More Than Chattel: Black Women and Slavery in the Americas

by David B. Gaspar (Editor), Darlene Clark Hine (Editor)

". . . a much-needed volume on a neglected topic that is of great interest to scholars of women, slavery, and African American history." ―Drew Faust

Gender was a decisive force in shaping slave society. Slave men's experiences differed from those of slave women, who were exploited both in reproductive as well as productive capacities. The women did not figure prominently in revolts, because they engaged in less confrontational resistance, emphasizing creative struggle to survive dehumanization and abuse.

The contributors are Hilary Beckles, Barbara Bush, Cheryl Ann Cody, David Barry Gaspar, David P. Geggus, Virginia Meacham Gould, Mary Karasch, Wilma King, Bernard Moitt, Celia E. Naylor-Ojurongbe, Robert A. Olwell, Claire Robertson, Robert W. Slenes, Susan M. Socolow, Richard H. Steckel, and Brenda E. Stevenson.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Sociology, Research, Historical, Gender

360 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1996

Reviews

[Sasha (bahareads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This anthropology brings together top scholars to discuss Black women in the Americas. The essays cover life and labour to slavery and resistance. I wished that I enjoyed this book more but alas it was hard to get through. Many of the essays have excellent topics but the historical profession has moved beyond the way of analysing them that's in this book. I wanted more narrative and there were a lot of statistics and analytics all over the place. This was a transformative work for its time.

[Darian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful book, but I feel like some of the essays were a bit repetitive. I loved hearing about the lives of these women in the Caribbean because it is something I had not heard about before.

[Tori · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I'm not a history person.

[Priscilla Previl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid overview on the much under studied subject.