DOC Dark Places of the Earth: The Voyage of the Slave Ship Antelope by Jonathan M. Bryant in History

Review

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Truth and Justice don't walk hand-in-hand.By Eric C. PetersenI think Mr. Cornell did an excellent job in covering the book; so I won't repeat his points; save to say as a non-lawyer the book was easy enough to navigate; save perhaps the first trial in Savannah where I think there were five parties to the litigation with various representatives and things got a tad dense. When the case first came before the Supreme Court there were 6 judges; 4 were slave owners if one wants to guess how that round went. The book is a morality play: While most of the players were in agreement that by natural law slavery was an abominable institution; the argument that won the day was that of John Marshall - there were no laws on the books; no legal precedent; to declare it illegal; therefore [?] it was legal; interesting circular logic. Bryant does a masterful job painting a picture of the times (life was pretty primitive) and some of the really interesting characters involved in the dispute. Impressive was the grueling hours lawyers put into their cases in an environment where there was practically no established U.S. law; most relied on their private libraries of English common and admiralty law. The denial of justice re slavery in the 1820s still rumbles down the halls of history here; latest example being Texas' attempt to limit voting rights; this is still a very racist country nearly two centuries after the Antelope case. All in all; I really enjoyed this book. While there are a few legally dense patches about a third of the way though; the process of the case working toward a conclusion reads a bit like a thriller and holds the reader's attention. Bryant's level of knowledge about the times and the people who inhabit this book is astounding; the writing is crisp; and plants the reader firmly in the middle of the debate about the "peculiar institution" seen in the 1820s. (Since I can't figure out how to back scroll this page I can't edit it; please excuse obvious errors.)3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. This author’s work is beautifully organized; well written and thoroughly documentedBy Douglas DillonJohnathan Bryant does a masterful job of shedding a bright light on a little known but extremely important event in American History. Meticulously researched; the author’s efforts show in graphic detail the plight of over 300 Africans brought to the shores of the United States by the slave ship Antelope. And in the process; he lays before readers the intricate legal wrangling that ended in Supreme Court rulings solidifying the rights of property over the natural rights of human beings; rulings that lasted for thirty-five years.As the book title indicates; this is a dark tale; one that throws readers directly into the horrors of the slave trade and the institution of slavery as practiced during the early years of the republic. Author Bryant’s simple statistics of what remained of the Antelope’s starving and diseased human cargo when it finally arrived in Savannah; Georgia during the year 1820 give stark and concise testimony to the brutality of such transatlantic profit seeking voyages:• Out of 331 people originally captured and put aboard the Antelope; only 258 remained alive – a 22% loss of life.• 83% of the captives were under the age of 20.• The average age of all the captives was 14.• 106 were between the ages of 5 and 10.• 8 were between the ages of 2 and 5. 2 and 5 (that is an intentional factual repeat)For almost eight years after landing in the United States; the captives languished in servitude on Savannah plantations as if they had been bought and sold as slaves; which they were not. And after those eight years; most of those people who actually survived were legally enslaved and sent to Florida by Supreme Court rulings. Only a small group ended up being sent back to Africa where they faced severe hardships; disease and attack by the nearby native population.Jonathan Bryant’s story of the multiple legal battles that caused the captives to wait nearly eight years is fascinating and so full of detail as to almost be overwhelming. But true to presenting the facts as he found them; the author offers readers these historical events in step-by-step fashion so as to leave no doubt about what happened. His 47 pages of notes at the end of the book speak to the incredible depth of his research.One of the most telling scenes is when the Antelope case finally arrives at the Supreme Court of the United States in 1825; five years after the captives set foot in Georgia. The legendary John Marshall was Chief Justice and four of the justices were slave owners. The attorney for the supposed owners of the captives; Spanish and Portuguese citizens; was a slave owner as well. Enter the attorney for the government of United States trying to free the captives; Francis Scott Key. The same F.S. Key of the Star-Spangled Banner fame had slaves of his own. Slave ownership stood out on that day as a vivid yet unofficial finger pressing on the scales of justice.This author’s work is beautifully organized; well written and thoroughly documented. It is an important scholarly work and should be read by those deeply interested in slavery; the slave trade; constitutional law; international law; and American politics during the first quarter of the 19th century.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Have Patience!!!By Shirley HotopThis was a pick for our monthly book club and I think for most of us it was definitely a challenge. I felt like I was in an American History Law class. I struggled to keep characters straight; names organized and finally gave up on trying. On the other hand some of the facts and history in this book was fascinating and I did learn things I had no clue had happened. Not a book to take to the beach as you really have to concentrate and absorb the information you are reading and I found if I read in small sittings I did much better. I must admit I am almost 100% a fiction reader so this was a change for me to sink my teeth into and absorb.