The Tillman family of Edgefield; South Carolina; is forever linked to Palmetto State history; but not all of its members have yet had their stories told. James Adams Tillman (1842-1866) never had the chance to become a governor or U.S. senator like his younger brother "Pitchfork" Ben or a U.S. congressman like his older brother George. But; like his more famous siblings; James also dedicated his life to the service of his community and state--a dedication that led to his death at the young age of twenty-four from injuries sustained during the Civil War. Overshadowed in the annals of history by his brothers; James has largely been unrecognized until now. Edited by Bobbie Swearingen Smith; these collected diary entries and family letters offer a significant historical record of the Civil War era as experienced by a steadfast representative of this prominent South Carolina family and offer meaningful insights into James's brief life and ultimate sacrifice.At nineteen James Tillman had completed secondary school and had intentions to pursue a teaching career when the outbreak of the Civil War changed his priorities. Tillman enlisted with the Twenty-fourth South Carolina Volunteer Infantry of Edgefield and attained the rank of captain during the war. He was initially stationed along the coastal defenses south of Charleston and fought in both battles of Secessionville in 1862. He was wounded at Chickamauga in 1863; and his mother and brother Ben brought him home to recover. Tillman returned to duty and spent much of 1864 under the command of General Joseph E. Johnston in Tennessee and North Carolina; retreating from General Sherman's advance. At the war's end; Tillman returned home crestfallen and witnessed the rough onset of Reconstruction; writing in his diaries about those he saw as descending on South Carolina to profit from the defeated South. In June 1866; a little more than a year after his discharge; he died of complications from his combat wounds.Through the combination of Tillman's diaries and letters; the modern reader is invited to share in both the immediacy of his thoughts from the war front and his contemplative expressions of those experiences for his home-front audience of family members. Tillman's personal narrative adds another layer to our understanding of the historical significance of the Tillman family and offers a compelling firsthand account of the motivations and actions of a young South Carolinian at war as he struggled to find sense in the midst of unfathomable chaos.
#16699 in Books Nation Books 2016-04-12 2016-04-12Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.63 x 1.88 x 6.50l; .0 #File Name: 1568584636592 pagesNation Books
Review
175 of 183 people found the following review helpful. Stamped; from the beginning and ForeverBy Read-A-LotThe author posits that there are really 3 sides to the debate of racial disparities existing and persisting. The three sides are segregationists; assimilationists and antiracists. His definition of racism;i.e.; the adoption of racist ideas is a simple one; and as such you will see some famous people that will surprise you to be labeled as racist at points in their career. W.E.B. DuBois is certainly a name most readers would never associate with being a "racist" during his long illustrious career.One thing that is most important in these kinds of arguments; is for everyone to be operating from the same definition. So to the author's credit he states his explanation of racist ideas early. Keep in mind; we are not talking about racism; but racist ideas and how these ideas have affected and infected not only Americans but world citizens. "My definition of a racist idea is a simple one: it is any concept that regards one racial group as inferior or superior to another racial group in any way. I define anti-Black racist ideas—the subject of this book—as any idea suggesting that Black people; or any group of Black people; are inferior in any way to another racial group."With that in mind;author Ibram Kendi compiles a comprehensive history of racist ideas; using historical "tour guides " to traffic readers through a landscape beginning in mid 1600 to present day. Kendi here makes a powerful statement with this book about how these racist ideas have led to continuing racist discrimination."I held racist notions of Black inferiority before researching and writing this book. Racist ideas are ideas. Anyone can produce them or consume them; as Stamped from the Beginning’s interracial cast of producers and consumers show...Fooled by racist ideas; I did not fully realize that the only thing wrong with Black people is that we think something is wrong with Black people.I did not fully realize that the only thing extraordinary about White people is that they think something is extraordinary about White people."That's a potent admission for someone writing the "definitive" history of racist ideas. But I think it is important to this wonderful work by Kendi. As he goes about exposing these ideas; readers may be surprised to find themselves subscribing to ideas that; by Kendi's definition are clearly racist. As we move through the five eras; with our guides; you will be fascinated as these ideas and the consequences of them are brought to light. Thoughts that you have given little attention to; and have become part of your consciousness will hopefully be liberated.Something that black people generally do when they hear some terrible news item; one of the initial thoughts is hoping the perpetrators are not Black. Does that hope spring from our buying into the racist idea that Black people are pathological? And we will be judged by the actions of the perpetrators and therefore be seen as defective? Is this a racist idea?"Already; the American mind was accomplishing that indispensable intellectual activity of someone consumed with racist ideas: individualizing White negativity and generalizing Black negativity. Negative behavior by any Black person became proof of what was wrong with Black people; while negative behavior by any White person only proved what was wrong with that person."All the ways that racist ideas have worked hand in hand with discrimination are unearthed here. And it may come as a surprise to some that prominent Black leaders of their day held tightly to racist ideas; like uplift suasion. The concept that "was based on the idea that White people could be persuaded away from their racist ideas if they saw Black people improving their behavior; uplifting themselves from their low station in American society. The burden of race relations was placed squarely on the shoulders of Black Americans. Positive Black behavior; abolitionist strategists held; undermined racist ideas; and negative Black behavior confirmed them."Sounds a lot like today's concept of respectability politics; if we would just pull our pants up; stop listening to that damn music; not be so loud; etc. etc. If we would just present ourselves in a more respectable manner; we could then usher in that post-racial epoch that some say is already here.The journey through the racist idea history has to include the players and events of the time periods covered and Kendi does a good job of incorporating that history and integrating the ideas that girded those times. The book clocks in at 500 pages; but it is well worth your time and investment.115 of 126 people found the following review helpful. A consummate history of anti black racism for everyoneBy Joseph PsotkaThis wonderful book provide a clear and readable history of racism that everyone and especially Americans should read. As a white immigrant Christian of moderate means; I am among those who conveniently succumbed to the implicit racism of America; and was repeatedly shocked by the rapier insights Kendi offers in this critical review of racism in America from early slavers to the Constitution; segregationists; abolitionists; assimilationists; and modern white supremacists. No one is safe from his bright light on the blatant and subtle forms of racism; from Jefferson; to Du Bois; to MLK; and Angela Davis; and now to the racism of Trump; who hides his otherwise ebullient racism by calling blacks "Thugs". What shocks me most is how naïve I am in believing I hold antiracist positions; only to discover that Kendi's critique blows holes into some of my beliefs. If I can be so naïve; perhaps so can you. This is a thoughtful and detailed historical summary that helps explain so many of America's current trends and ideologies.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Must Read - Excellent insightBy Kim N. KershawExcellent book on untold history of racism in the United States of America. A must read for all African Americans; beautiful insight into the past. I commend the author on a job well done. We need to know our history; not just what we been told; thank you and please write more.
