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The Apache Diaspora: Four Centuries of Displacement and Survival
Across four centuries, Apache (Nd�) peoples in the North American West confronted enslavement and forced migration schemes intended to exploit, subjugate, or eliminate them. While many Indigenous groups in the Americas lived through similar histories, Apaches were especially affected owing to their mobility, resistance, and proximity to multiple imperial powers. Based on archival research in Spain, Mexico, and the United States, as well Apache oral histories, The Apache Diaspora brings to life the stories of displaced Apaches and the kin from whom they were separated. As Conrad argues, diaspora was deeply influential not only to those displaced, but also to Apache groups who managed to remain in the West, influencing the strategies of mobility and resistance for which they would become famous around the world. Through a broad chronological and geographical scope, The Apache Diaspora sheds new light on a range of topics, including genocide and Indigenous survival, the intersection of Native and African diasporas, and the rise of deportation and incarceration as key strategies of state control. As Conrad demonstrates, centuries of enslavement, warfare, and forced migrations failed to bring a final solution to the supposed problem of Apache independence and mobility. Yet in the process, both Native and colonial societies were changed.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
370 pages, Hardcover
First published May 28, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 15, 2021
Apaches were especially affected owing to their mobility, resistance, and proximity to multiple imperial powers. Spanish, Comanche, Mexican, and American efforts scattered thousands of Apaches across the continent and into the Caribbean and deeply impacted Apache groups that managed to remain in the Southwest. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book. It was a great book to read and learn about the Apaches.
February 19, 2021
Before I say too much, I just want to reiterate that I am not apache. I am eastern cherokee and ojibwe. My mom grew up as an only child even though she had many brothers and sisters because they'd all moved out already and my mom was a late-life baby.
After watching her other children be bullied for having a darker skin tone and embracing our culture, my grandmother decided not to teach my mother about our culture and history, and my mother never taught me. I didn't learn much until we lost our home when I was 7 and went to go live with my aunt. She would wait until everyone in the house was asleep and then she would come wake me up. We ate donuts dipped in fresh milk from their farm and she would braid my hair and tell me the stories that my grandmother told her.
At that time, she really tried to steer away from the sad stories. She wanted to tell me about our history as a people and our traditions, not about the genocide or murder. But eventually I would have to learn that too. And I did, but not until I was much older.
The reason I'm telling you all of this is because this book brought back memories for me. The good and the bad, and it taught me about the struggles that other tribes were facing. I may not be apache but I am indigenous, and our histories as indigenous peoples are important.
Admittedly I was a little hesitant reading a book about indigenous history written by a white man. I've just come across too many books written by white people that, intentionally or not, objectify and sexualize our cultures. They feed into the narrative that we're "savage" and "dirty" and need to be civilized, which is exactly the kind of mentality that feeds into the colonist mindset. How can it be bad conquering a people if we bring them running water and steel tools, right?
The Apache Diaspora, thankfully, did not do this. The book features many stories from indigenous people and paints a realistic picture of what they and their ancestors went through, while also giving a historical viewpoint and explaining the larger picture of the time period. I didn't feel like the author was trying to speak for apache people, but instead, explain what was actually happening, most of which I can promise you were never taught in school.
I can't speak to the accuracy of the stories or the content because I am not apache and this is not my history, but I can say that the history and stories that my aunt talked about are sometimes very similar to the history of the apache people, and this book isn't the first resource I've read regarding apache history. From what I know as personal knowledge, I did not see any inconsistencies, but I will also say that I am not a historian or from the apache tribe, so my previous knowledge of apache history was almost entirely from trading stories with other indigenous people.
I think that if you don't know anything about indigenous history or the reality of indigenous struggles (ie. if the only indigenous history you've ever gotten was in high school) then this is a really great place to start learning about tribes. The one thing that I will warn everyone against, is reading this book and then thinking that all of these details apply to every other indigenous tribe as well - we all have different histories, customs, traditions, and beliefs. So please keep that in mind if you do decide to read this book.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for review purposes.
