The Mark of Slavery: Disability, Race, and Gender in Antebellum America

Disability Histories

by Jenifer L. Barclay

Exploring the disability history of slavery

Time and again, antebellum Americans justified slavery and white supremacy by linking blackness to disability, defectiveness, and dependency. Jenifer L. Barclay examines the ubiquitous narratives that depicted black people with disabilities as pitiable, monstrous, or comical, narratives used not only to defend slavery but argue against it. As she shows, this relationship between ableism and racism impacted racial identities during the antebellum period and played an overlooked role in shaping American history afterward. Barclay also illuminates the everyday lives of the ten percent of enslaved people who lived with disabilities. Devalued by slaveholders as unsound and therefore worthless, these individuals nonetheless carved out an unusual autonomy. Their roles as caregivers, healers, and keepers of memory made them esteemed within their own communities and celebrated figures in song and folklore. Prescient in its analysis and rich in detail, The Mark of Slavery is a powerful addition to the intertwined histories of disability, slavery, and race.

Genres: Disability, Nonfiction, History, Race, Disability Studies, Gender, American

264 pages, Hardcover

First published April 13, 2021

Reviews

[Naia Pard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provided insight into the imagery of disability in relation with the institution of slavery. It provided a well documented go-through into the society of ante- and postbellum America (before and after The Civil War).

It went to show how deeply ingrained into the American society, was the overlapping of the words “slave” and “disability”. It showed how this phenomenon came to be and what where its consequences (and still are, to these days).

The perspective that is approached is that from the slave`s point of view—in the sense that the attempt that is made is that of recollecting testimonials from their side of the story, or trying to build an image of their situation out of documents of that period.
The pace of the book was permissible, and the text was easy to follow.

*I`ve received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review


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[Nidhi Shrivastava · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked Jennifer J Barclay’s The Mark of Slavery as an ARC copy that is available via NetGalley. This powerful and influential monograph addresses the treatment of disabled slaves in the antebellum era focussing specifically through historical archives, memoirs, and images. To begin with, I would highly recommend this text because the clear linkages between the ideologies of white supremacy, institutionalized, cultural, and system racism, biopolitics, and precarity becomes clear in the author’s study of slave narratives whom she argues exist in a liminal space - in that - they have more agency that meets the eye, which is indeed a refreshing and meaningful ways to look at a time when we are trying to find the right language to discuss disability. What becomes clear in the argument that “enslaved people with disabilities were also a paradox...they were simultaneously invisible and hyper visible, present and absent, ubiquitous in the historical record but erased, ignored, and obliquely referenced in historical scholarship for decades.” Undoubtedly, Barclay’s astute reading of slave narratives and disability shows their lives were layered and complex. Often, in such structural systems of oppression, even abled slaves took extreme measures to disable themselves to remain as a family unit which they weren’t even considered during the antebellum era. The monograph also explores disability as a spectacle (disabled slaves such as conjoined twins being used for entertainment or the extensive discussions on the slave bodies in minstrel shows specifically the black male “dandy”). This and the focus and exploration of the terminology for the word “freak” reminded me of the way in which this narrative exists on a continuum and hasn’t changed. Now, we have channels such as TLC doing exactly that. People who are from different races, sexualities, weight problems, ethnicities, and disabled are mocked in public spaces and on channels such as TLC (which I also admittedly watch) but am aware of this issue.
#TheMarkofSlavery #TheNetgalley

[Nidhi Shrivastava · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked Jennifer J Barclay’s The Mark of Slavery as an ARC copy that is available via NetGalley. This powerful and influential monograph addresses the treatment of disabled slaves in the antebellum era focussing specifically through historical archives, memoirs, and images. As a note,disability studies is a new area of interest to me as I work on trauma theory but find subjectivity fascinating. To begin with, I would highly recommend this text because the clear linkages between the ideologies of white supremacy, institutionalized, cultural, and system racism, biopolitics, and precarity becomes clear in the author’s study of slave narratives whom she argues exist in a liminal space - in that - they have more agency that meets the eye, which is indeed a refreshing and meaningful ways to look at a time when we are trying to find the right language to discuss disability. What becomes clear in the argument that “enslaved people with disabilities were also a paradox...they were simultaneously invisible and hyper visible, present and absent, ubiquitous in the historical record but erased, ignored, and obliquely referenced in historical scholarship for decades.” Undoubtedly, Barclay’s astute reading of slave narratives and disability shows that their lives were layered and complex. Often, in such structural systems of oppression, even abled slaves took extreme measures to disable themselves to remain as a family unit which they weren’t even considered during the antebellum era. The monograph also explores disability as a spectacle (disabled slaves such as conjoined twins being used for entertainment or the extensive discussions on the slave bodies in minstrel shows specifically the black male “dandy”). This and the focus and exploration of the terminology for the word “freak” reminded me of the way in which this narrative exists on a continuum and hasn’t changed. Now, we have channels such as TLC doing exactly that. People who are from different races, sexualities, weight problems, ethnicities, and disabled are mocked in public spaces and on channels such as TLC (which I also admittedly watch) but am aware of this issue.
#TheMarkofSlavery #TheNetgalley

[Marisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mark of Slavery is an incredible look at disability amongst the enslaved. This topic is something that definitely doesn't get enough attention or coverage, and I'm so glad that this book finally exists. The whole point of intersectional feminism is the part that it INTERSECTS, meaning that The Mark of Slavery couldn't be made until someone was ready to look at and intelligently analyze the different layers of oppression. Ableism, sexism, racism, and how all of those atrocities have lingered throughout history to where we are now. Overall, this is a powerful book, and I highly recommend it for historians, particularly public historians who specialize in American history.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty good book looking at disability within the context of slavery. The chapters are well organized and formatted, and I like how she handled the subject of definitions and how she utilized her sources. The chapters on “freak shows” and “minstrel shows” were the most engaging, but I feel this is a necessary look at this topic, as it is often left out of the conversation of enslavement in the United States. If I had a complaint, it’s that she did not utilize the topic of gender very well in terms of how gender affected the enslaved’s role in the household and on the plantation. Further, I would have liked consideration of those who may have rejected the label of disability, and the importance of self-definition as well as how a community defined a person. These are further areas this area of scholarship could expand into, but I do believe this book is a good starting point on the topic.

[Shannon Mattice-Nieters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Barclay writes a deeply fascinating historical analysis of slavery and disability and the intricate interconnectedness of the two. Her hard work and dedication to the field are expressed deeply in this work and it’s wonderful to see such a meaningful and important piece of scholarship finally get published.

[Colin Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jenifer L. Barclay's The Mark of Slavery offers a simple but compelling premise: race, specifically racialized forms of inequality, emerged in tandem with notions of disabled bodies. She writes, "As the institution of slavery came under attack prior to the Civil War, both northerners and southerners increasingly relied on the dramatic rhetoric of disability to bolster their various positions on race and racial slavery...these socially constructed ideas, however, differed dramatically from the embodied realities that disabled enslaved people faced in their everyday lives, a contradiction that highlights just some of the many complexities embedded in a concept frequently taken for granted as simple, natural, and static" (5). Therefore, Barclay concludes, "Both race and disability...were categories constructed simultaneously, through and alongside one another" (5). By emphasizing words like "through" and "alongside," Barclay pivots from a conventional but thought-provoking intersectional paradigm.

Furthermore, these deeply interconnected notions and categories, race and disability, appeared and manifested in a myriad of ways, many beyond the geographic boundaries of southern forced labor camps (i.e., plantations). For example, Chapter 3 explores how law and medicine codified the connection between race or "Blackness" and disability. As Barclay explains, disability "derives less from the bodily impairment of individuals and more from barriers in society" (77). Therefore, many of the "slave codes," highly restrive principles of behavior and etiquette that ran from the Colonial period through to the Antebellum period, were "supplemented and further clarified by local municipal ordinances" (77). Barclay emphasizes how we cannot theorize the disabled and Black subjects in isolation, at least in Antebellum America. Theorizing these two concepts together clarifies their contours and helps explain the ideological ideas that linger today.

With that said, the chapter I found most interesting was Chapter 5. Chapter 5 explores disability and race on the Antebellum Stage. On the Antebellum Stage, disability and race converged to produce a "spectacle" of racial and bodied intolerance. But more importantly, these spectacles, such as blackface minstrelsy and "freak shows," functioned to "shore up white, nondisabled male identity" during this period (127). Barclay continues, "Anxious whites forged imagined connections between blackness and disability to assuage their own trepidation about the looming prospect of freedom for enslaved blacks and these visions came to life on the antebellum stage" (148). This chapter suggests white grievance, specifically regarding the perceived instability that enslaved people's freedom would unleash on society, was so profound it needed not only the categories "Black" and "disabled" but also a stage to dramatize and exercise said grievances.

According to Barclay, conflating the constructed categories "Black" and "disabled" mattered in profound ways to many antebellum white Americans, both northern and southern. This is something the Fields sisters underscore in Racecraft. The practice of racism, much like anti-ableism, produces deeply constructed categories such as race and the body. Many believe these practices emerge from the categories themselves (e.g., racism follows race, and so on). This is, however, a misunderstanding. Instead, we must embrace the truth: race, like able-bodiedness, operates as a justification for hate, stratification, and oppression.

