Slavery, Fatherhood, and Paternal Duty in African American Communities over the Long Nineteenth Century (Paperback)

Analyzing published and archival oral histories of formerly enslaved African Americans, Libra R. Hilde explores the meanings of manhood and fatherhood during and after the era of slavery, demonstrating that black men and women articulated a surprisingly broad and consistent vision of paternal duty across more than a century. Complicating the tendency among historians to conflate masculinity within slavery with heroic resistance, Hilde emphasizes that, while some enslaved men openly rebelled, many chose subtle forms of resistance in the context of family and local community. She explains how a significant number of enslaved men served as caretakers to their children and shaped their lives and identities. From the standpoint of enslavers, this was particularly threatening--a man who fed his children built up the master's property, but a man who fed them notions of autonomy put cracks in the edifice of slavery. Fatherhood highlighted the agonizing contradictions of the condition of enslavement, and to be an involved father was to face intractable dilemmas, yet many men tried. By telling the story of the often quietly heroic efforts that enslaved men undertook to be fathers, Hilde reveals how formerly enslaved African Americans evaluated their fathers (including white fathers) and envisioned an honorable manhood.

General

Imprint:	The University of North Carolina Press
Country of origin:	United States
Series:	The John Hope Franklin Series in African American History and Culture
Release date:	September 2020
Authors:	Libra R Hilde
Dimensions:	235 x 155 x 30mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback
Pages:	410
ISBN-13:	978-1-4696-6067-7
Categories:	Books > Humanities > History > History of other lands Books > Social sciences > Sociology, social studies > Gender studies > General Books > Social sciences > Sociology, social studies > Ethnic studies > General Books > Social sciences > Sociology, social studies > Social groups & communities > General Books > History > History of other lands
LSN:	1-4696-6067-9
Barcode:	9781469660677

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