My friends - Today, we conclude the WPA slave narrative, given by former slaves Tennie Ford and Elvira Lewis, at LaCenter, in the 1930's. -B +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Reminiscences of Former Slaves Tennie Ford & Elvira Lewis - Conclusion Ballard County, Kentucky "Sometimes large congregations witnessed these primitive affairs, and they became a great Saturday evening entertainment for the public at large. During the period of intermission, the youngsters, who had engaged in the dancing, would be given a kind of feast on barbecued meat and cider drinking. As the conclusion of this brief festivity, they would continue in their dancing, and very often this hilarity would be carried on well into the evening. Another kind of entertainment, which was practised during the period of slavery was the singing of negro folk songs and spirituals. The darkies would hold gatherings of this kind at the homes of individuals or members, and engage in singing their favorite songs. These singings were generally held during the evenings, especially on Saturdays and Sundays, and not only afforded a favorite pass time for the darkies, but also for the white people. Most always, the singings were attending by a large audience of white people, men, women and children. These gatherings grew with increasing popularity, until they became one of the most favorite classes of entertainment. Also, the darkies were very fond of sports such as were common to the period, and many of them were very dexterous in the leading sports of the day. One of the most common of these was hurdle racing. Here the contestants would leap over hurdles that were placed at regular intervals apart. At times, numerous participants would engage in these races, and the sport would extend over the entire day. There was a kind of jumping, too, which was called hurtling. In this sport, the contestants made use of a hurtling pole, which was a small rigid pole about 12 feet in length. The jumper would take a long running start, which would enable him to take on additional momentum, and, with the assistance of the hurtling pole, would leap over a hurdle that was placed a considerable elevation above the ground. The chief object in this kind of jumping was leaping over a high hurdle. The contestant, who made the highest leap, was awarded the highest honors of the contest. Second, third and fourth honors were awarded, too. Another kind of contest was called a "free for all". Here, a ring was drawn on the ground which ranged from about 15 feet to 30 feet in diameter, depending on the number of contestants who engaged in the combat. Each participant was given a kind of bag that was stuffed with cotton and rags into a very compact mass. When so stuffed, these bags would weigh an average of 10 pounds and was used by the contestants in striking their antagonist. Each combatant picked whichever opponent he desired and attempted to subdue him by pounding him over the head with the bag, which he used as his weapon of defense, and which was used as an offending weapon. The contest was continued in this manner till every combatant was counted out and a hero of the contest proclaimed. Sometimes two contestants were adjudged heroes, and it was necessary to run a contest between the two combatants before a final hero could be proclaimed. Then the two antagonists would stage a battle royal and would continue in the conflict until one was declared victorious. Sometimes these free-for-all battles were carried on with a kind of improvised boxing gloves, and the contestants were carried on in the same manner as previously described. Very often, as many as 30 darkies of the most husky type were engaged in these battles and the contest were actually attended by large audiences. Being staged during the period of favorable weather, and mostly on Saturday afternoons, these physical exhibitions were the scenes of much controversial conflict, gambling, excessive inebriation and hilarity. Banjo and guitar playing were practiced by the many darkies of the slavery period also. These were on the order of concerts and many darkies, although they had no scientific training, became rather accomplished musicians in this respect. Melodious music might be heard at these old fashioned contests, as most darkies, who acquired knowledge in the playing of those instruments, were familiar with nearly all the melodies and folk songs that were common to the period. " ~Concluded~ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++