This groundbreaking study of the law and culture of slavery in the antebellum Deep South takes readers into local courtrooms where people settled their civil disputes over property. Buyers sued sellers for breach of warranty when they considered slaves to be physically or morally defective; owners sued supervisors who whipped or neglected slaves under their care.How; asks Ariela J. Gross; did communities reconcile the dilemmas such trials raised concerning the character of slaves and masters? Although slaves could not testify in court; their character was unavoidably at issue―and so their moral agency intruded into the courtroom. In addition; says Gross; "wherever the argument that black character depended on management by a white man appeared; that white man's good character depended on the demonstration that bad black character had other sources."This led; for example; to physicians testifying that pathologies; not any shortcomings of their master; drove slaves to became runaways. Gross teases out other threads of complexity woven into these trials: the ways that legal disputes were also affairs of honor between white men; how witnesses and litigants based their views of slaves' character on narratives available in the culture at large; and how law reflected and shaped racial ideology. Combining methods of cultural anthropology; quantitative social history; and critical race theory; Double Character brings to life the law as a dramatic ritual in people's daily lives; and advances critical historical debates about law; honor; and commerce in the American South.
#2432119 in Books Capitol Preservation Committee 1998-06Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 .85 x 8.82 x 11.33l; 3.05 #File Name: 081820155X304 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Advance the Colors is a resource book on the Preservation of PA State Battle Flags - Civil War Period (1861 - 1865)By Harvey McKnight EmbickI purchased both Volume 1 (beige cover); and this is Volume 2 (blue cover). On page 515; the Commonwealth of PA - Capitol Preservation Committee has highlighted my grand-father's regimental battle flag. Pvt. William H. Embick was mustered into the service April 5th; 1864 at Camp Curtin (Harrisburg;PA) at age 17 for a period of (1)year; a resident of Franklin County; Chambersburg;PA (West of Gettysburg;PA) Many; if not all; companies and regiments came from the same county or contiguous counties in PA. for the pre-established comradship and/or family relationships which existed. (4) Embicks were in (3) companies within (2) regiments; the 210th Inf. Reg't and the 211th Inf. Reg't. Pvt. William H. Embick was assigned to Company D; 210th Infantry Regiment; Third Brigade; Second Division; Fifth Corps; Army of the Potomac. He fought in the Petersburg/Richmond Campaigns and the regiments were ordered to "Stand the Line" at Appomattox Court House; when General Robert E.Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S.Grant (a very somber moment for both sides). Pvt. William H. Embick mustered out of the service April 15th; 1865... ~620;000 other soldiers did not! (Buy both books!) [USMA '64]0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. I am very pleased with the bookBy Harvey McKnight Embick:My grandfather; Pvt. William H. Embick served in the 210th Infantry Regiment; Company D -.Union Pennsylvania Volunteers (PAV) [Sept 1864-Sept.1865.] His service was in the Petersburg-Richmond Civil War Campaigns; at age 17 for 1 year. He survived the Civil War...700;000 others... unfortunately did not.I am very pleased with the book; .com Logistics/Distribution; UPS and the USPS for their excellent service.Gratefully yours and Happy Holidays 2014; HM Embick; USMA - West Point '67 Montour Falls; New York2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. PA Civil War FlagsBy Master FerhooplerGood info source regarding PA regimental civil war flags. Using book to commission a flag to be made under which a relative fought; was wounded; and subsequently discharged. Will fly at my house in lieu of modern ones. History brought into modern world with relevance.
