Love of Freedom: Black Women in Colonial and Revolutionary New England

by Catherine Adams, Elizabeth H. Pleck

They baked New England's Thanksgiving pies, preached their faith to crowds of worshippers, spied for the patriots during the Revolution, wrote that human bondage was a sin, and demanded reparations for slavery. Black women in colonial and revolutionary New England sought not only legal emancipation from slavery but defined freedom more broadly to include spiritual, familial, and economic dimensions.

Hidden behind the banner of achieving freedom was the assumption that freedom meant affirming black manhood The struggle for freedom in New England was different for men than for women. Black men in colonial and revolutionary New England were struggling for freedom from slavery and for the right to patriarchal control of their own families. Women had more complicated desires, seeking protection and support in a male headed household while also wanting personal liberty. Eventually women who were former slaves began to fight for dignity and respect for womanhood and access to schooling for black children.

Genres: History, Adult

265 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Minosh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was...complicated. It is full of some really critical and detailed historical research, and I think the argument that Black women's ideas and experiences of freedom in this period were bound up with patriarchy is really challenging yet compelling. But I don't think the authors really interrogate enough what they mean by patriarchy and how it works. I was especially frustrated by the descriptions of "African culture" which for example they blanket-assert as patriarchal. I know this was published in 2010 but surely even by then people had been complicating the need to deal with various African histories and cultures in a more nuanced way?? Also, the bit at the end of the preface that goes "In some respects, it is necessary to concede that black men deserve their pride of place [as more important actors]" is deeply messed up. So the framing has some major issues but there ARE great stories in the book, if you're interested in Black women's history in this period and location.

[Raechel Guest · Rating 5 out of 5]

A much needed study of Black women in New England during the 17th & 18th centuries, showing that there are countless stories that can be told by diligent researchers.