Black Life on the Mississippi: Slaves, Free Blacks, and the Western Steamboat World
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.52 (871 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 0807858137 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 272 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2017-01-21 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
Thanks to his prodigious investigation and eloquent prose, the real-life Jims who peopled the river banks and towns have at long last had their stories told." -- "American Historical Review""Draws on a remarkable range of sources." -- "Arkansas Historical Quarterly""A long, sharply focused look at the life of African American river workers both during and after slavery." -- "Missouri Historical Review""Makes a welcome and significant contribution to the history of slavery and African Americans with this i
"Must Read for anyone interested in history of the Antebellum South" according to Haley. I've read this book two times and loved it so much I had to buy my own copy! I am intrigued by the history of the Antebellum era, and Thomas Buchanan presents a well-researched look at life on and around the Mississippi river for African Americans, both enslaved and free. It is a well organized and easy read. African Americans served as laborers, waiters, porters etc. The success of the commerce on the Mississippi depended on them. The mobility of African Americans working the major waterway and tributaries provided them some measure of freedom.. Important contribution to the study of black antebellum life Thomas Buchanan follows David Cecelski's study of North Carolina's black maritime sailors with this excellent study of black steamboat workers on the Mississippi. Buchanan describes the culture in which the free black and enslaved steamboat crewmen lived, their importance to the southern antebellum economy, as well as, their impact on the institution of slavery. It is in this area that Buchanan an important contribution to our understanding of African American resistance to slavery.John Hope Franklin and Loren Schweninger's book on runaway slaves is the most extensive treatments of the subject. Unfortuna. Fascinating read L. Hummel Buchanan weaves the compelling narratives of slave, free black, and white workers and passengers on Mississippi steamboats with extensive archival information.He shows how the river network and steamboat work allowed them to craft multiple ways to resist slavery, poor labor conditions, and the separation of families.This is a history book with broad appeal to non-historians as well.
All along the Mississippi--on country plantation landings, urban levees and quays, and the decks of steamboats--nineteenth-century African Americans worked and fought for their liberty amid the slave trade and the growth of the cotton South. By exploring the complex relationship between slavery and freedom, Buchanan sheds new light on the ways African Americans resisted slavery and developed a vibrant culture and economy up and down America's greatest river.. Although the realities of white supremacy were still potent on the river, Buchanan shows how slaves, free blacks, and postemancipation freedpeople fought for better wages and treatment. The author also details the struggles that took place within the steamboat work culture. The networks African Americans created allowed them to keep in touch with family members, help slaves escape, transfer stolen goods, and provide forms of income that were important to the survival of their communities. Buchanan paints a more complete picture of the Mississippi, documenting the rich variety of experiences among slaves and free blacks who lived an