In American Negro Slavery (1918), Phillips refers to slaves as "negroes, who for the most part were by racial quality submissive rather than defiant, light-hearted instead of gloomy, amiable and ingratiating instead of sullen, and whose very defects invited paternalism rather than repression. Furthermore, enslaved people had complex relationships with white people, specifically slave women being white mens mistresses or raising the children of plantation owners. I'm thinking this sounds right but I'm not an expert on population. Dont waste Your Time Searching For a Sample, The Life, Career and Connection to the LGBT Community of the British Singer, Elton John, The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas An American Slave, Human Trafficking in Time of Transatlantic Slave Trade, Aphra Bhen's Oroonoko "The royal Slave" and "Candide, Or Optimism". The The Slave Community Note includes chapter-by-chapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. [31] Blassingame concludes that the Sambo and Nat stereotypes "were real." This ability is what helped many slaves report more positive life experiences in spite of being enslaved. In the new preface, Blassingame asserted that the book had to be revised because of George Bentley, an enslaved, pro-slavery Primitive Baptist minister from Tennessee who pastored a white church in the 1850s. He soon feels overcome by a sense that theirplan has been betrayed. By giving slaves a brief span of time each year to release their rebellious spirit, slaveholders keep them manageable for the rest of the year. As historian George P. Rawick points out, more weight was often given to white sources: the "masters not only ruled the past in fact" but also "rule its written history."[7]. History and African sections. "[51] Orville W. Taylor contends in the Journal of Negro History that Blassingame had a tendency to overgeneralize and make "unsubstantiatable claims to originality and uniqueness". Auld takes Douglass with him to see a lawyer, but the lawyer informs them that no warrant may be issued without the testimony of a white man. At the end of the Easter holidays, all the slaves but Douglass are taken home. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! [56], Historians exhibited varying responses to Blassingame's use of psychological theory. He notes that arguments against the use of these autobiographies used by historians revolve around reliability: "Many historians refuse to use these accounts because they have felt the fugitive, as the primary sufferer in the institution, was unable to give an objective account of bondage. Engerman concedes that The Slave Community "is a book written at a time of transition in the interpretation of slavery and black culture", but "the author at times seems unsure of the direction in which he is pointing." It includes an account of the treatment of house slaves written by Angelina . Continue to start your free trial. Wed love to have you back! Many men in the community profess to be religious, but merely use their religion as justification for their cruelty to their slaves. He notes, "Blassingame, unfortunately, does not help us at all in this task." He concludes that an "E. P. Thompson for the American Black community during slavery is still off-stage", and that the topic needs exploration by a social or economic historian. The Slave Community: Plantation Life in the Antebellum South. Blassingame identifies three stereotypes in the literature of the antebellum south: Directly challenging Elkins's infantilization thesis, Blassingame argues that historians have focused too much on the Sambo personality type and the role of paternalism. Blassingame responded to questions and critiques from the panel. Blassingame states there is overwhelming evidence of enslaved peoples undying love of freedom in defiance of their circumstances (192). Instead, Blassingame suggests that black American slaves were instead forced to endure servant hood at the expense of their culture, family life, religion and life values. The physical presence of the money Douglass earns with his labor reinforces his sense of the injustice of slavery. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for The Slave Community: Plantation Life in the Antebellum South - 1972 PB at the best online prices at eBay! Renews April 24, 2023 In Chapter X, however, Douglass reveals the close friendships he develops at Freelands and shows that he relies on friends support. The Slave essays are academic essays for citation. On January 1, 1834, Douglass is sent to live with Mr. William Freeland. Douglass remembers Freeland as the best master he ever had. Douglass alludes to Henrys famous declaration, Give me liberty or give me death. While Henry faces a choice between political independence and oppression, escaping slaves must choose between two unattractive optionsthe familiar ills of slavery and the unknown dangers of escape. Retrieved from http://studymoose.com/the-slave-community-by-john-w-blassingame-essay. In a review in the William and Mary Quarterly, George Mullin is especially critical of Blassingame's use of psychology, stating that Blassingame "reduc[es] slave behavior and culture to a question of roles and psychological characteristics". Thanks Writer Lyla you are indeed awesome . Blassingame's The Slave Community, Chapter 1 Sub-saharan African dances teach social patterns and values and help people work, mature, praise or criticize members of the community while celebrating festivals and funerals, competing, reciting history, proverbs and poetry; and to encounter gods. Douglass recalls that he loved them and that they operated together as a single community. Singer was born in 1902 and died in 1991. In a 1976 edition of Roll, Jordan, Roll, Eugene Genovese explains that Blassingame's book "demonstrates that the published accounts of runaway slaves can be illuminating". Douglass is grateful that Mr. Freeland is not a hypocritically religious man. Free shipping for many products! See for yourself. However, this book wasnt published without a certain amount of criticism. Historians criticized the use of slave narratives that were seen as unreliable and biased. The contents of the outline is never to supplant the original book but rather to help readers figure out a smart read. