Slavery in New York

by Ira Berlin (Editor), Leslie M. Harris (Editor)

A definitive account of the hitherto hidden slave past of America's first city.

"For much of the eighteenth century, New York City was second only to Charlestown, South Carolina, in its proportion of slaves in an urban population. It was a fact about New York that nearly always elicited comment from European visitors. "It rather hurts a European eye to see so many negro slaves upon the streets," one Scottish traveler complained."—from Slavery in New York

The recent discovery of the African Burial Ground in Lower Manhattan reminded Americans that slavery in the United States was not merely a phenomenon of the antebellum South. In fact, for most of its history New York was a slave city.

Edited by Ira Berlin, the Bancroft Prize-winning author of Many Thousands Gone, and Leslie Harris, Slavery in New York brings together twelve new contributions by leading historians of slavery and African American life in New York. Published to accompany a major exhibit at the New-York Historical Society, the book demonstrates how slavery shaped the day-to-day experience of New Yorkers, black and white, and how, as a way of doing business, it propelled New York to become the commercial and financial power it is today.

Powerfully illustrated with images from the New-York Historical Society exhibit, Slavery in New York will be the definitive account of New York's slave past.

Genres: History, New York, Nonfiction, Race, American History, Research

256 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2005

About the author

A historian of American slavery, Ira Berlin earned his BA in chemistry, and an MA and Ph.D. in history from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He taught at the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle and Federal City College in Washington, DC before moving to the University of Maryland in 1974, where he was Distinguished University Professor of History. A former president of the Organization of American Historians, Berlin was the founding editor of the Freedmen and Southern Society Project, which he directed until 1991.

Reviews

[Haroon Kharem · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must book for all New Yorkers. We pass so many of the historical places every day without knowing the significance. We walk or drive by so many places that have stories of people's lives that are featured in this book. All teachers should read this book, its a part of the NY State standards yet it is not taught in schools.
A great resource book.

[Claudia Majetich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Well written and organized.

[Rick Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't want to knock the fact that I learned a lot from this book. Slavery manifested itself differently in different regions of the US , and I'm grateful for the authors for collecting all of this information about the New York version.... I hadn't realized how reluctant NY was in letting go of the institution.

That said, this book is repetitive. Why have sidebars that say the same thing as the main text (sometimes word for word!)? the same institutions and people are mentioned repeatedly. I wish the text were a little leaner in some ways, (such as losing the repetition,) and denser in other ways, (like storytelling. )

[Ana Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This edited book commissioned by the New York Historical Society is a seminal publication and should be on every reading list for students of US History. There are so many aspects of slavery covered and with such precise detail, that you will feel as if you’re just beginning to grasp a full picture of the economic and cultural hub of the US and beyond.

[Jane Barber · Rating 5 out of 5]

African American History. Who knew? I had such a "sheltered" education in Ohio and grew up thinking that slavery existed in the South only. I have had such a lot of history to relearn. This book is very thorough, excellent. On the aesthetic side, it is well laid out, good images, good typography. A joy of a book.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collection of essays regarding the presence of slavery in New York. Well illustrated. The essays do a good job of highlighting Black individuals and making an important intervention. Especially enjoyed Iver Bernstein's essay on James Pennington and Black New York during the Civil War.

[Loretta Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely in depth on the history of slavery in New York and the impact on present New York. Loved it, took way too long to read it!

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost two years after I started reading this book when I began working in the exhibit at the New-York Historical Society, I haven't turned the last page but each one continues to surprise me. I haven't finished it only because I'm reading it in little pieces and not in order. What amazes me the most about this book is how astonishing most of its contents are. Holding a BA in history with some work in African-American history and a New Yorker I couldn't believe how little of this history is known. Even after conducting countless school programs and adult tours of the companion exhibit I find new information in the book. Highly recommended. (You should also check out the permanent version of the N-YHS exhibit which, while it can't hold a candle to the original, is very eye-opening.)

[KC · Rating 3 out of 5]

A harrowing, yet fascinating story of New York. It made me sad, but it's better to know than not to know. It became a little repetitive toward the end but was still engrossing.

[🌸Sweetgrass · Rating 4 out of 5]

great book & exhbit at NY historical society.

[Lauren Conrad]

Fantastic book on a subject that isn't discussed and needs to be.