The Essence of Liberty: Free Black Women During the Slave EraUniversity of Missouri Press, 2006 - 290 pages Before 1865, slavery and freedom coexisted tenuously in America in an environment that made it possible not only for enslaved women to become free but also for emancipated women to suddenly lose their independence. Wilma King now examines a wide-ranging body of literature to show that, even in the face of economic deprivation and draconian legislation, many free black women were able to maintain some form of autonomy and lead meaningful lives. The Essence of Liberty blends social, political, and economic history to analyze black women's experience in both the North and the South, from the colonial period through emancipation. Focusing on class and familial relationships, King examines the myriad sources of freedom for black women to show the many factors that, along with time spent in slavery before emancipation, shaped the meaning of freedom. Her book also raises questions about whether free women were bound to or liberated from gender conventions of their day. Drawing on a wealth of untapped primary sources--not only legal documents and newspapers but also the diaries, letters, and autobiographical writings of free women--King opens a new window on the world of black women. She examines how they became free, educated themselves, found jobs, maintained self-esteem, and developed social consciousness--even participating in the abolitionist movement. She considers the stance of southern free women toward their enslaved contemporaries and the interactions between previously free and newly freed women after slavery ended. She also looks closely at women's spirituality, disclosing the dilemma some women faced when they took a stand against men--even black men--in order to follow their spiritual callings. Throughout this engaging history, King underscores the pernicious constraints that racism placed on the lives of free blacks in spite of the fact that they were not enslaved. The Essence of Liberty shows the importance of studying these women on their own terms, revealing that the essence of freedom is more complex than the mere absence of shackles. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 69
Page 9
... York granted unconditional freedom to blacks born before 1799, but girls born afterward were bound to service until they reached twenty-five years of age. Boys remained enslaved until they were twenty-eight years old. Laws in New Jersey ...
... York granted unconditional freedom to blacks born before 1799, but girls born afterward were bound to service until they reached twenty-five years of age. Boys remained enslaved until they were twenty-eight years old. Laws in New Jersey ...
Page 10
... York 1799 and 1827—Gradual Abolition Act; Abolition 1804 New Jersey Gradual Abolition Act 1850 California State Constitution 1861 Kansas State Constitution 1862 Washington, DC U.S. Congress 1863 West Virginia State Constitution 1864 ...
... York 1799 and 1827—Gradual Abolition Act; Abolition 1804 New Jersey Gradual Abolition Act 1850 California State Constitution 1861 Kansas State Constitution 1862 Washington, DC U.S. Congress 1863 West Virginia State Constitution 1864 ...
Page 11
... York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Norfolk, Charleston, and New Orleans.18 Concomitant with the French and Haitian revolutions, France and Spain signed the secret Treaty of San Ildefonso in 1800 agreeing to the retrocession of Louisiana to ...
... York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Norfolk, Charleston, and New Orleans.18 Concomitant with the French and Haitian revolutions, France and Spain signed the secret Treaty of San Ildefonso in 1800 agreeing to the retrocession of Louisiana to ...
Page 17
... York 40,930 8,139 49,069 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pennsylvania 38,285 15,341 53,626 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . North Central Illinois 2,930 2,506 5,436 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Indiana 5,941 5,321 11,262 ...
... York 40,930 8,139 49,069 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pennsylvania 38,285 15,341 53,626 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . North Central Illinois 2,930 2,506 5,436 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Indiana 5,941 5,321 11,262 ...
Page 24
... York 4,654 10,374 25,333 29,279 44,870 50,027 49,069 49,005 Ohio . . . . . 337 1,899 4,723 9,568 17,342 25,279 36,673 Pennsylvania 6,537 14,561 22,492 30,202 37,930 47,854 53,626 56,849 Rhode Island 3,469 3,304 3,609 3,554 3,561 3,238 ...
... York 4,654 10,374 25,333 29,279 44,870 50,027 49,069 49,005 Ohio . . . . . 337 1,899 4,723 9,568 17,342 25,279 36,673 Pennsylvania 6,537 14,561 22,492 30,202 37,930 47,854 53,626 56,849 Rhode Island 3,469 3,304 3,609 3,554 3,561 3,238 ...
Contents
1 | |
5 | |
33 | |
3 The Pursuit of Happiness | 59 |
4 Knowledge is power | 89 |
5 Whom do you serve God or man? | 116 |
6 Female sympathy in the cause of freedom and humanity | 141 |
7 The Civil War and Emancipation | 170 |
Notes | 197 |
Bibliography | 241 |
Index | 283 |
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abolitionist accepted African American Antebellum appeared asked believed black women bondage Brown called cause Century church City Civil color County Court daughter discussion Douglass economic Elaw Elizabeth emancipated enslaved Experience Family Female Foote Forten Frances free black free black women free persons free women freed freedom friends gender Georgia Harper Harriet History House husband interest Jackson James John Johnson letter Liberator liberty lived Louisiana loved Maria Mary Masters means Michigan mother mulatto Negro North Northwest Ordinance organizations Orleans owners persons Petitions Philadelphia Political population Power preach Press Race Rebecca received records religious remained responsibilities result Sarah served Sisters Slave Slavery social Society Sojourner Truth South Carolina Southern Statutes Sterling Stewart teachers tion United University Virginia Washington woman writings wrote York