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Work Projects Administration

"Arkansas Narratives, Part 2"

They can't
take care of themselves no more it look like. I don't know how to take
the young generation. They are drifting along with the fast times.
"I applied but don't get no pension."


Interviewer: Miss Irene Robertson
Person interviewed: Willie Doyld (male), Brinkley, Arkansas
Age: 78
[-- -- 1938]

"I was born in Grenada, Mississippi. My parents belong to the same
family of white folks. My moster was Jim Doyld. His wife was Mistress
Karoline Doyld. Well as I recollect they had four childen. My parent's
name was Hannah and William Doyld. I'm named for em. They was three of
us childen. They belong to same family of white folks for a fact. I
heard em say Moster Jim bought em offen the block at the same time. He
got em at Galveston, Texas. He kept five families of slaves on his place
well as I recollect.
"My pa was Moster Jim's ox driver. He drove five or six yokes at a time.
He walk long side of em, wagons loaded up. He toted a long cowhide
whoop. He toted it over his shoulder. When he'd crack it you could hear
his whoop half a mile. Knowed he was comin' on up to the house. Them
oxen would step long, peartin up when he crack his whoop over em. He'd
be haulin' logs, wood, cotton, corn, taters, sorghum cane and stuff.


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