Despite increased interest in the lives of American slaves; the slave elite has been accorded only shallow study by historians; leaving the topic to unfavorable stereotypes; legend; and undocumented assertions. In this revelatory work William Van Deburg takes up the case of the black slave driver; examining the conflicting depictions given in histories; accounts of white southerners and antebellum travelers; and narratives of fugitive slaves and exbondsmen. He describes the daily lives and duties of black drivers; and refuting the stereotype of cruel collaborator; shows that their role neither psychologically destroyed slave drivers nor turned them into sadistic oppressors. Socially and emotionally tied to their fellow slaves; the bondsmen identified with their interests more much closely than with those of the owner. Van Deburg concludes this valuable revisionist work with a useful essay on his primary sources.
#1849602 in Books 1981-02-05Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 5.31 x .77 x 8.06l; #File Name: 0195028937416 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. This book gives the history on why Blacks began voting DemocratBy GPThis book does an excellent job giving the history of the beginnings of the shift of Black Americans from voting for the party of Lincoln to voting Democratic Party. This process didn't conclude until the mid 1960s when southern Blacks made the shift as well; but the seeds were sewn by Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal policies (which did benefit Black Americans) and the anti-discrimination speeches and actions of Eleanor Roosevelt. She set a course to tackle discrimination single-handedly in the nation's capitol; especially. Following the end of Reconstruction; the Republican Party began taking the Black vote for granted. This book describes the yeoman's work the Black Press did in convincing northern Blacks despite the fact Democrats overall promoted maintaining racism; Roosevelt offered hope and new opportunities to whittle away at discrimination North and South.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. excellent research includedBy Sonja Hvery well written; even though it is dated. I had to read for a class and it was quite good.
