Slave Testimony: Two Centuries of Letters, Speeches, Interviews, and Autobiographies by
John W. Blassingame My rating:
5 of 5 stars Despite my 40 years of reading, I had never read any of the testimonies from the slaves themselves, nor was I acutely aware that many had compiled narratives from letters, books, county records, church history, lawyers and Presidents.
This book "settled" my understanding of American history. It led me to do cross references and seek other authors who had documented similar information in their respective countries. The Dutch, Spaniards, Portuguese and the French.
I was taken aback by the slave trade to Cuba. The comparisons between manumissions on the island and in America. Moreover, one can compare annotations through other books that mention a sliver of slave life in America. It is apparent that wherever the slaves were brought impacted dearly on their treatment. As well while some suffered unspeakable cruelties others were able to thrive and succeed despite the dark cloud of presumption of superiority by those whose grandfathers or fathers were immigrant themselves. Including Irish men who were indentured servants.
It is a painful but truthful observation of humanity in general. The scoundrels and the angels.
View all my reviews Many persons of African origin who still express their roots either by force or by choice are reluctant to engage in the review of this mass capitalist enterprise. But that is what it was and still is. One has to realize that many persons from many countries and continents were enslaved, and it is through this understanding of what those who were suffering through the epochs did to free themselves, from bondage that we can heal, and clearly understand that it was done in the pursuit of the almighty dollar.
One of the salient issues is their desire and success in returning to their native soil . A further study of Liberia would shed light on how this took place. When you read of the many thousands from the new world who brought their freedom "manumission" it clearly depicts a capitalist enterprise.
Each state has its own archives..
http://www.sciway.net/afam/slavery/indexs....
Posted By: Marta Fernandez
Thursday, July 7th 2011 at 1:19PM
You can also
click
here to view all posts by this author...
