The Slave Community Essay - 1159 Words

John. W. Blessingame, The Slave Community: The Plantation Life in The Antebellum South (Oxford University Press, Inc: 1972, 1979). John Wesley Blassingame was a scholar, historian, educator, writer, and leading pioneer in the study of American slavery. He received a bachelors degree at Fort Balley State College in 1969, a masters degree at Howard University in 1961, and a doctorate at Yale University in 1971. He then became a history professor at his alma mater in 1974 at Yale University. He was a professor of history, African-American studes, and American Studies for 29 years. His repatoir of books that he has written and published include: The Slave Community: Plantation Life in the Antebellum South, Black New Orleans 1860-1880,†¦show more content†¦In the first chapter he talks about the enslavement process. He discusses in depth that the process was extremely painful and humiliating, yet their culture and heritage was not left in Africa. The slaves remained true t o their heritage by taking with them their native dances, language, religion, songs or spitituals, and folk tales. The second chapter discusses the changes that took place because of the presence of a different culture. Blessingame points out that acculturation, meaning the the process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group, was inevitable. It is stated that the influence of the slaves upon the American culture was very prominent as well as the American culture effecting the African culture. Blessingame points out, however, that their was a distinct African slave culture that emerged from the African culture, the American culture, and the culture of the slaves that was distinct among them all. The third chapter discusses the distinct cultures of the slaves and their self preservation. It seems, that the most outstanding tradition that was mentioned was the spirituals. These songs gave them a sense of hope and belonging that brought them joy and a commonality between them all. Through these songs they expressed their hopes, dreams, love, courage,religion, and oppression. In chapter four, Blessingame discusses the slave family. He points out the importance of the family unit in order to provide a safety net fromShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Book The Creation Of Mammy 2296 Words   |  10 Pagesmodifications and conflicting perceptions can spin into stereotypes that can be mistaken as fact, instead of fiction. One of Southern history’s most common know stereotype is of the black Mammy. This paper will discuss the depiction of the African-American slave mythological figure - Mammy, and also her opposing character, Jezebel. Mammy’s origins are deeply embedded in the antebellum American South. Historians and scholars state clearly that the Mammy and Jezebel characters are and were fictional, but howRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book The Slave Community 1127 Words   |  5 Pages John W. The Slave Community: Plantation Life in the Antebellum South. New York: Oxford University Press, 1972. In the book titled The Slave Community: Plantation Life in the Antebellum South, author John Blassingame’s theme, focused on the history of African slave experience throughout the American South. After much research, the author said in the preface that most historians focused more on the planter instead of the slave. He also pointed out that most of the research on slaves by previous historiansRead MoreThe Definition of Family in Slave Communities Essay1488 Words   |  6 Pagesthe definition of family within slave communities because the slave definition of family not only changed from plantation to plantation, but also slave to slave. Upon reading the secondary sources, â€Å"The Shaping of the Afro-American Family,† by Steven Mintz, Susan Kellogg, Marriage in Slavery, by Brenda Stevenson, and â€Å"Motherhood in Slavery† by Stephanie Shaw, and the primary sources WPA Interviews of former slaves conducted in the 1930s. Born in Slavery: Slave Narratives fro m the Federal WritersRead MoreEssay on The Confined Voices of Female Slaves1690 Words   |  7 PagesThe Confined Voices of Female Slaves Slave narratives provide a first-hand experience on slave lives and reveal the truth about slavery. Through the writing of narratives, slaves hoped to expose the cruel and inhumane aspects of slavery and their struggles, sorrows, and triumphs. In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, slave narratives were important means of opening a dialogue between blacks and whites about slavery and freedom. Some slave narratives were crafted to enlighten whiteRead MoreIt Is Widely Known That Slavery Is A Brutal, Cruel, And1709 Words   |  7 Pagespassively â€Å"born† to be slaves were not only required to perform endless labor, but also tortured, suppressed and bestially destroyed in numerous heartless ways — physically and mentally. However, a few decades before the outbreak of the civil war, it was barely possible for the people in the north to know about the details of how the slaves lived in the south due to several factors such as the limit of communications. Fortunately, Fredrick Douglass, an educated run-away slave, published â€Å"The NarrativeRead MoreJohn Gast s American Progress1450 Words   |  6 Pagessettling the new territory was meant for free men and that the institution of slavery had no place there, clearly illustrated in â€Å"American Progress†. In the South, many politicians argued for instituting slavery in Western territories to create more slave states in order to increase Southern political influence. These conflicting beliefs resulted in intense political disputes that in many cases turned newly settled lands into battlefields. This clash of differing views regarding American expansion isRead MoreColor Complex Essay753 Words   |  4 PagesThe â€Å"Color Complex† and It’s Persisting Effects on the Black Community As African Americans came to the United States the â€Å"color complex† was implemented upon them by their white captors. The â€Å"color complex† became a means for which white slave owners could divide and conquer their black slaves. With black slaves outnumbering whites on many southern colonies as well as in many of the Caribbean islands, such as Haiti, whites realized that they needed to divide their captors against each other.Read More Religious and Spiritual Practices of Enslaved African Americans1737 Words   |  7 PagesThe Community of Enslaved Africans and their Religious Spiritual Practices. During a most dark and dismal time in our nations history, we find that the Africans who endured horrible circumstances during slavery, found ways of peace and hope in their religious beliefs. During slavery, Africans where able to survive unbearable conditions by focusing on their spirituality. Christianity was amongst the slave community. Being that the vast majority of the slave community was born in America, convertingRead MoreFrederick Douglass, An American Slave And From Song Of Myself927 Words   |  4 Pagesin the past it permitted slavery to take place. Freedom for African Americans in the United States had been fought for many years. Freedom is key to the quality of life of an individual. Throughout the Narrative of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave and From Song of Myself the narrator we can see that a persons freedom is what gives them the purpose to live. Through the narrative of Frederick Douglas, we can see how he fights to attain freedom. Song of Myself was published in 1855, this was aRead MoreSlave Culture810 Words   |  4 Pageswill always be particularly remembered for the cruelty it exhibited. Up until 1865 slaves were imported in shiploads and treated as if they were merely cattle. On the farms slaves were given no mercy and had to work long, ar duous days for nothing. Additionally they were often subject to cruel overseers who would beat and whip them on a regular basis. As brutal and destructive as the institution of slavery was, slaves were not defenseless victims. Through their families, and religion, as well as more