Status
Available
Genres
Collection
Publication
Scholastic, (1999), Edition: PF
Description
A compilation, selected from various sources and arranged chronologically, of the reminiscences of slaves and ex-slaves about their experiences from the leaving of Africa through the Civil War and into the early twentieth century.
User reviews
LibraryThing member BrendaLove
Interesting insight on individual slavery
LibraryThing member MrsLee
Interesting, informative and very sad. Where Booker T. Washington had a hopeful outlook for the future, this author seems mired in the bitterness of the past, and who can blame him? Washington was a part of slavery and overcame it, Lester is writing in the 1960's, some of the most trying modern
Lester has edited together many interviews of those who lived through slavery. He inserts much of his voice into the book, telling us how to interpret what we read and how to feel about it. I don't know, but I suspect he was very selective over which stories to include, ending with a bitter hopeless rant. To what end? I understand the desperation, but I continue to have hope. A fool's hope maybe, but it is mine.
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times for race relations.Lester has edited together many interviews of those who lived through slavery. He inserts much of his voice into the book, telling us how to interpret what we read and how to feel about it. I don't know, but I suspect he was very selective over which stories to include, ending with a bitter hopeless rant. To what end? I understand the desperation, but I continue to have hope. A fool's hope maybe, but it is mine.
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LibraryThing member engpunk77
Very good compilation of memories of actual slaves, StoryCorp style organized with Lester's own skilled narration. Much of it was not new to me, but would be to an audience of 7th-12th grade students. It's like Roots for people who can't handle Roots (me). It didn't make me sick or cry like
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Paulsen's Night John or Roots, but I did learn about the actual origins of American slavery a bit better. The first few chapters and the last chapter had the newest information (for me). There was a bit of baby murder to traumatize and upset, but no rape/breeding in this collection (why, I don't know). In all, I think it's appropriate for middle school. Show Less
LibraryThing member kslade
Very affecting personal stories of slaves in American history.
Subjects
Awards
Newbery Medal (Honor Book — 1969)
Lewis Carroll Shelf Award (1970)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1968
ISBN
0590424602 / 9780590424608
Local notes
Purchased with a donation from Rev. John Saxton, in memory of his wife Patricia, and in celebration of long friendship with the Dettmanns.