After watching her other children be bullied for having a darker skin tone and embracing our culture, my grandmother decided not to teach my mother about our culture and history, and my mother never taught me. I didn't learn much until we lost our home when I was 7 and went to go live with my aunt. She would wait until everyone in the house was asleep and then she would come wake me up. We ate donuts dipped in fresh milk from their farm and she would braid my hair and tell me the stories that my grandmother told her.
At that time, she really tried to steer away from the sad stories. She wanted to tell me about our history as a people and our traditions, not about the genocide or murder. But eventually I would have to learn that too. And I did, but not until I was much older.
The reason I'm telling you all of this is because this book brought back memories for me. The good and the bad, and it taught me about the struggles that other tribes were facing. I may not be apache but I am indigenous, and our histories as indigenous peoples are important.
Admittedly I was a little hesitant reading a book about indigenous history written by a white man. I've just come across too many books written by white people that, intentionally or not, objectify and sexualize our cultures. They feed into the narrative that we're "savage" and "dirty" and need to be civilized, which is exactly the kind of mentality that feeds into the colonist mindset. How can it be bad conquering a people if we bring them running water and steel tools, right?
The Apache Diaspora, thankfully, did not do this. The book features many stories from indigenous people and paints a realistic picture of what they and their ancestors went through, while also giving a historical viewpoint and explaining the larger picture of the time period. I didn't feel like the author was trying to speak for apache people, but instead, explain what was actually happening, most of which I can promise you were never taught in school.
I can't speak to the accuracy of the stories or the content because I am not apache and this is not my history, but I can say that the history and stories that my aunt talked about are sometimes very similar to the history of the apache people, and this book isn't the first resource I've read regarding apache history. From what I know as personal knowledge, I did not see any inconsistencies, but I will also say that I am not a historian or from the apache tribe, so my previous knowledge of apache history was almost entirely from trading stories with other indigenous people.
I think that if you don't know anything about indigenous history or the reality of indigenous struggles (ie. if the only indigenous history you've ever gotten was in high school) then this is a really great place to start learning about tribes. The one thing that I will warn everyone against, is reading this book and then thinking that all of these details apply to every other indigenous tribe as well - we all have different histories, customs, traditions, and beliefs. So please keep that in mind if you do decide to read this book.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for review purposes.
May 16, 2021
Paul Conrad is a professor of history at UT-Arlington, a school known for its Transatlantic History Graduate program (and they train indigenous people to do similar work). This book is obviously the culmination of years of research in disparate archives and fluency in multiple languages to read these sources.
Some good things here:
Early and recurring reminders and language that separates identities placed on native peoples and their self-identification, while tracing how native individuals and groups used the identities placed upon them to navigate and advocate with colonizers.
Using the lens of diaspora, a tool that hasn't yet been applied to the Apache, revealed a lot of new to me information about these peoples. It also is able to center their stories over any one colonizer. Transatlantic histories all too frequently focus on one specific locale or center the inquiry around European empires. It also puts the longer history of these peoples in context with multiple empires and native groups.
Some negatives:
This felt like a rewritten dissertation, with all the goods and bads about that. It's a LOT of repetition and can be a slog sometimes. I read light books in between chapters of this.
Conrad wasn't clear or specific with his use of "genocide." It seemed at times that he really meant "extermination." He seemed to always differentiate "genocide" from cultural extinction, which is part of the definition of "genocide."
Overall, pick up this book to see Apaches, and native history in general, in a different context. Highly recommended for graduate courses or upper level undergraduate courses. Excerpts for other contexts would likely also be useful.
Some good things here:
Early and recurring reminders and language that separates identities placed on native peoples and their self-identification, while tracing how native individuals and groups used the identities placed upon them to navigate and advocate with colonizers.
Using the lens of diaspora, a tool that hasn't yet been applied to the Apache, revealed a lot of new to me information about these peoples. It also is able to center their stories over any one colonizer. Transatlantic histories all too frequently focus on one specific locale or center the inquiry around European empires. It also puts the longer history of these peoples in context with multiple empires and native groups.
Some negatives:
This felt like a rewritten dissertation, with all the goods and bads about that. It's a LOT of repetition and can be a slog sometimes. I read light books in between chapters of this.
