Enslaved Women in America: From Colonial Times to Emancipation (The African American Experience Series)

"For generations female slaves have played prominent roles throughout American history, but more than a century after Emancipation, no comprehensive overview of the history of the female American slave exists. In this book, historian Emily West offers the first comprehensive overview of the lives of enslaved women in America by placing their stories within the broader context of slavery in this country from the colonial era through to the end of the Civil War"--Provided by publisher.;Chronology -- Introduction -- Enslaving African women -- Enslaved women in the colonial era -- Enslaved women in the Revolutionary era and early Republic -- Enslaved women in the antebellum South -- Enslaved women in the Civil War -- Epilogue -- Documents. More Than A Century After Emancipation, No Comprehensive Overview Of The History Of The Female American Slave Exists. In This Book, Historian Emily West Offers The First Comprehensive Overview Of The Lives Of Enslaved Women In America By Placing Their Stories Within The Broader Context Of Slavery In This Country From The Colonial Era Through To The End Of The Civil War. She Compares The Lives Of Enslaved Women With The Lives Of Enslaved Men From The Same Period, And With The White Men And Women Who Unjustly Held Them In Bondage. West's Thorough Research And Eye For Detail Construct A Narrative Of The Enslaved Woman's Life, Giving Voice To And Revealing The Significance Of A Singularly Strong But Largely Overlooked Member Of Early American Society.--publisher Description. Chronology -- Introduction -- Enslaving African Women -- Enslaved Women In The Colonial Era -- Enslaved Women In The Revolutionary Era And Early Republic -- Enslaved Women In The Antebellum South -- Enslaved Women In The Civil War -- Epilogue -- Documents. Emily West. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. West offers an overview of the lives of enslaved women in America by using a broad chronological perspective, considering themes and issues in their lives from the colonial era through to the end of the Civil War. She compares the lives of enslaved women—sometimes exceptional and sometimes ordinary—across time and space with the lives of enslaved men, and with the white men and women who held them in bondage. West draws upon a wide range of evidence in evaluating enslaved women's lives and considers the major methodological issues they pose in order to build a composite, or overall, picture of enslaved womanhood through "snapshots'' of different women at various stages of their life-cycles. Chronology Introduction Enslaving African women Enslaved women in the Colonial era Enslaved women in the Revolutionary era and early Republic Enslaved women in the antebellum South Enslaved women in the Civil War Epilogue Documents Bibliographic essay About the author