Black Slaveowners: Free Black Slave Masters in South Carolina, 1790-1860

by Larry Koger

Drawing on the federal census, wills, mortgage bills of sale, tax returns, and newspaper advertisements, this authoritative study describes the nature of African-American slaveholding, its complexity, and its rationales. It reveals how some African-American slave masters had earned their freedom and how some free Blacks purchased slaves for their own use. The book provides a fresh perspective on slavery in the antebellum South and underscores the importance of African Americans in the history of American slavery. The book also paints a picture of the complex social dynamics between free and enslaved Blacks, and between Black and white slaveowners. It illuminates the motivations behind African-American slaveholding--including attempts to create or maintain independence, to accumulate wealth, and to protect family members--and sheds light on the harsh realities of slavery for both Black masters and Black slaves. • BLACK SLAVEOWNERS--Shows how some African Americans became slave masters • MOTIVATIONS FOR SLAVEHOLDING--Highlights the motivations behind African-American slaveholding • SOCIAL DYNAMICS--Sheds light on the complex social dynamics between free and enslaved Blacks • ANEBELLUM SOUTH--Provides a perspective on slavery in the antebellum South

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Race

300 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 1985

Reviews

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our history books were completely devoid of this accounting of the American slave trade, so many will find this book an eye-opener. It is well researched and thoroughly interesting to read.

[Rosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw this book listed on a friend's page on Facebook and decided to read it. It really was a very good historically poignant book! It was very heart-wrenching to read how some people had to decide which family member to purchase to guarante their freedom. It also opened my eyes to how many blacks, which I long suspected, did indeed partake in the for profit slave trade. This is the sort of history that is not taught but which indeed needs to be told. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the entire picture of slavery or to those who simply want to expand their knowledge of how slavery impacted blacks financially.

[Regina Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

It would not surprise me if this book/topic was considered controversial. Therefore, let me preface my review with a few comments.

I originally became interested in this topic during college, where as a history major one of my professors discussed the existence of free black slave owners in our area. Since I was pursuing a degree in history, I obviously had an interest in history and was really taken back because I had never heard of this topic and could not fathom how it could be true. I did some independent research and discovered that there was documentation of its existence in southeast Texas. I always intended to more reading on the subject but didn't. Then, I read The Known World by Edward P Jones and my interest was piqued again. By this time I was on Shelfari and this made it easier to search out some non-fiction work on the topic.

According to Koger's work there were more than 10,000 slaves owned by free blacks in Louisian, Maryland, South Carolina, and Virginia. In this work Koger examines and documents the existence of free black (usually mulattos) who owned slaves in South Carolina during the 1800's and lays out the motivations for doing so. Often free blacks would purchase family members in order to grant manumission. However, when South Carolina passed a law that both houses had to approve an application for manumission (which was seldom done) family members would remain "slaves" but with a reunited family. However, this was not the only setting under which black slaveowners occured. There were cases where the purchase of slaves was done for the same "economic" reason that whites purchased slaves. I stated earlier that I couldn't fathom how this could occur. My thinking was, "how could black knowing the cruely that existed under this system participate in this sort of oppression." Koger argues that many of the free black slaveowner had never been a victim of the slave system as descendants of those who had gained their independence or they were slaves in the urban areas where the majority of slaves were household slaves rather than field slaves who, according to Koger, received the most severe treatment.

I gave this a three because the book is well documented (probably too much for many) and addresses some of the questions I have. However, you REALLY have to be a history person to get through this book as it is very dry, awash with statistic and documentation, and Koger is QUITE redundant. Koger meticulously cross-references census data with the local tax roles in an attempt (probably) to fend off any criticism that the case is overstated. While there are personal stories included, even they read like what I envision a medical case history reading.

[Heather Wertz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a part of history we need to talk more about. We always see movies showing only slavery as the white beating black slaves yet we don't show anything about the successful free black slave owner or the free black slave owner with white slaves. And in today's events even trying to talk about a white slave people argue and say they are indentured servants not slaves, which is wrong. I don't want to only see black/Africans as victims. I want to see them as successful free and working alongside the other Americans during this time in history. I want their voices heard as well and their stories told.

[Irma Suggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative for family historian and genealogist. A great book to have.

[Leon Atterberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good book about a very controversial topic…”Black slave owners”.

It’s a very clear complex topic about an emotional issue.

I encourage folks to read this book and think about the issues.

[Bookewyfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book focuses on the little known fact that slavery was not just used by white people, nor was it confined to the South. The reasons varied from attempts to keep families together, to purchasing the ‘freedom’ of their loved ones for them, to capital. Various laws were passed in SC from 1800-1859 that made emancipation very hard, and for many, impossible.

This is an old text that I would like to see updated with new information. An important read. It is obvious on every page how white supremacy and proximity to it benefits and harms all at once, persons Black, Brown, Passing, and White.

Link for a list of SC Slave Codes (laws), some of which are mentioned in this book: https://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/en...

[Dave Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

You might be interested, especially if you thought all slave owners in the South were white. A bit of a tough read.

[Kim Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading

[Scotty · Rating 4 out of 5]

the most niche book I have ever read. it's good to know that some Black people are based 😎🫣😩👑

[Jonathan]

None

[Karen]

* Understanding Oppression: African American Rights (Then and Now)

[Fredric L.Vaccarella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Boring