Them Dark Days: Slavery in the American Rice Swamps

by William Dusinberre

Them Dark Days is a study of the callous, capitalistic nature of the vast rice plantations along the southeastern coast. It is essential reading for anyone whose view of slavery’s horrors might be softened by the current historical emphasis on slave community and family and slave autonomy and empowerment.

Looking at Gowrie and Butler Island plantations in Georgia and Chicora Wood in South Carolina, William Dusinberre considers a wide range of issues related to daily life and work health, economics, politics, dissidence, coercion, discipline, paternalism, and privilege. Based on overseers’ letters, slave testimonies, and plantation records, Them Dark Days offers a vivid reconstruction of slavery in action and casts a sharp new light on slave history.

Genres: History

576 pages, Paperback

First published January 11, 1996

Reviews

[Paula Berinstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very detailed and well documented. A bit repetitive in places but that doesn’t detract from the usefulness and impact of the book.

[Manray9 · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those foolish few who see slavery as a benign institution: Read this book!

[W · Rating 2 out of 5]

A struggle to complete