Focusing on everyday rituals; the essays in this volume look at spheres of social action and the places throughout the Atlantic world where African–descended communities have expressed their values; ideas; beliefs; and spirituality in material terms. The contributors trace the impact of encounters with the Atlantic world on African cultural formation; how entanglement with commerce; commodification; and enslavement and with colonialism; emancipation; and self-rule manifested itself in the shaping of ritual acts such as those associated with birth; death; healing; and protection. Taken as a whole; the book offers new perspectives on what the materials of rituals can tell us about the intimate processes of cultural transformation and the dynamics of the human condition.
#2314356 in Books 2013-08-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x 1.30 x 6.00l; .80 #File Name: 0252079663264 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Review of Rebels and Runaways by a customerBy A CustomerReview of Rebels and Runaways by a customerLarry E. Rivers accomplishes a lot in his study of slave resistance by using a multiplicity of sources; such as slaveholders will and probates; ledgers; account books; court records; oral histories and numerous newspaper accounts; to create an interesting and moving account of one of the darkest eras in our history.He explains what life was like for enslaved blacks whose families were pulled asunder as they relocated to violent Florida; and how they fought back as best as they could to control small parts of their lives. As he tells this many nuanced story; it was a time of man's inhumanity towards man and a black woman; it was a time of conquering and putting red and black people in their assigned places; and it was a time to use means necessary to push America's agenda of national westward expansion. All of these factors impacted negatively the freedom; safety; and security of blacks and Native Americans in Florida society. Rivers does a decent job of connecting the Florida scene and its impact on national events occurring at the time.With some runaways having an "Atlantic world perspective;" the author does something that few historians of the subject have done to date -that is- he provides a more international approach to the study of slave resistance. True; some fugitives headed for freedom beyond America's northern boundaries to Canada; but; some fugitives in Florida also left their homes seeking freedom beyond the United States further south. Some sought freedom by piloting or hiding on aboard ships headed to the Caribbean especially to the Bahamas after 1834.Against a smoldering backdrop of violence; Rivers aptly describes the various degrees of slave resistance that were evident on the farms; plantations; and small industries of the peninsula state. He starts with the very mild forms of daily dissension like enslaved blacks talking back to whites; stealing of food and tools; and feigning illnesses. The author steps up to the somewhat stronger forms of resistance like enslaved blacks lying out for periods of time; prowling around other plantations and farms; and outright runaways. Rivers does a yeoman's job analyzing the more serious type of runaway -the true fugitive- the runaway who sought to leave Florida for places in the Bahamas or states such as Georgia; South Carolina; Alabama; and to a degree North Carolina. After which; he moves from the more violent forms of slave resistance like enslaved blacks poisoning and killing whites with guns; axes; hoes and other farm implements to the worst form; outright slave rebellion. He did an impressive job on arguing that the Second Seminole War; which he calls the Black/Indian rebellion; eclipses the Turner; Vesey; Louisiana revolts and others in numbers and intensity; as the worst in American history. All the while; he argues consistently why Florida; with its numerous maroon communities; geography; and topography; became ripe for slave uprisings. About eleven years after his solid book on Slavery in Florida; the author adds to the story of America's most tragic eras. You will; indeed; gain many fresh and new perspectives from reading Rebels and Runaways. Review of Rebels and Runaways by a customer0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Rebels and RunawaysBy Michael Woodward; Sr.Larry E. Rivers' book entitled; Rebels and Runaways is interesting and well written. He painstakingly tries to get readers to understand the complicated and complex cause and effect of slave resistance in antebellum Florida; and its impacton the nation as a whole. The author clearly makes a connection between whites thwarting slave resistance in the peninsula;especially from 1835 to the mid 1840s; with America's western expansion efforts. Rivers adds a new dimension to the story ofslave resistance in the South by looking at enslaved blacks with an Atlantic world perspective; and those who successfullyescaped by another Underground Railroad route (by water not by land) further south to the Bahamas.Although the author doesn't say; it would be interesting to know how many fugitives actually made it to the British Caribbean islands after the empire outlawed slavery in 1833 or 34; and were slave owners and catchers ever successful in having fugitives returned to the states? Rivers indicates that some slaveholders were not successful in retrieving their runaways who successfully made it to the Caribbean. That's an interesting point since most historians who study runaways more often describe those who were unsuccessful in their escapes; not those who were successful in their efforts! !It's a refreshing look at the humanity of enslaved blacks and their efforts to maintain their humanity by fighting the worseun-free labor camp system in the history of the country. Well;this is not your mother's or father's usual cup of tea orcoffee!!!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Real ManBook was in great shape.
