African Americans in the Colonial Era: From African Origins Through the American Revolution

by Donald R. Wright

Slavery in the United States has been treated primarily as a nineteenth-century phenomenon; historians focused on the final thirty-five years of an institution that existed in this country for more than two centuries. With a shift in scholarly interest toward the culture of slaves, has come a new appreciation of its development over time and, accordingly, interest in the earlier years of the historical experience of African Americans. This fine, brief survey, which summarizes the story from West Africa through the adoption of the U.S. Constitution, offers a balanced, up-to-date treatment of West African cultures, the Atlantic slave trade, the slow development of slavery in the English colonies, the rise of racism, and the changing cultures of African Americans. It attends to important regional differences at a time when slavery existed in all the colonies along the Atlantic seaboard.

Genres: History, American History, Nonfiction

196 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[☼Bookish in Virginia☼]

~ review copy provided

At one time my area of study was Early Medieval Gaul. I loved that period of history because it was an era of radical change, where different peoples (Romans and Germanic tribesmen) met and hammered out new social structures. It was a time of cultural assimilation and change.

And while I don't pursue that study anymore I never lost my interest in the history of change and 'start ups'. And so, when this book popped up on my radar it immediately grabbed my attention.

One reason I knew I had to read it is was because of my own ignorance about this topic. And secondly, and most importantly, I instantly realized that here was rich environment where once again different cultures and peoples were meeting to hammer out new directions.

And... I'm delighted to say that the African American experience is wonderfully complex and varied. There is no single historical narrative. And there is certainly no agreement amongst historians in how to interpret the records and data that we have.

~
Donald Wright's AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE COLONIAL ERA is a readable text book.

In 4 long chapters he manages to cram in an amazing amount of information, while miraculously also managing to give you the background in the literature.

A less scrupulous author might just cite authorities that agree with their own views, but Wright provides balance while at the same time doesn't let you flounder.

I appreciated this approach and enjoyed this book.

[Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short history book helped fill in a lot of knowledge gaps for me regarding the start of the slave trade to the American colonies. The insights on both the development of African American culture as opposed to just African culture (because there were so many different cultures being pushed together) and the racial ideas that slowly pushed even free Blacks further and further out of society are important to understanding the issues that were never resolved post-Civil War.

[Rusty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've often said that I don't know how to rate Non-Fiction books. I figured that I was interested in the topic, and have often marveled at the dearth of widely available information regarding the colonial era slave culture. Since I've written a SF novel set in the 1730's that involves slavery in the colonies I figured I should have some minimal exposure to the historicity of the era (before I release it to my half-dozen or so potential readers). Imagine my great joy when I stumbled on this little gem in a used bookstore.

Of course, I was frustrated that of the four main parts of this book, only one really focused on the Atlantic trade... an area of which I knew very little and found horrible and fascinating. The remaining portions were also informative and clearly written, although they bounced around a bit and were frustratingly non-specific about when particular moments happened, was it 1680? 1760? Who knows? I mean, the author did indicate that there were several periods, sometimes decades long, when attitudes towards slavery were softening, and freedoms were granted to slaves, to times when those freedoms were being taken away and more racists attitudes dominated.

Also, northern slaves, southern slaves, slaves in the Chesapeake area, or even the difference between a creole slave and one straight from africa were worlds apart in their treatment, their expectations, of their liberties.... this book tries to make a cohesive tale out of a pretty complicated matter that spanned centuries.

Still, good job all round keeping this concise, and in providing about the best bibliography I've seen in awhile.

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

An erudite, concise synthesis of the recent scholarship of the complexities of American slavery and African American culture in British mainland North America through the Revolutionary era. Wright makes compelling arguments about the roots of racism and the fundamental importance of slavery in the founding of America -- and the founding fathers' culpability in entrenching slavery after the 1780s. This is an excellent starter book to provoke additional reading and ends with a bibliographical essay loaded with reading suggestions, including Ira Berlin's "Many Thousands Gone." Wright frequently cites Berlin.

[Rick Wong · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was OK, just gave an account of slavery in the different areas of the colonies, up to the American Revolution.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent overview of the African American experience in the colonial period. I'm going to try it out with my undergraduates this fall.