The transatlantic slave trade brought individuals from diverse African regions and cultures to a common destiny in the American South. In this comprehensive study; Michael Gomez establishes tangible links between the African American community and its African origins and traces the process by which African populations exchanged their distinct ethnic identities for onedefined primarily by the conception of race. He examines transformations in the politics; social structures; and religions of slave populations through 1830; by which time the contours of a new African American identity had begun to emerge.After discussing specific ethnic groups in Africa; Gomez follows their movement to North America; where they tended to be amassed in recognizable concentrations within individual colonies (and; later; states). For this reason; he argues; it is possible to identify particular ethnic cultural influences and ensuing social formations that heretofore have been considered unrecoverable. Using sources pertaining to the African continentas well as runaway slave advertisements; ex-slave narratives; and folklore; Gomez reveals concrete and specific links between particular African populations and their North American progeny; thereby shedding new light on subsequent African American social formation.
#745661 in Books The University of North Carolina Press 1988-10-30 1988-10-30Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.80 x .76 x 5.80l; 1.09 #File Name: 0807842273301 pagesCondition: Used - Average
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A vital source for any interest into colonial America;By Jim McCallA vital source for any interest into colonial America; but should be read in context with accounts of early New Netherlands and Canada37 of 42 people found the following review helpful. Pursuit of a New ParadigmBy A CustomerGreene is on a mission to show that the South (especially the Chesapeake) represents the "normative" model of American development-not the New England model. To do so; he decries the standard "declension" model; based on the history of Puritan New England; and produces a "developmental" model that he proves was normative for all British New World colonies--here New England represents the exception; not the rule. He seeks to analyze three points. First; to analyze the assumptions that have emphasized the preeminence or normative character of the Orthodox Puritan colonies of New England in the early modern social development and formation of American culture. Second; to evaluate and compare among the experiences of other societies in the early modern British Empire and to formulate a model of colonial social development that made be more broadly applicable than the heretofore used declension model of British colonial history. Finally; to delineate the process by which the general American culture began to emerge out of several regional cultures during the century after 1660 and identifying the most important elements in that emerging culture. Colonial historians have used the declension model to explain the early experiences of the Orthodox European colonies of Massachusetts Bay and Connecticut. Greene proposes a developmental model which looks at historical change in new societies as a movement from the simple to the complex. The Chesapeake; being the oldest settle the region; experienced this model first and the others followed - except the New England region; which was atypical from all other British colonies. Green does not discuss Native Americans; and only superficially covers slaves. However; he admits to pursuing his argument with three assumptions: 1) the focus of the book is upon social development and religious; political; and economic developments are considered only as far as their social dimensions are concerned; 2) focus is upon European and African immigrants and their descendants - excludes Native Americans; and 3) attempts to avoid the "idol of origins" which assumes how an area appeared later in time was equivalent to how it began (concerns the subject specially of slavery in the South). An excellent book for any student of American history; it is well written and thoroughly researched. It discusses the major historians and arguments concerning colonial American history.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. How the Chesapeake became the typical "American" society.By Jon L AlbeeDespite what you may have learned in school about Plymouth Rock; the Mayflower and the Pilgrims; the institutions and culture that have; more than likely; shaped your life as an "American" came by way of Jamestown or Philadelphia.Don't mistake this book for a narrative history of the British North American colonies. This is a finely tuned study of the cultural pathways the people of British North America followed on the journey from immature colony to young nation.The author uses a creative physical metaphor of centrifugal force to convincingly argue that typical American culture; at least as it developed in the United States; originated in the relatively moderate colonial societies of the Chesapeake. The author asserts that New England society was cloistered - constantly turning in upon itself as to limit its geographical reach. On the other end of the spectrum were the exceptionally "centrifugal" societies of the Southern and Carribean colonies. These societies spread very quickly; but remained highly transient. They left few permanent markers or institutional foundations as they tore themselves apart; uprooted and moved; usually in search of additional natural resources.The middle colonies (Virginia; Maryland; and Pennsylvania; in particular) maintained a society that was stable without being sedentary; and dynamic without being nomadic. It is this society that created the first permanent inland settlements. Dr. Greene claims that it is this moderate; practical society that came to dominate the culture of the United States; and defined the "American Dream."Even if you don't agree with the thesis; you will appreciate Dr. Greene's thorough research and lucid presentation. This book brought new vigor to the study of American colonial history by challenging the existing dichotomy of North vs. South.
