The Roosevelt During The Great Depression - 2426 Words

It was not until the Federal Writers’ Project emerged under Roosevelt during the Great Depression that slave stories were recorded, more than a half century after the death of slavery and the recognize significance of evidence (men like editor Benjamin Botkin). Men like W.E.B. DuBois turned the tide on the African American stereotypes at large. Under director John Avery Lomax, 2,300 interviews were edited and added to a 19 volume compilation. It, however, according to the author, is important to note that even these accounts can be biased. The geographic imbalance of the interviews towards the Deep South, with only 6% of the total being from border states. Also, many of these interviewees were elderly; and with the average slave life†¦show more content†¦Charles Nordhoff noted, blacks â€Å"will tell you precisely what you want to hear.† Interviewers’ questions, though unconsciously, â€Å"constantly communicated with their subjects the kind of evidence they want, the length of answers and even the manner in which answers ought to be offered† (Davidson 181). The personal relationships also created an interesting dynamic during an interview. Interviewees often knew interviewers personally and said, â€Å"I don’t want to tell you nothin’ but what to please you† (Davidson 183). The author again points out that the manner in which FWP interviews are conducted in flawed. It is mentioned how voice recorders are not used and therefore barebone notes are used to reconstruct entire interviews. With this in mind, interviewers can subconsciously (or consciously) modify the interview. Also, until the very end of the project there was not standard for African American language. The author then could have erroneously transcribed the vocal expressions of their interviewees. These â€Å"blacky† word constructions point out how interviewers often felt they were racially superior. Take for example Jessie Butler’s interview of Susan Hamlin. Ms Butler imposed herself as a welfare officer when she arrived at Mrs Hamlin’s door. Therefore, her interview, which consistently gratifies the white race, was probably skewed to impress the welfare officer who she relied on, just like a slave master. When she says how white rule