ too.  I never thought I would remember that no more.