Conrad wasn't clear or specific with his use of "genocide." It seemed at times that he really meant "extermination." He seemed to always differentiate "genocide" from cultural extinction, which is part of the definition of "genocide."
Overall, pick up this book to see Apaches, and native history in general, in a different context. Highly recommended for graduate courses or upper level undergraduate courses. Excerpts for other contexts would likely also be useful.
March 8, 2021
Though I was hesitant to read a book about Apaches written by a white man, I must admit that Conrad’s The Apache Diaspora: Four Centuries of Displacement and Survival is a fascinating and erudite book. His research into archives in the United States, Spain, Mexico, as well Apache oral histories, he shows how the dispersion of the Apaches is truly a diaspora, as those pushed out of the American Southwest retained a strong bond to their people and their land. I found it amazing that Conrad managed to compress four centuries into a single volume. I found that I wanted to know more about particular subjects, but realized Conrad couldn’t delve into every single issue.
Though all indigenous American groups suffered through similar attempts at subjugation by genocide, the Apaches, because of their geographic position between the forces of Spanish, Mexican, American, and Comanche armies, were particularly affected. Through four centuries, they faced slavery and forced migrations in efforts to eradicate their way of life. Families were torn apart and scatted throughout the North American continent and into the Caribbean, Spain, and Mexico.
The Apache Diaspora looks deeply at genocidal issues, how the Indigenous people survived, how the African diaspora intersected with that of the Apaches. Again, each Indigenous group has their own story. Much of what Conrad has written cannot be applied to every single Indigenous group, but a good deal can be transferred: centuries of enslavement, warfare, and forced migrations. The United States, as well as the other imperial forces involved, should reevaluate their treatment of Apaches and other Indigenous tribes and consider reparations.
Though all indigenous American groups suffered through similar attempts at subjugation by genocide, the Apaches, because of their geographic position between the forces of Spanish, Mexican, American, and Comanche armies, were particularly affected. Through four centuries, they faced slavery and forced migrations in efforts to eradicate their way of life. Families were torn apart and scatted throughout the North American continent and into the Caribbean, Spain, and Mexico.
The Apache Diaspora looks deeply at genocidal issues, how the Indigenous people survived, how the African diaspora intersected with that of the Apaches. Again, each Indigenous group has their own story. Much of what Conrad has written cannot be applied to every single Indigenous group, but a good deal can be transferred: centuries of enslavement, warfare, and forced migrations. The United States, as well as the other imperial forces involved, should reevaluate their treatment of Apaches and other Indigenous tribes and consider reparations.
March 27, 2021
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
The Apache Diaspora is a well written annotated history of the Apache people presented by Dr. Paul Conrad. Due out 28th May 2021 from The University of Pennsylvania Press, it's 400 pages in print and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.
This is one book in UPenn's: "America in the 19th Century" this volume delineates the roughly four centuries of survival, genocide, upheaval, exploitation, and fortitude of the Ndé (Apache) people of the North American southwest.
This book, while academically rigorous and prodigiously annotated throughout is refreshingly accessible to non-academics. The language is understandable and readable and the author allows the subjects to speak eloquently for themselves, through their photos and the ephemera (diaries, family oral history, and archival evidence) they left behind.
I found myself often moved emotionally during reading this book and affected deeply by the plight of the people and their families depicted here. Seeing the resilience and mettle of these people against the backdrop of the nauseating prejudice and cruel mishandling by everyone was often difficult to read and process.
The text is liberally annotated and illustrated with line drawings, facsimiles of period documents, and an impressive number of photos. Although the treatment is admittedly academic, there's enough annotation and chapter notation and bibliography to satisfy the staunchest pedant - at the same time, there's a clear and compelling biographical narrative. I'm amazed that there's enough period record to reconstruct the stories of these families after so many years.
Five stars. I would recommend this book to readers of American history, war history, American culture, classroom instruction in native history, or allied subjects, ephemera, etc.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
The Apache Diaspora is a well written annotated history of the Apache people presented by Dr. Paul Conrad. Due out 28th May 2021 from The University of Pennsylvania Press, it's 400 pages in print and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.
