Antebellum slave narratives; cultural and political expressions of Africa.

9780415990271

Antebellum slave narratives; cultural and political expressions of Africa.

Archer, Jermaine O.

Routledge

2009

128 pages

$95.00

Hardcover

Studies in American popular history and culture

E444

Archer reexamines slave narratives either written before the Civil War or collected as memories of slavery by ethnologists in the early twentieth century. He concentrates of four major figures: Frederick Douglass, William Wells Brown, Harriet Tubman and Harriet Jacobs. Refuting biographers who insist that Douglass, especially, was completely Westernized, Archer gives examples of African influences in Douglass' autobiography. He also points out many African customs and beliefs that remained in the slave culture which emanated from specific regions of Africa. These include religious beliefs that were syncretized into Christianity as well as medical knowledge and social structure. This excellent book demonstrates the influence African culture had in America. It is clearly written with a comprehensive commentary on earlier studies. A much less expensive paperback edition would be of interest to the general reader as well as a useful addition to classroom reading.

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