[Selena · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mark of Slavery is an eye-opening book about another way white land and slave owners found to knock slaves down by marking them defective due to their skin color. Slave owners would use the term "disabled" to charge off their property in taxes because the "defective" cost more than make money for their masters.
It was interesting to read that, although some were treated more harsh than other slaves, some of the "disabled" were able to stay with their family and given jobs as caregivers for their siblings or in the household. In no way am I saying the treatment of those labeled as disabled were treated fairly. Many times the disability was caused by the work they were forced to endure, or lack of medical care for a possibly minor injury or illness.

i didn't really know what the book was going to be about and if I would be able to complete it due to the subject. Jenifer Barclay does a wonderful job of presenting the treatment of African Americans by Euro Americans throughout the book. I found myself angry in the treatment, then slightly less when disabled were treated less harshly and let to stay with their family after an auction.

I cannot say I like the subject matter, it is a very heavy read, but I can say the writing and way the subject is handled makes "The Mark of Slavery" a five star read.
I was given the opportunity to read this book by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

[Athena Freya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review to come but until then, I'll just say, This is a must read.

A kind thank you to the publisher for approving me of this ARC.

I must admit that I didn't know much about Antebellum America, so I felt the need to educate myself. This book definitely fulfilled my needs! Dr. Barclay is renowned in this field, having numerous publications and earning awards for her work. This book is a clear example of her experience and knowledge. Not only does the book provides with a lot of information from numerous sources, but the author also offers nuanced conclusions and with poignant language indicates her own critique/opinion. This book is obviously written by a brilliant researcher who knows her field, has done extensive research, and has the ability to convey not only the facts but also draw attention to connections often neglected in history and education.

The amount of research the author has poured into this book is astounding. The author includes writings of Black people and other publications from that era. I was reading this on my kindle, and the last 30% of the book was the references section, where the author not only lists her references but also provides a brief description of them.

A book that everyone needs to read, if they have the stomach to face the utter cruelty of that era. The knowledge I gained through this book will stay with me forever.

Publisher: University of Illinois Press
4.5 stars - ⭐⭐⭐⭐+

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an amazing read. History buffs and folks interested in disability rights and the history of slavery in the Americas will be thrilled with this book. It is an adaptation of the author's, Jenifer Barclay's dissertation and it brilliantly explores how disability positioned enslaved people in the Americas and how enslaved people used both perceived and actual disability to their advantage. How disability both helped and hindered the experiences of Black people in their families and their interactions with white people. How medicine and science were performed on Black people without regard for their humanity or wishes. Barclay shares multiple accounts of the experiences of disabled enslaved people and how their disability affected them. I learned so much reading this book. I received a free copy for review through netgalley, but will certainly be purchasing a physical copy for my collection. I cannot say enough great things about this book. I highly recommend it.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an amazing read. History buffs and folks interested in disability rights and the history of slavery in the Americas will be thrilled with this book. It is an adaptation of the author's, Jenifer Barclay's dissertation and it brilliantly explores how disability positioned enslaved people in the Americas and how enslaved people used both perceived and actual disability to their advantage. How disability both helped and hindered the experiences of Black people in their families and their interactions with white people. How medicine and science were performed on Black people without regard for their humanity or wishes. Barclay shares multiple accounts of the experiences of disabled enslaved people and how their disability affected them. I learned so much reading this book. I received a free copy for review through netgalley, but will certainly be purchasing a physical copy for my collection. I cannot say enough great things about this book. I highly recommend it.

[Brandon Westlake · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is one of a kind. It definitely fills in a gap in the historiography of slavery. What about those whom enslavers deemed as unfit or incapable of work? What are their stories? Disability history seems to be a growing field, one that will continue to expand our understanding and give us a more complete view of the past.

This is a type of history that is excited; it shows that there are still many different avenues to explore and research, on top of all of the information we seem to already have. Barclay's work speaks to the work of Diana Raimey Berry and Kellie Carter Jackson (Jackson she explicitly mentions)- these works have expanded on enslavement studies, regarding women and their roles.

There is a lot to unpack here- and gives a much needed voice to those Americans who have disabilities. Their history matters as well

[Ceri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a fascinating look at the intersections of ableism and racism in the history of slavery in North America. Barclay explores how disability affected enslaved people, how their treatment as slaves could cause them to become disabled - through their work or through punishments inflicted on them - and how propaganda from both those supporting and opposing slavery played into ableist tropes that infantilised or underplayed the capacities of the enslaved people. Intricately researched and beautifully written, this book is informative and challenging as it shows the ongoing impact of slavery on society today in the stereotypes and biases people still hold today.

[Shannan Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the subject matter of the book can be a little triggering at times, this is definitely a must read. the author talks about how disabled enslaved individuals were treated horribly. it also talks and gives a broader depth on experiments done to enslaved Africans, as well as other racial disparities that happen in the US. This would be such a good book for history buffs.

[Keziah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book bridges a huge gap in scholarship on slavery, Blackness, and disability. Chapter 3 is a standout in the analytical work it does to uncover how antebellum-era laws both inscribed disability onto Blackness (and Black bodies) and literally disabled Black bodies through physical punishments and constraints on movement and literacy.

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

incredible

[Ellie W · Rating 4 out of 5]

So interesting and important. The conclusion summed up the argument and the connections very nicely.