This is one book in UPenn's: "America in the 19th Century" this volume delineates the roughly four centuries of survival, genocide, upheaval, exploitation, and fortitude of the Ndé (Apache) people of the North American southwest.
This book, while academically rigorous and prodigiously annotated throughout is refreshingly accessible to non-academics. The language is understandable and readable and the author allows the subjects to speak eloquently for themselves, through their photos and the ephemera (diaries, family oral history, and archival evidence) they left behind.
I found myself often moved emotionally during reading this book and affected deeply by the plight of the people and their families depicted here. Seeing the resilience and mettle of these people against the backdrop of the nauseating prejudice and cruel mishandling by everyone was often difficult to read and process.
The text is liberally annotated and illustrated with line drawings, facsimiles of period documents, and an impressive number of photos. Although the treatment is admittedly academic, there's enough annotation and chapter notation and bibliography to satisfy the staunchest pedant - at the same time, there's a clear and compelling biographical narrative. I'm amazed that there's enough period record to reconstruct the stories of these families after so many years.
Five stars. I would recommend this book to readers of American history, war history, American culture, classroom instruction in native history, or allied subjects, ephemera, etc.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
March 31, 2021
Some books have the power to move you from the very first line. And very very few ones carry the grip till the last line. The Apache Diaspora : Four Centuries of Displacement and Survival by Paul Conrad is a very special book according to me which intriguingly tells about the native Apache people of North America. Throughout the book we have the description about these people's suffering, pain and loss. But the author not only presents us the painful jorney of survival from generation to generation, he also writes about the resistance from these people to this 'genocide'. This book was a eye opener for me to know about these indigenous people and became one of my all time favourite nonfiction books. I still can't forget about the displacement, enslavement and migration of Apache diaspora under colonial mindset of the society which remains as the main theme throughout the book. Though this book also boldly presents the role of empire and nation-state making the suffering of the people more worse. But the resistance against the continuous murder and missing people and lastly but most importantly the story of survival most impressed me and had left a permanent impact on me.
Throughout the book we have vivid pictures and well researched maps and graphs to show about the migration, diasporic problems and journey.
I loved this book so so much. I would definitely recommend it to any Nonfiction fan. For me it was a five star read.
It was an ARC from Netgalley and I heartily thank both Netgalley and the University of Pennsylvania Press of Philadelphia for it. Thanks for this amazing read.
Throughout the book we have vivid pictures and well researched maps and graphs to show about the migration, diasporic problems and journey.
I loved this book so so much. I would definitely recommend it to any Nonfiction fan. For me it was a five star read.
It was an ARC from Netgalley and I heartily thank both Netgalley and the University of Pennsylvania Press of Philadelphia for it. Thanks for this amazing read.
May 3, 2021
This was a tough read, not due to the exquisite quality of both the research or the information, but the subject matter. Much like with any time I read a book on the Holocaust, or certain true crime books, I try to avoid reading tons of it at any time due to the heaviness of it all, and nothing can be more heavy than the systematic genocide of an entire group of peoples for half a millennium - even extending into modern times. families were ripped apart, people were sold into slavery, and in an attempt to make them "civilized" all number of abuses were employed to remove every ounce of anything that made them who they were.
Much like any book I read that deals with the topic of Spanish Colonialism, I seem to always come out the other side disliking them more and more. Not present day Spanish people, they are no worse than present day Germans despite their historical baggage, but man am I not a fan of their ancestors.
If you want to get a general idea of what "one" large group of Native Tribes went through during colonization, I'd read this book. It's easy to hand-wave the plight of the Native Americans as something that "wasn't that bad" or "their culture was dead anyway" or any other thing I've heard overtly racist people say = but the truth is, they had is so much worse than one can imagine. This is the sort of history I wish we taught in schools, because understanding what bad things happened in the past can ensure things like than hopefully won't happen in the future.
Much like any book I read that deals with the topic of Spanish Colonialism, I seem to always come out the other side disliking them more and more. Not present day Spanish people, they are no worse than present day Germans despite their historical baggage, but man am I not a fan of their ancestors.
