"I think where men are able to work I think it is best to give them work. A man that is able to work ought to be given work by the government if he can't get it any other way."
Interviewer: Mrs. Bernice Bowden
Person interviewed: Lyttleton Dandridge
2800 W. Tenth Street, Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Age: 80
"I was told I was born in '57 in East Carroll Parish, Louisiana.
"Oh, I can remember before the War broke out. Yes ma'am, I had good owners. Old master and mistress was named James Railey and Matilda Railey. I called her mistress.
"I remember one time my father carried me to Natchez on Christmas to spend with his people. His parents were servants on a plantation near Natchez.
"I remember two shows I saw. They was the Daniel Rice shows. They was animal shows but they had em on a boat, kind of a flatboat. We didn't have trains and things like that—traveled on the big waters.
"I remember when we refugeed to Texas in '63. They raised tobacco there.
"We got free in '65 and the Governor or somebody ordered all the owners to take all the folks back that wanted to go.