First-Time: The Historical Vision of an African American People

by Richard Price

A classic of historical anthropology, First-Time traces the shape of historical thought among peoples who had previously been denied any history at all. The top half of each page presents a direct transcript of oral histories told by living Saramakas about their eighteenth-century ancestors, "Maroons" who had escaped slavery and settled in the rain forests of Suriname. Below these transcripts, Richard Price provides commentaries placing the Saramaka accounts into broader social, intellectual, and historical contexts.

First-Time 's unique style of presentation preserves the integrity of both its oral and documentary sources, uniting them in a profound meditation on the roles of history and memory. This second edition includes a new preface by the author, discussing First-Time 's impact and recounting the continuing struggles of the Saramaka people.

Genres: History

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

https://www.richandsally.net
and Inside/Outside: Adventures in Caribbean History and Anthropology

Reviews

[Felix Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

The single greatest ethnography of a Maroon society. Price uses only the words and the very ontologies of the Saramaka to craft their own stories. He only reveals what has been revealed to him, leaving analysis to be done in the space between stories as well.

[Nranger7 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Personally I hated the book, but others may enjoy it. My biggest complaint is that I really would have appreciated a family tree to keep the stories straight.