Slave Ghost Stories: Tales of Hags, Hants, Ghosts, & Diamondback Rattlers

by Nancy Rhyne (editor)

A compilation of stories borrowed from former slaves of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. These tales were gathered by the WPA in the years 1935-1939. The slaves were asked questions about their family history and the widespread belief in spirits of various sorts. According to these stories, the five main creatures that "walked the night" were hags, hants, boo-daddies, plat-eyes and ghosts. All had separate characteristics. Hags disguised themselves as regular people, but a midnight they would shed their skin and torment their enemies, draining them of their energy. Hants lived in trees and would torture their victims day and night. Boo-daddies were reincarnations of witch doctors. Plat-eyes could take the form of an animal, sometimes changing from one animal to another. Ghosts were seen coming out of graveyards at night. This book relates the stories of these spirits based upon eyewitness accounts of former slaves.

Genres: Nonfiction

152 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2002

Reviews

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was quite interesting. Hearing how slaves were treated. Some were treated almost as family and others were beaten or whipped. People talked about ghosts, spirits and hants as if was just normal to see and hear them. The process of interviewing previous slaves was a part of the WPA program.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved reading this told in they're language and way of speaking. It really added depth to the stories. Loved it!!

[Rhina M. Finley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of these stories were spooky! Having a hard time finding her other books to read! I hope I find them.