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Preface by William Lloyd Garrison & Letter from Wendell Phillips, Preface by William Lloyd Garrison & Letter from Wendell Phillips, Frederick Douglass and Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Background. Douglass also attributes the comfort of the year to his solidarity with the other slaves. Plantation Life In The Antebellum South Summary. Mississippi, Georgia, and South Carolina had the greatest annual population loss. Full Title: Oroonoko; Or, the Royal Slave When Written: Behn wrote Oroonoko towards the end of her life. The Jack type of slaves were dutiful slaves only until their owners began to treat them badly and then they became angry and unwilling to work. "[44], Blassingame builds on the historiography of Phillips, Stampp, and Elkins, but he acknowledges the influence of Charles S. Sydnor's Slavery in Mississippi (1933), Orville W. Taylor's Negro Slavery in Arkansas (1958), Eugene D. Genovese's The Political Economy of Slavery (1961), and Ann J. However, enslaved people often played into their masters expectations to protect themselves and each other from punishment, hiding their genuine emotions and frequently reject[ing] the arguments (305) of their own racial inferiority. Have a pleasant . [45], The importance of The Slave Community as one of the first studies of slavery from the perspective of the slave was recognized by historians. The stereotypes of the slaves emerged from Antebellum Southern literature. Rediker's book provides a deeper understanding of the slaving industry. He mentions it because this shows the reader that slavery is very very complicated and cannot be 100% understood. The Slave Community by John W Blassingame is a significant revisionist work that places the slave as an individual at the centre of its analysis and argument. When four of Gardners white apprentices attack Douglass, Douglass enjoys neither the right to defend himself nor the right see his attackers punished for their crime. As an isolated figure, he appropriately resembles the protagonist of a traditional comingofage story. Because Gardners shipyard is struggling to meet a deadline, however, Douglass becomes a helping hand for seventy-five different carpenters and learns no new skill. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. 21, 22. Blassingame defended his conclusions at a 1976 meeting of the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History and in 1979 published a revised and enlarged edition of The Slave Community. The Slave Community: Plantation Life in the Antebellum South by John W. Blassingame is a nonfiction history discussing slavery in the United States. [59][60], In 1976, the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History met in Chicago and held a session on The Slave Community. [35], In The Slave Community, Blassingame uses psychologist Harry Stack Sullivan's interpersonal theory to interpret the behavior of slaves on antebellum plantations. According to Blassingame, these personality types were important to white slave owners because obvioulsy they wanted the Sambo type of slave because they could be counted upon to perform their duties without causing problems. When the Jews return to Josefov, they buy his freedom, and he too returns, just to dream each night of his love for Wanda. Instead, the fugitives' plantations are peopled with the same range of heroes and villains, black and white, which one generally finds in the human race." Written by Hellen Boss. They move to Pilitz together and Jacob finds work as a teacher. Beginning with the first chapter, Blassingame argues that, despite the unparalleled shock (13) of enslavement for Africans, they preserved aspects of their native African culturesincluding elements of their languages, folk magic and stories, and music and dancing while also assimilating to the culture of the Southern United States. Douglasss first year with Freeland passes smoothly. Slaveholders typically encourage slaves to spend the holiday drinking, rather than resting or working industriously for themselves. For example, Douglasss first escape attempt involves several people and fails, whereas he presents his successful escape as the act of an individual. "[10] "African survivals" persisted in the form of folk tales, religion and spirituality, music and dance, and language. Release Date (JP) April 22, 2023. As an apprentice who is not free, Douglass continues working at Gardners, but he endures severe physical intimidation from the white apprentices. Consequently, the slave did not have to be infantile or abjectly docile in order to remain alive. John W. Blassingame, "Using the Testimony of Ex-Slaves: Approaches and Problems", George P. Rawick, "Some Notes on a Social Analysis of Slavery: A Critique and Assessment of. Finally, slaveowners used the Sambo stereotype to alleviate their own fears and anxieties about the potential rebelliousness of their slaves. He traces the development of the slave's personality traits, analyzes the patterns of resistance within the slave community, and proves conclusively that the slave had a rich cultural and family life that was deliberately kept hidden from the eyes of his white masters. "[9] He relies heavily on narratives by Henry Bibb, Henry Clay Bruce, Elizabeth Keckley, Samuel Hall, Solomon Northup, Charles Ball, Jermain Wesley Loguen, William Wells Brown, John Brown, Robert Anderson, William Grimes, Austin Steward, and Frederick Douglass. Where Written: London When Published: 1688 Literary Period: Restoration Literature Genre: Prose fiction, travel narrative, early English novel Setting: Coramantien and Suriname This guide covers the 1979 Oxford University Press edition. [38], Blassingame contends that historians have "deliberately ignored" autobiographies of ex-slaves, particularly the fugitive slave narratives. Elkins compares the process to the infantilization of Jews in Nazi concentration camps. These songs gave them a sense of hope and belonging that brought them joy and a commonality between them all. "[67], Elizabeth Fox-Genovese makes similar observations in Within the Plantation Household: Black and White Women of the Old South (1988). This enforced ignorance robs children of their natural sense of individual identity. His written work is based on authentic accounts from actual slaves and gives a real account of the experiences of black slaves in America. Blassingame notes, "Antebellum black slaves created several unique cultural forms which lightened their burden of oppression, promoted group solidarity, provided ways for verbalizing aggression, sustaining hope, building self-esteem, and often represented areas of life largely free from the control of whites. Community; Want 100 or more? [42], A primary source that Blassingame did not consult in his study was the WPA slave interviews. Douglasss year with Covey ends on Christmas Day, 1833. Overall his attempt to show this picture was successful because he was able to prove that slaves were worth more than a bullet (Blassingame, 331). While enslaved in this training center Spartacus is introduced to Varinia, a beautiful slave woman who he is meant to sleep with but he won't. Review of The Slave Community. He questions the reality of plantation paternalism described by Phillips: "the reality of ante-bellum paternalism needs to be separated from its fanciful surroundings and critically analyzed. Blassingame concludes, "Uncritical use of the interviews will lead almost inevitably to a simplistic and distorted view of the plantation as a paternalistic institution where the chief feature of life was mutual love and respect between masters and slaves. for a group? Douglass presents Freeland as a good slave owner because he lacks both of these vices. $24.99 Douglasss analysis of the holiday time falls in this last category. "The Slave Summary". He explains, "The more fear whites had of Nat, the more firmly tried to believe in Sambo in order to escape paranoia. Stampp admits that "few ask what the slaves themselves thought of bondage. Have been using her for a while and please believe when I tell you, she never fail. "[30] Blassingame outlines efforts of slaves to run away and rebel, particularly the Stono Rebellion of 1739, Charles Deslondes's revolt in 1811, Nat Turner's revolt of 1831, and the participation of fugitive slaves in Florida fighting with Seminoles during the Seminole Wars. Discount, Discount Code From Douglass's fight with Covey to the end of Chapter X. "[13], Blassingame notes that many of the folk tales told by slaves have been traced by African scholars to Ghana, Senegal, and Mauritania to peoples such as the Ewe, Wolof, Hausa, Temne, Ashanti, and Igbo. The Slave Community: Plantation Life in the Antebellum South Revised Edition by John W. Blassingame (Author) 170 ratings Kindle $9.99 Read with Our Free App Hardcover $29.39 1 Used from $29.39 1 Collectible from $29.75 Paperback $9.99 - $66.15 91 Used from $4.27 17 New from $56.09 2 Rentals from $12.21 SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. IT IS A SUMMARY. Douglass points out that their decision was far more difficult than that of Patrick Henry, whose choice between death and an oppressed lifeGive me liberty or give me deathwas merely rhetorical. Request a complete Study Guide for this title! Southern writers felt a need to defend slavery from allegations of abuse and brutality leveled by northern abolitionists, so Sambo became a common portrayal to justify and explain the need for plantation paternalism. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. In addition, the white slave owners feared the Nat type of slaves because they were hard to control and work wasnt completed. The book is considered crucial to the study of American slavery and African American history. thissection. Give us your email address and well send this sample there. Yet, like many good books, it should have been better. The children are still clean, whereas slavery has sullied her and the other slaves who lived under it. We have over 4,000 in-depth study guides that offer a comprehsive analysis to each book. Historians argued that Blassingame's use of psychological theory proved unhelpful in his interpretation. The book explores African Americans' search for freedom in slave rebellions, everyday resistance to slavery, the abolitionist movement, Reconstruction politics, post-emancipation labor struggles, the great migration, military service, civil rights activism, and the black power movement. "The Slave Community: Plantation Life in the Antebellum South" by John W. Blassingame is the first book about slavery written by a historian in the viewpoint of slaves rather than slave owners. In chapter one of the slave community book, the author initiates the chapter with a poem by Robert Hayden that's basically telling the horrors of the middle passage, the trips the Africans took to the Americas. Douglass explains that this strategy helps keep blacks enslaved. This is a dangerous undertaking, as educating slaves is forbidden; the community violently shuts down a similar school run by a white man. In Baltimore, Hugh Auld apprentices Douglass to a shipbuilder named William Gardner. The carpenters constantly summon and yell at Douglass, who cannot help them all at once. The Slave Community: Plantation Life in the Antebellum South paints a very different picture of slavery than had ever been written about before. Hugh Auld comes to resemble a thief who steals what is not his, rather than an owner of property by which he profits. Featured Collections. 