Letter of Recommendation

It is my pleasure to recommend Donna Wyant Howell. Her mastery of the study of American slavery from the slaves’ points of view brings new dimensions to history. With an extraordinary sense of the lives of these enslaved people, she gives both vitality and texture to their voices. Donna, a highly disciplined specialist, brings insight that exposes the experiences of African American people in ways that few scholars have been able to master.

By expanding the frontiers of the study of slavery, Donna excavates subjects rarely interrogated by other experts in the field. Her greatest gift to history is the laborious categorization of the vast collection of documents in the WPA slave narratives. For the first time, these narratives are available in a series of books, each having its own distinct subject matter, with only minor editing, and filled with photographs. For instance, one book is devoted solely to the lives of slave children, while another is just about slave auctions, and yet another is only about slave breeding (as told by those who were used as breeders). Each book is described at http://www.iwasaslave.com where you can get more information about Donna. Her concentrated attention to individual areas gives greater depth to our understanding of enslavement.

She is a rare and stellar voice in this aspect of the black experience, a crucial part of American history. Donna complements her material as a master narrator substituting for the voices of her subjects. As a charismatic storyteller in the African American folk tradition, she captivates her audience and intellectually stimulates the listener. She performs successfully before small groups or large audiences in auditoriums, as well as in classrooms and university seminar settings.

You will find Donna Wyant Howell to be an enthusiastic, dedicated, and completely passionate messenger connecting an essential segment of America’s neglected past to a history-starved present. I recommend her highly.

Sincerely,

James Turner
Professor of History
Director of Africana Studies

Washington, DC

Letter of Recommendation

The challenges faced by American slaves were brought powerfully alive by Donna Wyant Howell during a special class here on the campus of Georgetown University. She displayed a wealth of knowledge when conveying what life was like on plantations through the eyes of those who experienced slavery first-hand.

For the first time, many students received a glimpse of the reality behind the events that took place during such a long period in America’s history. The true-life accounts, read in Southern dialect, brought new meaning and understanding to the class. “I have studied the Civil War era and slavery very well … or so I thought,” said one student, “Today I learned the human element. It was as if the ex-slaves rose up to tell us what they went through, what they wanted their descendents and all of America to know.” “Real, that’s what it was,” remarked another classmate, “Long Sally and Short Sally lived through it. Others told what really happened, not like the ‘cleansed history’ that I’ve studied before.”

When the class met again, we discussed the previous session. Donna’s impressive presentation left the students wanting more. Because she had time restraints, only an overview could be included, but even that limited amount of information intrigued the class members who were glued to her words, waiting for the next revelation.

Because the focus of our class is on women and religion, those areas of slave life were emphasized. The main point that Donna impressed upon the students was the diversity of the methods of operation on each plantation. Religious practices, the roles of women, and all else were variable because they were based on the decisions of each slave owner. She read excerpts from the dictated words of women who strove to maintain family relations under the most adverse conditions, and she told of requirements for and prohibitions of religious observances by slaves, including “praying in the pot”.

I recommend Donna Wyant Howell to all who wish to have a speaker or instructor who brings her enthusiasm to the slave narratives. With obvious in-depth knowledge, she creates a presentation that is enlightening and very thought-provoking. After you have heard her, your previous understanding of slavery, as well-educated as it may be, will be enhanced and you will come away with an even greater comprehension coupled with a profound sense of emotional contact with the former slaves themselves.

Most Sincerely,

Diana L. Hayes, JD, Ph.D., STD
Associate Professor

 

UNITY SOUTHERN BAPTIST CHURCH
1545 Rosemarie Lane
Stockton, California 95207
 

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Dear Ms. Howell:

People are still talking about how much they learned and how they will pass the information on to their families and friends. They were most complimentary of your level of knowledge and the compassion that was evident in your presentation.

Several commented that, from the time you stood up, you were with the audience. We felt your spirit and the deep commitment that you have for telling the truth about the strength and endurance of our ancestors. We needed to hear your message for it helped to reaffirm the belief in the greatness of our people and how we have a responsibility to pass this greatness on to our people, especially the children.

We thank you for adding such valuable information to our lives and for introducing us to our many ancestral families. Their stories will live forever in our lives and, when we feel weak, we will remember their strengths and we will be strong.

May God continue to bless you and give you strength to continue your good and valuable work and service.

 

Sincerely

Rev. Bob Hailey