Long Past Slavery

“Stewart’s trenchant analysis of ex-slave narratives . . . probes deeper rhetorical patterns, identifying interviewees’ agency in their deft control of economic and cultural exchange as in their signifying, indirection, and role reversal.” — Journal of American History

“Scholars and graduate students interested in the New Deal, cultural memory, ethnography, the legacies of slavery, and African American history will find in Long Past Slavery a richly detailed take on the work of the Federal Writers’ Project.” — Journal of Southern History

“A compelling read which will provide an invaluable contribution to scholarship around the Federal Writers' Project and for those interested in the construction and representation of competing historical memories of race.” — Slavery & Abolition

“With insightful prose and intricate detail Stewart makes a persuasive case for the centrality of the Ex-Slave Project to the racial landscape of the 1930s. . . . Highly recommended.” — Civil War History

“Enters the interdisciplinary realm by offering a nuanced examination of how the fields of sociology, anthropology, history, and folklore intersected with New Deal politics. . . . Essential reading for anyone hoping to make use of [the WPA Ex-Slave Interviews] archive.” — Journal of Interdisciplinary History

“Essential for those interested in African American history and the Great Depression.” — Library Journal

“This excellent, penetrating study presents much-needed information about the Ex-Slave Project’s creation. . . . An important book deserving of wide readership. Highly recommended.” — CHOICE

“This is a superbly researched, engaging, and insightful book, which deserves to be read by all social historians . . . as well as any scholars interested in American racial politics. Indispensable.” — Institute of Historical Research

“A fascinating study of the Ex-Slave Project, conceived as an arena for contemporary discussions about history, identity, and citizenship.” — Dutch Review of Books

“Illuminate[s] the complexities of tackling New Deal cultural initiatives. . . . [this study] should encourage more scholars to probe all four arts programs with the same degree of vigor.” — Reviews in American History