If you want to get a general idea of what "one" large group of Native Tribes went through during colonization, I'd read this book. It's easy to hand-wave the plight of the Native Americans as something that "wasn't that bad" or "their culture was dead anyway" or any other thing I've heard overtly racist people say = but the truth is, they had is so much worse than one can imagine. This is the sort of history I wish we taught in schools, because understanding what bad things happened in the past can ensure things like than hopefully won't happen in the future.
April 14, 2021
This is not a full history of the Apaches - it's exactly what the title says: an account of the 500 year experience of Apaches being attacked, scattered, abducted, enslaved, kidnapped, and blackmailed. It begins with the full array of Apache peoples and then drops each subgroup (Plains Apaches, Mescalero Apaches, etc.) when that group finds a permanent settlement. By the end, the author's focus is entirely on the "Southern Apaches" - the people of Cochise, Geronimo,. et al - and their harrowing and near genocidal experiences.
Conrad places a heavy emphasis on the Apache sense of family as an organizing principle of their lives and ultimately as the wellspring of their survival and resilience - I don't know enough comparative history to say whether this is unique to Apaches versus other indigenous North Americans.
There is a lot of detailed information here, and the research presented is important to an understanding of Native American history. It provides great insight into the Apache experience and helps deepen our understanding of the cost to Native Americans to the European invasion.
Conrad places a heavy emphasis on the Apache sense of family as an organizing principle of their lives and ultimately as the wellspring of their survival and resilience - I don't know enough comparative history to say whether this is unique to Apaches versus other indigenous North Americans.
There is a lot of detailed information here, and the research presented is important to an understanding of Native American history. It provides great insight into the Apache experience and helps deepen our understanding of the cost to Native Americans to the European invasion.
August 1, 2024
Although it reads like a dissertation and is somewhat disjointed, this book shines in the moments it is at its best. The book brings into focus often neglected aspects of Apache forced migration. The author uncovers Apache voices of those taken into slavery or forced labor - mainly in Latin America and the Caribbean. This work shows the complex nature of Apache diaspora and how European colonization spurred this movement in various ways. Too often, however, the author is unable to make concrete claims - resorting to language such as "possibly" or "probably" all too often. Such is the nature of lack of extant sources. The latter part of the book adds to abundant literature of later Apache migrations and forced schooling but relates the events through the lenses of kinship and familial ties.
October 5, 2021
well worth the read, but conceptually, it isn't the easiest book to follow. The use of "Apache" in the sweeping manner that Conrad deploys it (across lots of geography and 400 years) is already debatable, as is the reality of diaspora. Does all forced scattering = diaspora? Could have engaged definitions and studies of diasporas more concretely. Probably belongs in the historiographical camp around Hamalainen + Indigenous power, though Conrad does well in demonstrating the "terrible" nature of these histories as well. Liked the microhistory aspects.
October 7, 2021
I thought this was a deeply researched and moving book! I found it to be engaging, well-argued, and easy to follow, though some of the subject matter is tough. I learned a lot about the history of colonialism that has influenced Native peoples like Apache groups across centuries, and was particularly awe-struck by the geographic scope of the book. Other reviewers have commented about the author's inclusion (or exclusion) of Apache groups. I personally thought that he explained his focus well, and made clear the limits in the book's focus.
July 24, 2022
Dense and academic but enjoyable, Conrad's intense historical research into the Apache diaspora really comes alive through the stories he uncovers and tells in this book. After reading this, I feel I have an expanded perspective on the southwest region and the strength and resilience of the native nations here.
February 20, 2024
I'm a history buff and have quite a few books about Southwest history and Native American history. Still, this book introduced me to histories that I knew nothing about. It is written with passion and heart. There is a lot of information and research here, but I found it compelling from start to finish. Recommended!
April 23, 2023
Conrad structures his study around the places Apaches went, with each involuntary destination adding a chapter to the story of the people in diaspora.
May 20, 2023
excellent and thorough!
November 15, 2023
This is a powerful book that provides a strong sense of the impact of colonialism on Indigenous peoples. The author deals with people's stories and also broader forces. Jaw dropping stuff.
January 3, 2024
I didn't think the author needed to quote the derogatory names for Indigenous women. I also felt the writing dry and very unengaging.
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