Many early-nineteenth-century slaveholders considered themselves "masters" not only over slaves; but also over the institutions of marriage and family. According to many historians; the privilege of mastery was reserved for white males. But as many as one in ten slaveholders--sometimes more--was a widow; and as Kirsten E. Wood demonstrates; slaveholding widows between the American Revolution and the Civil War developed their own version of mastery.Because their husbands' wills and dower law often gave women authority over entire households; widowhood expanded both their domestic mandate and their public profile. They wielded direct power not only over slaves and children but also over white men--particularly sons; overseers; and debtors. After the Revolution; southern white men frequently regarded powerful widows as direct threats to their manhood and thus to the social order. By the antebellum decades; however; these women found support among male slaveholders who resisted the popular claim that all white men were by nature equal; regardless of wealth. Slaveholding widows enjoyed material; legal; and cultural resources to which most other southerners could only aspire. The ways in which they did--and did not--translate those resources into social; political; and economic power shed new light on the evolution of slaveholding society.
#55667 in Books Cedric J Robinson 2000-01-24Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.50 x 6.50 x 1.25l; 1.50 #File Name: 0807848298480 pagesBlack Marxism The Making of the Black Radical Tradition
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A complicated and rewarding read that will challenge your worldview; for the better. Absolutely vital.By LGThe fact that "Black Marxism" has largely been ignored by academic communities until now is a genuine disservice to the work Robinson has done here. The book reads as an elegant; pragmatic; and compelling argument that essentially fleshes out the ways in which capitalism's very foundation is racism (and specifically; he argues that capitalism actually produced race in order to justify mistreatment of a slave-working class); and therefore racism cannot be extricated from a capitalist society. Robinson also traces black histories and radical movements in contrast to white historical narratives which have dominated global discourse as a matter of systemic oppression. He gives these histories and movements separate space from Eurocentric histories (as well as traditional Marxism) and is adamantly opposed to the idea that black traditions developed out of white traditions instead of independently from them. There is so much more to be said about this book--things that you will have to hear Robinson tell firsthand to really understand. A word of caution; however: this is not a text for the faint of heart. It is long; it is steeped in complicated terminology; it is referential to a wide number of other critical theories and histories which you will need to at least google in order to understand. But if you labor through this; it will really change your worldview in a dramatic way. Even if you consider yourself to be knowledgeable in Marxism; Robinson will apply the work in ways that go fair beyond any other project dealing with the place and performance of race and ethnicity in Marxist theories; and he will prove ultimately that Black Radicalism was never and could never be a mere subset of Marxism (and to suggest otherwise would be to whitewash history.) I would suggest purchasing the Kindle version of this book; as you will be able to use the Kindle app's in-text dictionary to help you with the terminology. I also suggest keeping multiple colors of highlights and notes in order to annotate the text/track ideas for better comprehension. Finally; it is extremely helpful to use the Kindle App annotation review pane; I tended to re-skim my notes as I read to make sure I understood correctly; and sorting notes by color helped me trace the development of key themes.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. This is a brilliant book which distinguishes between the Marxist radical tradition and ...By Robert GordhThis is a brilliant book which distinguishes between the Marxist radical tradition and the Black radical tradition; compares them; and insightfully explores the historical relationship between the two. Robinson examines the writings of three profound Black political thinkers; W.E.B. Du Bois; C.R.L. James and Richard Wright and finds that in each case the thinker; though deeply influenced by Marxism; ultimately found it inadequate and in need of being complemented by the Black radical tradition.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Read this bookBy PJLOA dense read requiring much knowledge of history but it is well worth every minute dedicated comprehending this incredible work.
