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The Forgotten People: Cane River's Creoles of Color
An in-depth study of the Cane River colony of Creoles of color examines the socioeconomic history and evolution of the minority group, concentrating on the public and private lives and feelings of one family group and their pride and achievements against great odds
277 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1977
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 7, 2017
2017 Reading Challenge - A book with a subtitle
This book is clearly well researched. There are many references to primary sources.
The problem for me lies in how this historian chose to portray different aspects of this history. For one, he presents the initial relationship between an enslaved Black woman and the White French man who "rented" and then bought her as one of choice. Power dynamics nullify such a claim and to ignore this obfuscates the actual reality of enslaved women in the antebellum south, whether it be Louisiana or not.
Secondly, the author seems to view African culture as devoid of value for freed people's of color, and then goes to lengths to prove his viewpoint, whether or not this is actually supported. He claims that the Isle Brevelle colony didn't find any aspect of African culture important or useful and only clung to French culture. However, he also sites people being called to dances through the blowing of a conch shell, and the community being renowned for it's cooking (which included such African influenced foods as Gumbo). The author also places value in all things more European over African. He describes the residents as having "society" and "culture" versus the Black enslaved population, essentially presenting these qualities as uniquely European, and in doing so denying richness, and depth to African based cultures. The adverbs he uses to describe enslaved communities shows his bias, equally. Additionally, he goes as far as to illustrate the inhabitants physical features as "refined" in contrast to the Black population.
The author is also a complete apologist for this community. No matter the infraction or questionable choices of the community, he is quick to explain them away or justify saying that the behavior was common place for the time period. This attitude is most extremely expressed in his handling of the fact that the community members were major slave holders. There is a general lack of exploration of this complex, if not contradictory state of being for a community that was born of an enslaved woman.
Honestly, all of this was hard to stomach, and also left me feeling like there was more to this community's story that he failed to research simply because it didn't fit his narrative. Overall, it left me wanting to read more complete works on this subject that explore these issues and do so in a less biased fashion.
This book is clearly well researched. There are many references to primary sources.
The problem for me lies in how this historian chose to portray different aspects of this history. For one, he presents the initial relationship between an enslaved Black woman and the White French man who "rented" and then bought her as one of choice. Power dynamics nullify such a claim and to ignore this obfuscates the actual reality of enslaved women in the antebellum south, whether it be Louisiana or not.
Secondly, the author seems to view African culture as devoid of value for freed people's of color, and then goes to lengths to prove his viewpoint, whether or not this is actually supported. He claims that the Isle Brevelle colony didn't find any aspect of African culture important or useful and only clung to French culture. However, he also sites people being called to dances through the blowing of a conch shell, and the community being renowned for it's cooking (which included such African influenced foods as Gumbo). The author also places value in all things more European over African. He describes the residents as having "society" and "culture" versus the Black enslaved population, essentially presenting these qualities as uniquely European, and in doing so denying richness, and depth to African based cultures. The adverbs he uses to describe enslaved communities shows his bias, equally. Additionally, he goes as far as to illustrate the inhabitants physical features as "refined" in contrast to the Black population.
The author is also a complete apologist for this community. No matter the infraction or questionable choices of the community, he is quick to explain them away or justify saying that the behavior was common place for the time period. This attitude is most extremely expressed in his handling of the fact that the community members were major slave holders. There is a general lack of exploration of this complex, if not contradictory state of being for a community that was born of an enslaved woman.
Honestly, all of this was hard to stomach, and also left me feeling like there was more to this community's story that he failed to research simply because it didn't fit his narrative. Overall, it left me wanting to read more complete works on this subject that explore these issues and do so in a less biased fashion.
November 5, 2012
This book was so informative. I learned a lot! I was especially thrilled to be able to go see the plantations of some of the families mentioned in the book.
March 21, 2020
Excellent account of one of those "almost white" groups spawned under the US racial regime of the Old South. Neither fish nor fowl, they remained unfree to become birds of their own feather even after the statute abolition of bondage. Only in Louisiana, however, could such a subgroup achieve wealth and prominence, established before the invasion of American democracy. This work details not only their genealogy, and the exceptional career of Marie Therese Coincoin Metoyer, but the effects of larger political and economic force on its community. The irony is their double loss, first as both slave owners and Confederate loyalists to the Union; while losing their "free status" when it had meaning, into a segregated regime where it had none.
The families are still there and point to a way through the present racial morass of American society. Now, as then, few outside their immediate environment seem willing to listen.
The families are still there and point to a way through the present racial morass of American society. Now, as then, few outside their immediate environment seem willing to listen.
February 5, 2019
A blending of fact and fiction which is a very good. Highly recommend.
September 8, 2014
One of the few re-releases/second editions to do serious damage to the original. One of the most important aspects to the original release was Mills's willingness to use the contemporary language of race, and analyze the very fact that these "Creoles" did not consider themselves "black" or "negroes." This new edition largely takes that language out of the discussion, making it more friendly to the average reader, but also taking away from the academic value of the book. The expanded content is also glaring, mainly genealogical (which fits awkwardly with the original narrative), and more speculative, or hear-say-based than the more academic original. That said, the study itself stands as a talisman of the subject, as yet unequaled by more modern scholarship.
July 7, 2014
With the recent pop-culture spotlight on slavery provided by the movies "Django" and "12 Years a Slave" this thoroughly researched and well-written non-fiction account of the 'free people of color' of the Northwestern Louisiana area around Cane River (near Nachitoches) from colonial times through the mid-twentieth century adds another layer to our understanding of the complexity of slavery, caste, color and race as it developed in the United States. For those who read Solomon Northrup's account of his own 12-year enslavement a few hours south of this area, this book is an interesting companion piece.
August 11, 2016
I come from a very blessed family Thank You great grandmother CoinCoin
I have learned alittle bet more about my bloodline I want to thank you for writing this book I am a Delphin and I'm even more proud of my heritage I tend to learn more I thank you for all you are and have done for our people Its important that Creole is put on legal documents because when my kids and myself say what is on legal documents they say no way if Creole was on they would understand better
I have learned alittle bet more about my bloodline I want to thank you for writing this book I am a Delphin and I'm even more proud of my heritage I tend to learn more I thank you for all you are and have done for our people Its important that Creole is put on legal documents because when my kids and myself say what is on legal documents they say no way if Creole was on they would understand better
June 10, 2014
This was a very interesting look into the history of an extraordinarily unique American cultural group, the Creoles of Cane River's Isle Brevelle. Even though I'm not a Metoyer descendant, many of them are my cousins and I found many mentions of people in my family tree in this book. I'd recommend it to anyone with ancestry in the Natchitoches area or who simply finds the culture interesting.
September 7, 2015
Excellent, thoroughly researched book about the incredible Afro-Creole people of Cane River, LA.
February 10, 2017
I have the first edition....My family is the Chevalier line and this book is one that I have carried with me for the past 25 years. Each time I go back to it, I learn something new and it has helped me put together an aspect of our family I did not fully understand or know.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews