Rebels Against Slavery: American Slave Revolts

by Patricia C. McKissack, Fredrick L. McKissack

This meticulously researched book pays tribute to heroes such as Cinque, an African captive who was defended before the Supreme Court by John Quincy Adams, Nat Turner and Harriet Tubman.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History, Biography

181 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Patricia C. McKissack was the Newbery Honor, Coretta Scott King Award-winning author of The Dark-Thirty and Porch Lies an ALA Notable Book. She collaborated with Jerry Pinkney on Goin' Someplace Special (Coretta Scott King Award winner) and Mirandy and Brother Wind (Coretta Scott King Award winner and Caldecott Honor Book).

Reviews

[Theophilus (Theo) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good primer for young students of African American history. I would have liked to see some mention of the de Ayllon settlement in 1526. The date 1619 appears often in many chronicles of Af-Am history as the first arrival of Africans on North American shores. See Douglas T. Peck (Summer 2001). "Lucas Vásquez de Ayllón's Doomed Colony of San Miguel de Gualdape". The Georgia Historical Quarterly 85 (2): 183–198. Other sources place his colony in South Carolina. All of them confirm the presence of African slaves in North America well before 1619.

Overall, a worthwhile read for adults as well as children. Some great stories of African American participants in John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry and along the underground railroad. This book will whet the serious reader's appetite for more information.

[C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a valuable book with plenty of details that could be skillfully taught in middle and High schools across the world. While the majority of the information is US-centered, there are historical facts about Haiti, Barbados, France, and British slave involvement.

I enjoyed the comprehensive details on Napoleon, Seminole Indians, US wars, and conflicts. The book also covered the more widely talked about slave history: Denmark Vessey, John Brown, the underground railroad and in the last 25+ years the Amistad revolts.

This is an excellent book for anyone who enjoys historical facts covering: native Americans, slave history, and Early American History from the period of first 20 Africans brought into the US In 1620 as indentured servants. There are also some facts on the political system, as it relates to the passing of slave laws. Rebals Against Slavery is a Solid book I will reference again and keep in our home library.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who would have thought physical slavery could act as a great object lesson for mental slavery?
I read this book at a time I was developing some materials concerning mental freedom. My mind ironically, felt all jumbled in trying to picture what I was developing. I hadn’t tried to really decipher what I was looking for or what the obstacle was, so coming across this book was merely a “divine accident”. As I read it, I realized it is exactly what I needed to understand & create the outline of my material. Using it helped me put into perspective why freedom is something that has to be fought for, why some people fight for it & others don’t, & how to maintain the vision of freedom despite discouraging slave-enforcing situations that surround.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved learning about the different rebellions and hard won freedom in Haiti. While some of the rebels, like Tubman, I had already learned about, the book taught me about new heroes such as Nat Turner. Also, I saw the movie Amistad many, many years ago but had forgotten a lot of the history other than the basics. What a thrilling and terrifying story.
I love how humans will always rise up and fight oppression. It gives me hope.

[Lillian VanBennekom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow I didn’t learn anything about this stuff in school. I mean, Harriet Tubman good slaves bad…. We gloss over the ugly stuff. This book is a primer on all the stuff America is too ashamed to show you

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting stories about the slaves that rose up to demand their freedom.

[wildct2003 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent introduction to slave revolts in the new world. Would have liked more information on certain revolts.

[Alfahad Shaiks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe this one book is enough to know about African slaves struggles in American land ...

[Krisdeep Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book about more unknown abolitionists and slave uprisings

[Sophie Gray]

As there are many books that describe the history of slave holders or abolitionists throughout the fight for or against slavery. The lack of acknowledgment of slave revolts is finally recognized and given acknowledgement in this book. As this is clearly an important part to history, I do not believe that the set up of this book would be beneficial for children’s literature. The stories that are told throughout the book are not appropriate for all ages as other pieces of children’s literature are. The amount of violence that is described could frighten children to an extensive level that is not appropriate for teachers to bring into a classroom. I do not believe that this book was written in a way that can be released to all ages without taking a risk. The meaning behind the book is very strong and important, however, the image that it portrays to the audience is very graphic and could cause fear in children of young ages.

[Glenn Robinson · Rating 2 out of 5]

A quick overview of slave revolts in the North American and Caribbean areas from 1522 (on the son of Christopher Columbus's plantation) to 1860. Each chapter is a brief history of one or more people that had the courage to seek freedom being either stealth or by fighting. Sprinkled throughout are stories of Abolitionists, Congressmen and Journalists that fought to get laws repealed, changed and reversed in order to abolish slavery.

[Julia]

Only skimmed this, rather than a thourough reading, but it's going on some of my history bibliographies. Love the McKissacks!

[GPPL Youth]

https://swanlibs.ent.sirsi.net/client...

[Stacy Croushorn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book to introduce middle grade students to abolition and slavery movements.