The historical memory of the Civil War and Reconstruction has earned increasing attention from scholars. Only recently; however; have historians begun to explore African American efforts to interpret those events. With Defining Moments; Kathleen Clark shines new light on African American commemorative traditions in the South; where events such as Emancipation Day and Fourth of July ceremonies served as opportunities for African Americans to assert their own understandings of slavery; the Civil War; and Emancipation--efforts that were vital to the struggles to define; assert; and defend African American freedom and citizenship.Focusing on urban celebrations that drew crowds from surrounding rural areas; Clark finds that commemorations served as critical forums for African Americans to define themselves collectively. As they struggled to assert their freedom and citizenship; African Americans wrestled with issues such as the content and meaning of black history; class-inflected ideas of respectability and progress; and gendered notions of citizenship. Clark's examination of the people and events that shaped complex struggles over public self-representation in African American communities brings new understanding of southern black political culture in the decades following Emancipation and provides a more complete picture of historical memory in the South.
#1569258 in Books The University of North Carolina Press 1992-07-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 1.61 x 6.42 x 9.55l; 2.37 #File Name: 0807820326570 pages
Review
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. Read as a prelude to Destruction and ReconstructionBy William S. GrassBefore reading the personal memoir of an historical figure; I always make an effort to first read a scholarly biography of that person if one is available. Since Richard Taylor's memoir "Destruction and Reconstruction" is often highly ranked among the suggested reading lists for the Civil War; I planned to read it; so I set out to first find a bio. That's when I found Parrish's "Soldier Prince of Dixie."Through Parrish's depiction of Taylor's life we are given a front row seat first into the making of an aristocratic; Yale educated; slave-holding planter; and a son of a president no less. By following Taylor we see in microcosm the story of the late antebellum South and its destruction.He became a planter by inheritance when his father died. He went from being an elitist Whig to being swept into the torrent by fire-eating democrats. With no prior military training he became an outstanding field commander for the C.S.A.; among talented amateurs he was surpassed only by Forrest and perhaps Cleburne. Early on he served in the east in the Valley with Stonewall. Later he returned to the Trans-Mississippi and eventually reached the pinnacle of his achievements by stopping Banks in the Red River campaign.As a result of the war his plantation was destroyed; and he endured the death of his young son. Still; he retained some national influence. He advised President Johnson on cabinet appointments and was a personal acquaintance of Henry Adams; author of "The Education of Henry Adams."For anyone planning on reading "Destruction and Reconstruction;" Parrish's work is valuable for its maps; especially the ones that show the Trans-Mississippi areas like the Red River Valley and the Lafourche and Teche bayou regions.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Excelelnt!By hoseboyThis is my ancestor; so I have a little more than a passing interest.. One of Taylor's daughters married my great; great grandfather (I don't know if I have enough or one too few greats in there)..0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. PARRISH IS A MASTER STORY-TELLERBy alan shawExcellent Read. Parrish is a master story-teller. I couldn't put it down. Must reading for Civil War aficionados