3-4 Chapter 3: Culture Pages 105-129 Black Slave's Cultural Forms: -emotional religion -folk songs and tales -dances -superstitions Slave's culture, like language, customs, beliefs and ceremonies, set them apart from their masters Slave's thoughts, values, ideals and behavior greatly influenced by these Personal A cultural and social history, The Slave Community purports to explore the lived experience and cultural activities of enslaved people as well as their relationships with each other and white people in the Southern United States. [62] The authors of Reckoning with Slavery (1976) use Blassingame's findings to challenge the assertions of Robert William Fogel and Stanley Engerman in Time on the Cross: The Economics of American Negro Slavery (1974). April 17, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 However, though Freeland is a good model for a slave owner, Douglass remains clear that slaveholding in any form is still unjust. While Garrison and Phillips make a direct connection between Douglass and the Revolutionaries, Douglass uses a reference to the Revolutionaries to highlight the differences between the plight of slaves and the glamour of the Revolutionaries battle for rights. However, he goes to state that these personality types can be misleading based on the extent to which slaves acted the way their masters expected them to behave (Blassingame, 242 243). At first, Thomas Auld announces his intent to send Douglass to Alabama. In this sense, the slave writers present a participant observers' comments on the larger slave society. Free trial is available to new customers only. [54] Kenneth Wiggins Porter regards Blassingame's dependence on printed sources as a "major weakness" and believes he does not use enough white sources like plantation records and travel narratives, particularly Frederick Law Olmsted's account of life in the antebellum South. She notes that The Slave Community, like other historiography produced in the 1960s and 70s, "did not directly address women's history, even though many of the historians were sensitive to women's experience. This play was published in 1843, as part of a source book of antislavery readings for use by students and at antislavery society meetings. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% Tensions at the shipyard increase when the white carpenters suddenly strike to protest the free black carpenters who Gardner has hired. Since slave parents were primarily responsible for training their children, they could cushion the shock of bondage for them, help them to understand their situation, teach them values different from those their masters tried to instill in them, and give them a referent for self-esteem other than the master. Using psychology, Blassingame analyzes fugitive slave narratives published in the 19th century to conclude that an independent culture developed among the enslaved and that there were a variety of personality types exhibited by slaves. On the way, Douglass and the others speak together, agreeing to destroy their written passes and admit nothing. This model of social support competes with the model of heroic individualism through the end of Douglasss Narrative. The community celebrated long into the night but grew jealous and angry as the feast wore on: to them, the excess of the feast was a measure of Baby Suggs's unwarranted pride. He begins to despair. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of The Slave Community by John W. Blassingame. Instead it was much more resistant to the bludgeons that was slavery than historians have hitherto suspected (Blassingame, 34 35). He chaired African American Studies for most of the 1980's. He is the writer of New Perspectives on Black Studies ( 1971 ) . But Batiatus is training the men in order to sell them off. Thesis: The Slave Communityattacked Stanley Elkins' idea that Southern slavery was so severe that it destroyed slave culture, producing a race of Sambosdocile, child-like slaves who depended on and doted on their masters. "[12] He argues that culture developed within the slave community independent of the slaveowners' influence. He never receives a whipping from anyone during his remaining four years as a slave. This is a dangerous undertaking, as educating slaves is forbidden; the community violently shuts down a similar school run by a white man. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. The extent of submissiveness often depends on the structure of the group to which the person belongs. As slaves, these black people struggled to maintain and hold onto aspects of their culture and/or former life that were the most important to them. The Narrative goes on to show that the words American and slave are contradictory: the rights afforded by the designation American are nonexistent for slaves. Blassingame added a chapter titled "The Americanization of the Slave and the Africanization of the South" where he draws parallels between the acculturation of African American slaves in the American South, African slaves in Latin America, and European slaves in North Africa and the Ottoman Empire. Rawick is convinced that Blassingame would have reached the same conclusions from the sources without the use of psychology "because the historical evidence as seen through an unadulterated commitment to the struggles of the slaves and an equally uncompromising hostility to the masters would have led him there. Kolchin, Peter. 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