American Antislavery Writings: Colonial Beginnings to Emancipation (LOA #233) (Library of America) Hardcover – Illustrated, November 8, 2012

Antislavery essays, short stories, photos, newspaper reports, wanted posters, and original writings by slaves beginning in the 1600s through the Emancipation are gathered in this Library of America 963 page volume. All of the pieces are extracted from original resources, some republished for the first time since their debut.The fact that teaching reading and writing to slaves was prohibited by law was seen as evidence by Frederick Douglass that slaves were human beings, not flora and fauna for sale and barter (What to a Slave is the 4th of July?) as Australian aboriginals were designated to justify kidnapping children The Stolen Generation and raising them to be household servants for whites until the 1970s.Evidence of the impassioned resistance against chained imprisonment and unpaid labor by slaves is assembled by James Basker to honor the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. Seen telescoped into a single volume, their persuasive weight seems undeniable. But the forces of commerce (cotton, tobacco, wealthy political families including George Washington), judges (who were paid $10 for every black person sent into slavery without right of protest or witnesses or trial), religion (ministers), law enforcement, state legislatures, and the Constitution (runaway slaves caught in free states were to be sent back to the slave state from which they escaped), joined to render slavery invisible to the public conscience. In fact celebrations of rights of free men continued in the face of the tragedy of human degradation. The 4th of July was seen as a slap in the face of the slave who was asked to sing hymns of praise on that day.Deeply thoughtful and moving writing from slaves themselves, those who opposed slavery, children's ABC's written to inform them of the ethical questions surrounding human bondage, are all contained in these centuries of protest against inequality.5*

I like this book. I didn't know this book was so interesting.

The importance of learning starts with the study of those who came before us. Their experience helps us see human dignity in circumstances that may deny it. This significant collection shows such recognition coming from a variety of sources in otherwise blind times.

Wonderful book! Learning things I had never studied in school. Very timely for our current social issues.

Very important stuff. Compelling firsthand accounts of life in slavery. Many of these people accomplished great things once they were free

Used as a text book. Helpful.

American Antislavery Writings is an amazing collection of works by writers of all walks of life; male and female, educated and uneducated, slave and free, black and white. This collection serves as a guiding beacon for understanding the most important crisis in our country's history. In this volume we hear the voices of the people who led a movement, actually a series of movements, to end slavery in America. I thought I knew about abolitionists and the great American conflict, but from reading these stories, essays, and poems a true and brilliant picture emerges about the righteous cause of freedom fought for over 150 years ago. It is important to read the words of the time to understand their legacy for America today. A people can rise and embrace equality for all; lessons shall be learned from the past. This book is an excellent tool for teachers of American history, to understand the breadth of the topic and to introduce to students the vibrant literature of the past.

I am a high school history teacher. This book has become an essential part of my teaching toolkit as it relates to slavery. The book is solely based on primary documents. The writings are varied, emotional, inspirational, and enlightening. I would suggest this volume for any teacher (language arts or history - middle school or high school) looking to teach American slavery with a focus on primary sources.