Bound in wedlock : slave and free Black marriage in the nineteenth century

**2018 Mary Nickliss Prize in U.S. Women’s and/or Gender History, Organization of American Historians** **2018 Stone Book Award, Museum of African American History―Boston and Nantucket** **A __Vibe__ “5 Books on Slavery that Kanye West Needs to Read” Selection** **A __Huffington Post__ “Seven Notable New Books on Slavery” Selection** __Bound in Wedlock__ is the first comprehensive history of African American marriage in the nineteenth century. Uncovering the experiences of African American spouses in plantation records, legal and court documents, and pension files, Tera W. Hunter reveals the myriad ways couples adopted, adapted, revised, and rejected white Christian ideas of marriage. Setting their own standards for conjugal relationships, enslaved husbands and wives were creative and, of necessity, practical in starting and supporting families under conditions of uncertainty and cruelty. 2018 Mary Nickliss Prize in U.S. Women's and/or Gender History, Organization of American Historians A Vibe "5 Books on Slavery that Kanye West Needs to Read" Selection A Huffington Post "Seven Notable New Books on Slavery" Selection Americans have long viewed marriage between a white man and a white woman as a sacred union. But marriages between African Americans have seldom been treated with the same reverence. This discriminatory legacy traces back to centuries of slavery, when the overwhelming majority of black married couples were bound in servitude as well as wedlock. Though their unions were not legally recognized, slaves commonly married, fully aware that their marital bonds would be sustained or nullified according to the whims of white masters. Bound in Wedlock is the first comprehensive history of African American marriage in the nineteenth century. Uncovering the experiences of African American spouses in plantation records, legal and court documents, and pension files, Tera W. Hunter reveals the myriad ways couples adopted, adapted, revised, and rejected white Christian ideas of marriage. Setting their own standards for conjugal relationships, enslaved husbands and wives were creative and, of necessity, practical in starting and supporting families under conditions of uncertainty and cruelty. After emancipation, white racism continued to menace black marriages. Laws passed during Reconstruction, ostensibly to secure the civil rights of newly freed African American citizens, were often coercive and repressive. Informal antebellum traditions of marriage were criminalized, and the new legal regime became a convenient tool for plantation owners to discipline agricultural workers. Recognition of the right of African Americans to enter into wedlock on terms equal to whites would remain a struggle into the Jim Crow era, and its legacy would resonate well into the twentieth century. Winner of the Stone Book Award, Museum of African American HistoryWinner of the Joan Kelly Memorial PrizeWinner of the Littleton-Griswold PrizeWinner of the Mary Nickliss PrizeWinner of the Willie Lee Rose PrizeAmericans have long viewed marriage between a white man and a white woman as a sacred union. But marriages between African Americans have seldom been treated with the same reverence. This discriminatory legacy traces back to centuries of slavery, when the overwhelming majority of black married couples were bound in servitude as well as wedlock, but it does not end there. Bound in Wedlock is the first comprehensive history of African American marriage in the nineteenth century. Drawing from plantation records, legal documents, and personal family papers, it reveals the many creative ways enslaved couples found to upend white Christian ideas of marriage.“A remarkable book... Hunter has harvested stories of human resilience from the cruelest of soils... An impeccably crafted testament to the African-Americans whose ingenuity, steadfast love and hard-nosed determination protected black family life under the most trying of circumstances.”—Wall Street Journal“In this brilliantly researched book, Hunter examines the experiences of slave marriages as well as the marriages of free blacks.”—Vibe“A groundbreaking history... Illuminates the complex and flexible character of black intimacy and kinship and the precariousness of marriage in the context of racial and economic inequality. It is a brilliant book.”—Saidiya Hartman, author of Lose Your Mother Tera W. Hunter Offers The First Comprehensive History Of African American Marriage In The Nineteenth Century And Into The Jim Crow Era. She Reveals The Practical Ways Couples Adopted, Adapted, Or Rejected White Christian Ideas Of Marriage, Creatively Setting Their Own Standards For Conjugal Relationships Under Conditions Of Uncertainty And Cruelty.-- Introduction: The Marriage Certificate -- Until Distance Do You Part -- God Made Marriage, But The White Man Made The Law -- Marriage Rights Require More Than Manumission -- Marriage Under The Flag -- A Civil War Over Marriage -- Reconstructing Intimacies -- The Most Cruel Wrongs -- Hopes And Travails At Century's End -- Epilogue: Legacies And Challenges. Tera W. Hunter. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Americans have long viewed marriage between a white man and a white woman as a sacred union. But marriages between African Americans have seldom been treated with the same reverence. This discriminatory legacy traces back to centuries of slavery, when the overwhelming majority of black married couples were bound in servitude as well as wedlock, but it does not end there. Bound in Wedlock is the first comprehensive history of African American marriage in the nineteenth century. Drawing form plantation records, legal documents, and personal family papers, it reveals the many creative ways enslaved couples found to upend white Christian ideas of marriage "Tera W. Hunter offers the first comprehensive history of African American marriage in the nineteenth century and into the Jim Crow era. She reveals the practical ways couples adopted, adapted, or rejected white Christian ideas of marriage, creatively setting their own standards for conjugal relationships under conditions of uncertainty and cruelty"--Publisher's description Tera W. Hunter offers the first comprehensive history of African American marriage in the nineteenth century and into the Jim Crow era. She reveals the practical ways couples adopted, adapted, or rejected White Christian ideas of marriage, creatively setting their own standards for conjugal relationships under conditions of uncertainty and cruelty.-- Provided by publisher. "Tera W. Hunter offers the first comprehensive history of African American marriage in the nineteenth century and into the Jim Crow era. She reveals the practical ways couples adopted, adapted, or rejected White Christian ideas of marriage, creatively setting their own standards for conjugal relationships under conditions of uncertainty and cruelty" (source : éditeur)

Tera W. Hunter offers the first comprehensive history of African American marriage in the nineteenth century and into the Jim Crow era. She reveals the practical ways couples adopted, adapted, or rejected white Christian ideas of marriage, creatively setting their own standards for conjugal relationships under conditions of uncertainty and cruelty.

Contents Introduction 1. “ Until Distance Do You Part” 2. “God Made Marriage, but the White Man Made the Law” 3. More Than Manumission 4. Marriage “ under the Flag” 5. A Civil War over Marriage 6. Reconstructing Intimacies 7. “The Most Cruel Wrongs” 8. Hopes and Travails at Century’s End Epilogue Abbreviations Notes Acknowledgments Illustration Credits Index Introduction: "The marriage certificate"--"Until distance do you part" -- "God made marriage, but the white man made the law" -- Marriage rights require more than manumission -- Marriage "under the flag" -- A civil war over marriage -- Reconstructing intimacies -- "To correct as far as possible the most cruel wrongs" -- Hopes and travails at century's end