America's Long Struggle against Slavery

by Richard Bell

What do you really know about the fight against slavery in America? We’re all familiar with the Underground Railroad and the Emancipation Proclamation, but the fight against slavery was not some sudden movement that sprang up in the middle of the 19th century. Resistance from the enslaved started on the western coast of Africa in the 15th century and continued as the institution of slavery was codified in America, culminating with the War between the States.

This 300-year struggle has too often been glossed over by history books enamored with American ingenuity, Manifest Destiny, and tales of Revolutionary freedom. But to understand America - to fully understand our country today - one must examine the whole history of struggle, oppression, and resistance, not only by famous figures like Abraham Lincoln and Harriet Tubman, but also by an enormous and often unfamiliar cast of characters, including:

The “saltwater slaves” who revolted aboard slave ships;
Phibbah Thistlewood, a woman who made the best of her situation to bridge the gap between her master and her fellow slaves;
David Walker, Nat Turner, and other figures calling for immediate, urgent action; and
Northern Quakers who changed the political tide. What these disparate figures had in common was they gradually coalesced into a movement. Individuals gradually organized, and then the abolitionist movement led to war which led, in theory, to freedom.
America’s Long Struggle Against Slavery is your chance to survey the history of the American anti-slavery movement, from the dawn of the transatlantic slave trade during the late 15th century to the end of Reconstruction in 1877 and beyond. Taught by Professor Richard Bell of the University of Maryland, these 30 eye-opening lectures give you an up-close view of a venal institution and the people who fought against it - and who often paid for their courage with their lives.

This Great Course is a must-have for scholars and history buffs alike. As Professor Bell examines the different means and methods that Americans, white and black, have used to escape slavery, he presents the grand problems that animated everyone engaged in this great struggle.

Genres: History, Race, Audiobook, American History, Nonfiction

13 pages, Audible Audio

First published May 20, 2020

Reviews

[Jarrod Dillon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing. Everyone should listen to these.

[Cameron Rhoads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Watched on DVD and read this Great Course guidebook and thoroughly enjoyed both.

[Don Heiman · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 2020 The Teaching Company released Professor Richard Bell’s 30 lecture course “ America’s Long Struggle Against Slavery.” At the time of the course publication, Richard Bell was associate Professor of History at the University of Maryland College Park. His research and book authorships are all focused on U.S. culture and history. The long struggle against U.S. slavery course begins with lectures about the origins of slavery In the British empire, African slave trade, free Black families in Colonial Virginia, and the role of Quakers and Puritans in fighting American slavery. He next discusses significant historical events that affected anti-slavery activism of the 18th century including the Haitian Revolution, role of slave traders, Pinckney’s counter revolution, the founding of Free Black churches, and how America used “King Cotton” plantation economics to counteract nationalizing slavery. The last six lectures discuss Black leadership to end slavery, American Civil War slave experiences, and the civil rights events of the 1950s and 60’s. His final lecture is about present day events that underpin the fight against “modern slavery.” The lectures and 219 page course guidebook are well done. (P)

[Jeff Beardsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This lecture series, led by Richard Bell, offers a very good overview on the history of slavery in America…and truly does focus on the United States, with the exception of a slight detour into Haitian slavery and modern-day slavery in the last lecture of the series. I really enjoy the fact that Bell told many of the stories from the perspective of the slaves themselves, focusing on what they did to fight the evil system. While he covers ground that is much familiar, he goes further into areas that are not often studies or well understood, and he certainly brings a unique perspective to the topic. My only complaint is the penultimate lecture where Bell truly delves into modern politics as an antidote for the current travails of the African American community. This particular lecture is not a “history” lecture at all; but rather a political thesis of what should be done in the modern context. The lecture on modern-day slavery is entirely consistent with the 28 lectures of the history itself. Other than the politization in lecture 29, I do recommend it for those interested in the topic.

[Hank Pharis · Rating 3 out of 5]

(NOTE: I'm stingy with stars. For me 2 stars means a good book or a B. 3 stars means a very good book or a B+. 4 stars means an outstanding book or an A {only about 5% of the books I read merit 4 stars}. 5 stars means an all time favorite or an A+ {Only one of 400 or 500 books rates this!).

The great news is that I can listen to a book a day at work. The bad news is that I can’t keep up with decent reviews. So I’m going to give up for now and just rate them. I hope to come back to some of the most significant things I listen to and read them and then post a review.

This is a good overview.

[K.M. Fernandes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and enlightening

This course provides an excellent overview and the essential timeline that details slavery's origins in America, the perverse addiction to and dependence on it through the civil war, and the aftermath that we are still struggling with as a nation. A devastating, enlightening overview that provides proper context with chilling details that drop us down into the horrifying realities for the enslaved and the moral corruption of their masters and the political system that protected them, with arrows pointing in the direction of further exploration. Highly recommend.

[Carl Palmateer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very good, until the tacked on last two lectures. Prof Bell couldn't resist the captive audience I guess. The two lectures, a jerimiand of policies, legislation, etc he advocates and final lecture that was a PSA about human trafficking today. There are better ways and better sources for the information he doles out at the end.

As I said, most of the course is great and still to be recommended.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Should be required listening at the high school level instead of the literally white-washed version that is taught. I do wish it had a few more chapters dedicated to the systemic ways in which the US has continued to oppress and incarcerate POC post-Civil War, but I understand that is out of the scope of the title so I'm glad he included the final two chapters at least.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very likely scholarly work on the title's subject. Bell digs deep and tells a very interesting story. After a while I became somewhat annoyed at every lecture's introduction with words to the effect that what the listener was about to hear might contain language offensive to some - it's history, for crying out loud.

[Kiki · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent history of the fight to abolish slavery in America.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite informative!

[Lynette Ackman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I suspect this book may haunt me for a long long time. :-(

[Teresa Thompson Arcangel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I knew quite a bit about slavery in America, but this course taught me so much! It's excellent!

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brutal. I totally understand why Rick Desantis wants to hide from this truth, this history….To paraphrase an outdated, overused movie quote, He can’t handle the truth….And, I am the snowflake…

[Ryan Mauldin · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging, interesting and informative series of lecture about mankind struggling against an obvious evil.

[Mitch Warner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent lecture series. Highly recommend.