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.
#2270919 in Books Jeffrey Katherine Bentley 2016-04-11 2016-04-11Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 1.07 x 6.04 x 9.32l; .0 #File Name: 0807162248296 pagesTwo Civil Wars The Curious Shared Journal of a Baton Rouge Schoolgirl and a Union Sailor on the USS Essex
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Jeffrey is to be commended for presenting a fascinating slice of history!By R. Eric PlattKatherine Bentley Jeffrey has skillfully reproduced a valuable primary document and placed it between detailed narratives that shed light on period-specific people; places; and events. Readers need no other text to understand the lives of Celeste Repp (the "Baton Rouge Schoolgirl") and William Park (the "Union Soldier on the USS Essex") than “Two Civil Warsâ€. Plentiful footnotes deepen one’s understanding of the "lived experience" and demystify what many dealt with during the American Civil War. Those interested in the Civil War will be pleased with the overarching account while students (new and old) of history will be impressed with the book’s visible mechanics. “Two Civil Wars†is an excellent piece of scholarship that will be enjoyed by a variety of readers. Jeffrey is to be commended for presenting a fascinating slice of history!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Fascinating!By CivilWarBuffThis book is a must read for any person interested in the American history; especially the American Civil War. Katherine Jeffery has done a meticulous job of piecing together the details of the lives of two ordinary Americans who otherwise would probably remain unknown to the world. The journal/diary entries of William Park; who served on the iron clad ship the Essex; are particularly fascinating since little is known about the day to day lives of the men who served about the ironclad ships during the Civil War. It is very poignant to read the school compositions written by a teenage Southern girl during such a violent period in American History. How these two separate lives came to together so very briefly and possibly unknown to each other yet to remain intertwined to this day makes for a very entertaining read. It makes one wonder how many other journals are out there moldering in attics? How many were tossed out without anyone realizing the value or significance. Thanks to Ms Jeffery and her research; at least we have these two individuals thoughts and words.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Two thumbs up!By destypesetterThis is a fascinating book and so meticuously researched. Two such very different lives cross in this curious shared journal and yet never cross in life: a war necessitates their coming together; only as wars can. Don't be put off by there being book page notes; without them; all of the valuable information; the remarkable research; and much of the real story behind the journal entries would have been lost at the back of the book.
