Runaways, Coffles and Fancy Girls: A History of Slavery in Tennessee

by Bill Carey

Tennessee had a smaller percentage of slaves than most other Southern states and was the last state to join the Confederacy. Consequently, many believe slavery was "not as bad" in Tennessee as it was in the rest of the South. In this fascinating book, author Bill Carey explains how slavery was embedded in every level of Tennessee society; that many families which didn't own slaves leased them; that local governments used slave labor; that court officials routinely sold small children away from their families; and that professional slave traders operated in all parts of the state. Primarily relying on newspapers and first-person accounts, Carey points out that slavery affected all levels of society and that every resident of antebellum Tennessee would have been accustomed to the sight and sound of enslaved "chain gangs" (known as coffles) being herded from one place to another. This book - Data from more than 900 runaway slave ads published in Tennessee newspapers from 1792 until 1864. - Advertisements for slave traders such as Isaac Bolton, Nathan Bedford Forrest and Rees W. Porter which were commonplace in their day but will strike current readers as disturbing. - Precise descriptions of the 24 slaves bought by the government of Nashville in 1830 and taken away from their families in Virginia and Maryland. - Proof that slaves were given away in several Tennessee lotteries--including one that raised money for state government.
- Evidence that a slave died in the construction of the Tennessee State Capitol.
- Detailed information about court-mandated slave sales on the steps of courthouses across the state.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

350 pages, Hardcover

Published April 12, 2018

Reviews

[Elisha Lawrence]

This is a history book so it can't really be ranked. Helpful reading for what it is- 5 Stars for being helpful and insightful.

There is a quote in The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates that I don't have with me right now, but the essence of it was...when you look at slavery, it can't be with a cursory glance, but must be a long, hard, painful examination.

This book is one that I read for this very reason. I live in Tennessee and it has been my home for the last twelve years of my life. I think it will be for many more, God willing, so I want to understand the history of racial injustice in my state.

There is no part of Tennessee which has not been touched by the evils of our past. My white ancestors sold black families into life-long servitude. They did it on the courthouse less than one hundred steps from me. They broke up families and sold young children. This book tells William Seward's account of watching young black boys being marched naked and in chains by a white man with a whip. The location of the National Baptist Convention is the same site of one of the largest private slave trades in Tennessee.

Carey's book is not a narrative but basic reporting of his research through Tennessee newspapers leading up to the end of slavery. It's not a particularly riveting book and yet it contains some history that I think most Tennesseans are not aware of. We know that slavery existed and that it was evil, but Carey's research helps to paint in some of the hideous details of the big picture of slavery in Tennessee. It shows that it was an industry and slaves were treated like a property, an asset. Laws were made to protect slaveholders and take advantage of slaves. You could rape your slave and be completely within your legal rights.

I think one of the biggest takeaways from this book is recognizing how deeply embedded the narrative of racial difference was in Tennessee. This doesn't change over night and the effects of slavery still exist today. So many struggles that African Americans face in Tennessee and so much privilege and wealth white people have accumulated in Tennessee was through slavery. Everything from farms to factories were staffed by slaves. And not one part of the state of Tennessee can claim they weren't in on it. It was about money and building wealth.

[Han]

This book should be required reading for Tennesseans.

[Emily Adams]

EXCELLENT book - I learned so much - many, many things that I was never taught in school.

[Edward Sullivan]

Relying on Tennessee newspapers of the time and first-person accounts, Carey examines how deeply embedded slavery was in every level of Tennessee society. An important, enlightening book.

[Malinda]

Every Tennessean should read this book.