As slaves; African Americans were virtually invisible to history. Even after the Civil War there were not many African American photographers and very few people had the time; money or freedom to sit for a portrait. Consequently only a few hundred such pictures have survived from that time to bear witness to African Americans and the lives they led. Jackie Wilson has assembled a comprehensive collection of such images into one volume. The daguerreotypes and tintypes shown here present these men and women in situations and attire that brings the truth of their daily lives much closer to us. Scenes of maternal affection; matrimony; war and the grim realities of the master/slave relationship help focus perceptions of the African American experience in the US.
#490499 in Books Greer; Allan 2000-02-07Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.19 x .52 x 5.48l; .54 #File Name: 0312167075226 pages
Review
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful. Window into Indian lifeBy RobRoyAny one curious about Indian life must read Jesuit descriptions of their lives among the Indians. The Jesuit priests were missionaries who lived with the Indians in their villages in the 1600s; learned their languages; recorded their culture in great detail; and clearly loved and cared for the native peoples even though naturally repelled by a few of their customs. This 211-page abridgement is fascinating; and includes nice maps and drawings from the period. I found myself wishing it was longer.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. A digest of a wonderful periodical published centuries ago about what is now the Midwest USABy mauriceThe jesuit Relations was an annual periodical reporting the events of missionary endeavorsthat stretched from Acadia on the North Atlantic all the way to the middle of the continent;to Lake Winnepeg; and even beyond to the Rocky Mountains; long before the famed explorationsof Lewis and Clark.About the only criticism I would make is that the jesuit missions in Baja California are notincluded; though they were certainly in North America.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Great bookBy Peter S. CapellThis is a great book about which I would warn readers to skip the first 22 pages where the publisher decided to tell the reader what to think. It is unfortunate that the space in this short document has to be wasted on erudition regarding our ability to discern history.
