Reversing Sail: A History of the African Diaspora (New Approaches to African History, Series Number 3)

This 2005 book examines the global unfolding of the African Diaspora, the migrations and dispersals of the people of Africa, from antiquity to the modern period. Their exploits, challenges, and struggles are discussed over a wide expanse of time in ways that link as well as differentiate past and present circumstances. The experiences of Africans in the Old World, in the Mediterranean and Islamic worlds, is followed by their movement into the New, where their experience in lands claimed by Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, French and English colonial powers is analyzed from enslavement through to the Cold War. While appropriate mention is made of persons of renown, particular attention is paid to the everyday lives of working class people and their cultural efflorescence. The book also attempts to explain contemporary plights and struggles through the lens of history. This Book Examines The Global Unfolding Of The African Diaspora, The Migrations And Dispersals Of The People Of Africa, From Antiquity To The Modern Period. Their Exploits, Challenges, And Struggles Are Discussed Over A Wide Expanse Of Time In Ways That Link As Well As Differentiate Past And Present Circumstances. The Experiences Of Africans In The Old World, In The Mediterranean And Islamic Worlds, Is Followed By Their Movement Into The New, Where Their Experience In Lands Claimed By Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, French And English Colonial Powers Is Analyzed From Enslavement Through To The Cold War. While Appropriate Mention Is Made Of Persons Of Renown, Particular Attention Is Paid To The Everyday Lives Of Working Class People And Their Cultural Efflorescence. The Book Also Attempts To Explain Contemporary Plights And Struggles Through The Lens Of History. -- Publisher Description. 'old' World Dimensions -- Antiquity -- Africans And The Bible -- Africans And The Islamic World -- 'new' World Realities -- Transatlantic Movement -- Enslavement -- Asserting The Right To Be -- Reconnecting -- Movement Of Peoples. Michael A. Gomez. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Our current century is becoming increasingly characterized by persons of varying ethnic and racial and cultural backgrounds living together in societies all over the globe. The United Kingdom, France, and Germany, together with the United States and Brazil in the Americas, are only the better-known examples. How communities of common derivation maintain their sense of connectedness in lands of destination, while also forming ties with new groups and thus giving rise to novel social formations, is a primary facet of contemporary life. But such diversity is also a major challenge, often leading to tensions arising from ignorance and fear of the unknown. The formal inclusion of the histories and cultures of everyone in the society is therefore critical to resolving misunderstanding and conflict"-- Beginning with antiquity, Reversing Sail: A History of the African Diaspora captures the essential political, cultural, social, and economic developments that shaped the black experience. In this second edition, Michael A. Gomez updates the text to include the most recent research on the African Diaspora. Assessing the impact of religion, global trade, slavery and resistance, and the challenges of modernity, this edition further connects the experiences of Africans and their descendants over time and space, attending to both convergences and divergences, while explaining how the deep past informs subsequent developments. The experiences of Africans in the Old World--the Mediterranean and Islamic worlds, is followed by their movement into the New, where their plight in lands claimed by Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, French and English colonial powers is analyzed from enslavement through the Cold War. Particular attention is paid to the everyday lives of the working classes and their cultural development. Their exploits, challenges, and struggles are covered over a broad time frame that links as well as differentiates past and present circumstances. Advance praise for Reversing Sail... 3 List of Figures and Maps 5 Acknowledgments 7 Introduction 9 I 13 Reversing Sail 16 Contents 20 Antiquity 23 Africans and the Bible 34 Africans and the Islamic World 45 II 73 Transatlantic Moment 75 Enslavement 98 Asserting the Right to Be 125 Reconnecting 178 Movement People 209 Epilogue 235 Index 237 This book examines the global unfolding of the African Diaspora, the migrations and dispersals of people of Africa, from antiquity to the modern period. Their exploits, challenges, and struggles over a wide expanse of time are discussed in ways that link as well as differentiate past and present circumstances. Part I. 'Old' World Dimensions: 1. Antiquity 2. Africans and the Bible 3. Africans and the Islamic world Part II. 'New' World Realities: 4. Transatlantic movement 5. Enslavement 6. Asserting the right to be 7. Reconnecting 8. Movement of peoples. The dawn of the twenty-first century finds persons of varying ethnic and racial and religious backgrounds living together in societies all over the globe.