Finding Charity’s Folk highlights the experiences of enslaved Maryland women who negotiated for their own freedom; many of whom have been largely lost to historical records. Based on more than fifteen hundred manumission records and numerous manuscript documents from a diversity of archives; Jessica Millward skillfully brings together African American social and gender history to provide a new means of using biography as a historical genre.Millward opens with a striking discussion about how researching the life of a single enslaved woman; Charity Folks; transforms our understanding of slavery and freedom in Revolutionary America. For African American women such as Folks; freedom; like enslavement; was tied to a bondwoman’s reproductive capacities. Their offspring were used to perpetuate the slave economy. Finding loopholes in the law meant that enslaved women could give birth to and raise free children. For Millward; Folks demonstrates the fluidity of the boundaries between slavery and freedom; which was due largely to the gendered space occupied by enslaved women. The gendering of freedom influenced notions of liberty; equality; and race in what became the new nation and had profound implications for African American women’s future interactions with the state.
#1374637 in Books Scott Walker 2007-07-15 2007-07-15Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.25 x .84 x 6.12l; 1.07 #File Name: 0820329339336 pagesHell s Broke Loose in Georgia Survival in a Civil War Regiment
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Georgia's Offense and Defense; Circa 1861-1865!By Trial by Combat!I was first fasinated with this book because of names. There are Braswell's and Samuel's in my Deen Family. My mother was a Smith. Scott Walkers book lists Master Sergeant William (Billy) Braswell; Private Samuel Braswell; and Private Robert Braswell as three central leaders. Then I note General Kirby Smith and Brigadier General James Argyle Smith were in important command post positions.This book follows the Route of The 57th Georgia Regiment which was mostly formed and organized from counties in Central Georgia. The reader is intrigued with moving into the Kentucky Campaign and on to Vicksburg; Savannah; Andersonville; Atlanta; Tennessee and finally The North Carolina Battle and lastly the survivor's returning to their homes.Walker has provided a treasury trove of Georgia History. I will try to reread this book often. Braswell; Samuel and Smith connections were to me a plus. My great grandfather Samuel Lee Deen and another great uncle Samson Altman were killed on St. John's Island; South Carolina; during these days.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. History of 57th GA Volunter Infantry Regiment C.S.A.By Vette061Very well written and readable history of Mercer's brigade and the 57th GA regiment which was a part of this brigade. The interwoven personal letters make the narrative come alive from the soldier's view. My great grand uncle was a soldier in the 54th Ga which became a part of this brigade in May 1864 at the beginning of the campaign for Atlanta. Thank you Scott Walker.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. 57th GA.Regt.By Redcatcher 1968-69I ran across this book while doing research on my ancestors who fought in the 30th GA. Since both units were in The Army of Tennessee and fought many of the same battles in close proximity to each other; and the fact that men in this unit were from rural Georgia as were my ancestors I was looking for insight into the daily lives of the soldiers. I was not disapointed as the book contains many personal letters and diary entries from the common soldier; as regarding their living conditions and daily suffering. Fasinating insight into the period. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in real people of the time.
