“I went to school in Tennessee.  I never will forget it.  I had a white teacher.  He was in the War and he had a leg shot off.  I went through the sixth grade and was ready for the seventh Ray’s Arithmetic.  I walked four miles there and four miles back—­eight miles a day.

“I can remember too when my mother and father was baptized.  I know mama come out of the water a shoutin’.  Oh, that was good times then.  I felt better when I was under my mother cause when I married my life was over.  I raised about ten children.

“I remember when the Ku Klux come to my sister’s house lookin’ for her husband.  I know I was in the bed and I raised up.  I was scared you know.

“When I hear some colored folks say they wish the old slavery times was back, I just knows they is lazy.  They don’t want any responsibility.”

Interviewer:  Mrs. Bernice Bowden
Person interviewed:  Jim Ricks
                    517 E. 22nd Avenue, Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Age:  79

“I was born in slavery times.  I ‘member runnin’ from the Yankees when they wanted to carry me off.  Just devilin’ me, you know.  You know how little chillun was ’bout white folks in them days.

“I went to school three weeks and my daddy stopped me and put me to work.

“Old master was named Jimmie Ricks.  They named me after him, I think.

“My mother said he was a mighty good master.  Didn’t ’low his niggers whipped.

“Yes’m, I was born and raised in Arkansas, down here in Calhoun County.

“I had a chance to learn but I was a rowdy.  I wanted to hunt.  I was a mighty huntsman.

“I was a good worker too.  White folks was all stuck on me ’cause I was a good worker.

“I did farm work and then did public work after the crops was laid by.  But now I got too old to work.

“I seen the Ku Klux once or twice when they was Ku Klukin’ around.  Some of ’em would holler ‘Kluk, kluk, kluk.’  I was quite small, but I could remember ’am ’cause I was scared of ’em.

“I farmed all my life till year before last.  I was a good farmer too.

“I used to vote years ago.  I voted Republican.  Yes ma’am.

“Younger generation ain’t near like they was when I was young.  I was well thought of.  Couldn’t be out after sundown or they’d bump my head.  My stepfather would give me a flailin’.  I thought he was mean to me but I see now he done right by whippin’ me.

“I know in slavery times they got plenty of somethin’ to eat.  Old master fed us well.”

Interviewer:  Miss Irene Robertson
Person interviewed:  Charlie Rigger
                    R.F.D., three miles, Palestine, Arkansas
Age:  85 plus, doesn’t know age

“I was born six miles from Mounticellar close to the line of Morgan and
Jasper County.  Mother belong to the Smiths.  Her father was part Creek
(Indian).  They all was sold to Floyd Malone.  His wife was Betsy Malone. 
They had five children.