Anthony Johnson's video: Readings from the Slave Narratives

Unchained Memories is a 2003 documentary film about the stories of former slaves interviewed during the 1930s as part of the Federal Writers' Project and preserved in the WPA Slave Narrative Collection. This HBO film interpretation directed by Ed Bell and Thomas Lennon is a compilation of slave narratives, narrated by actors, emulating the original conversation with the interviewer. The slave narratives may be the most accurate in terms of the everyday activities of the enslaved, serving as personal memoirs of more than two thousand former slaves. The documentary depicts the emotions of the slaves and what they endured. The "Master" had the opportunity to sell, trade, or kill the enslaved, for retribution should one slave not obey. Narrated by: Whoopi Goldberg Sarah Gudger, North Carolina (Vol. 11)— read by LaTanya Richardson Charley Williams, Oklahoma (Vol. 13) – read by Ruben Santiago-Hudson Martin Jackson, Texas (Vol. 16) - read by Robert Guillaume Henry Coleman, South Carolina (Vol. 14) – read byRoscoe Lee Browne Jennie Proctor, Texas (Vol. 16) – read by Oprah Winfrey Elizabeth Sparks, Virginia (Vol. 17) – read by Angela Bassett Rosa Starke, South Carolina (Vol. 14) -- Cato Carter, Texas (Vol. 16) – read by Roger Guenveur Smith Mary Reynolds, Texas (Vol. 16) – read by Angela Bassett Rev. Ishrael Massie, Virginia – Fannie Berry, Virginia – read by CCH Pounder Mary Estes Peters, Arkansas (Vol. 2) – read by Jasmine Guy Sarah Ashley, Texas (Vol. 16) – read by LaTanya Richardson Charles Grandy, Virginia — read by Ruben Santiago-Hudson William Colbert, Alabama (Vol. 1) – read by Courtney B. Vance Katie Darling, Texas (Vol. 16) – read by Jasmine Guy Jasmine Guy Vinnie Brunson, Texas (Vol. 3) – read by Vanessa L. Williams Fannie Berry, read by CCH Pounder Jack & Rosa Maddox, Texas (Vol. 7) – read by Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee Mary Reynolds, Texas (Vol. 16) – read by Angela Bassett Louisa Adams, North Carolina (Vol. 11) – read by LaTanya Richardson