The matriarch of a remarkable African American family; Sally Thomas went from being a slave on a tobacco plantation to a "virtually free" slave who ran her own business and purchased one of her sons out of bondage. In Search of the Promised Land offers a vivid portrait of the extended Thomas-Rapier family and of slave life before the Civil War. Based on personal letters and an autobiography by one of Thomas' sons; this remarkable piece of detective work follows the family as they walk the boundary between slave and free; traveling across the country in search of a "promised land" where African Americans would be treated with respect. Their record of these journeys provides a vibrant picture of antebellum America; ranging from New Orleans to St. Louis to the Overland Trail. The authors weave a compelling narrative that illuminates the larger themes of slavery and freedom while examining the family's experiences with the California Gold Rush; Civil War battles; and steamboat adventures. The documents show how the Thomas-Rapier kin bore witness to the full gamut of slavery--from brutal punishment; runaways; and the breakup of slave families to miscegenation; insurrection panics; and slave patrols. The book also exposes the hidden lives of "virtually free" slaves; who maintained close relationships with whites; maneuvered within the system; and gained a large measure of autonomy.
#708971 in Books 2006-03-02 2006-03-02Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 6.10 x .50 x 9.20l; .70 #File Name: 0195154231208 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Amy WatersGreat4 of 10 people found the following review helpful. Well Written Narrative of the Early American RepublicBy Kaitlyn OHaganMuch better than your average textbook if you're a real history buff. And even if you aren't; this novel's small size and well written prose and flow make it an enjoyable read for someone with simple cursory interest. Rather than listing the facts and figures; focusing on the important figures (aka prominent; rich; white males) it gives a more balanced view - to be sure; informing the reader of the importance of such figures; while giving a clear picture of the lifestyle; environment; and attitude of your average American at the time.0 of 3 people found the following review helpful. history classBy Sarah HI had to get the book for a class. The book was good; but was a little boring to read. Full of information though.
