Freedom: Georgia's Antislavery Heritage 1733-1865

by Michael Thurmond

Decades before Georgia became the cradle of the modern Civil Rights Movement, generations of its African Americans waged a historic struggle to abolish the institution of slavery. Now Michael Thurmond presents this unique, fascinating story of black Georgia from the early eighteenth century until the end of the Civil War.

Genres: History

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know that calling for a book to be "required reading" is overdone, but this incredibly well-documented history of "Georgia's Antislavery Heritage: 1733 - 1865" really would make a worthy addition to the education of all Georgians, especially at this time (2020) when Black Americans are again moving toward actual equality and justice in our country. I learned so much about the Colony of Georgia and about the roles of enslaved and free people of color in the state that grew here. Michael Thurman did an outstanding job with this book, but that's not surprising.

[Steven Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

So often in history the reader is faced with two choices - superficial, unsatisfying overviews or long, exhaustive scholarly studies. Micheal Thurmond strikes the perfect balance between the two in this book - highly readable and jeweled with excellent illustrative details and examples.

[Brent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sadly, this is out of print; so, I doubly thank my local Fulton County Public Library for the loan(s).
Michael Thurmond has continued to publish history while doing great work in the public arena, lately as CEO of DeKalb County, Georgia; I have followed him since I heard him speak as a lawyer in Athens about the history of Athens. I especially appreciated his work as Commissioner of Labor as I returned to live in Georgia from Florida.
This book presents history for a general audience, and is super readable.
Since, this year, Thurmond has returned to the early Georgia chapters here by publishing last month a new biography of Georgia's founder James Edward Oglethorpe, with UGA Press, described here: James Oglethorpe, Father of Georgia: A Founder’s Journey from Slave Trader to Abolitionist
Unable to get to several in-person appearances in February, I settled for fininshing my reading of this earlier book. My appetite is whet for the new book.
Highly recommended.

[C. Adam Volle · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Why isn’t every child in Georgia taught about this stuff?” he rhetorically asked.

[DORIS · Rating 3 out of 5]

NOTE. IN GODS EYES HIS CHILDREN S WAS ALL BORN FREE FREE INDEED.

[Dwight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freedom is a very revealing book about African-American guerrilla, military, and political struggles, in Georgia, against slavery from 1733 until the end of the Civil War.

It completely changed my perspective on the scope of African-American resistance. The author, Michael Thurmond, is currently the Commissioner of Labor for the state of Georgia.