Status Updates From Becoming Free, Becoming Bla...

Early on there were many attempts to equate being a person of color with being a slave. As there was gradually an increase in free people of color, it worked against this effort to have black equal slave.

Interracial sex was relatively common. The increase of the mulatto population was ample evidence of the mixing of the races, even if it was not condoned or legal.

This book goes way back in time to learn about the history of slavery. They look at archival material in Cuba and Virginia and Louisiana. They go back to the 15th century. They focus on the legalities of the issue and how it was handled.

Rereading Chapter 1

The book started slow, but it's gaining speed.

Cool fact, when San Dominique held it's uprising, there were more slaves there than the entire US!

Racial identity was an early identifying factor in early freedom suites.

At first, freedom suites were pro Bono. But when attorneys started charging fees, the number of lawyers skyrocketed.

Early freedom suites tried to show Indian heritage---the person has red skin.

If I wanted to, I could provide scores of anecdotal evidence showing that African Americans supported/opposed Trump's presidency.

Hell, I could do either cutting just notable figures.

But there is only one truth.

Unfortunately, while I believe this book is generally presenting the truth, bombarding me with anecdotal evidence doesn't pursuade me. I grow tired of "John Smith did this" stories.

1) Book explains why women were able to purchase their freedom more than men---their custodial skills, nursemaid, housekeeper skills enabled them to earn side money more.

2) Men often sought to free their womanfolk, thus men would endure slavery if their partner went free.

BUT

Book talks about inheretting freedom through mother, before Virginia supposedly change the norms. This is a disconnect for me???

Read the introduction only.

This book is off to a fabulous start. It is going to be one of those challenging books.

The book it looking at Virginia---the epitome of British Colonial Slavery.

Cuba---the epitome of Spanish Colonial Slavery.

New Orleans--- a hybrid between Spanish, French, and American Slavery.

How did slavery and the law evolve in those 3 places and why. I'm engrossed.

I got this book through inter library loan... I picked it up and thought, I think I'm the first person to ever read this book.... I start skimming through it when I find the invoice.... Yup first person.

On page 27

Intro material