The invisibles : the untold story of African American slaves in the White House

The Invisibles Chronicles The African American Presence Inside The White House From Its Beginnings In 1782 Until 1862, When President Abraham Lincoln Issued The Emancipation Proclamation That Granted Slaves Their Freedom. During These Years, Slaves Were The Only African Americans To Whom The Most Powerful Men In The United States Were Exposed On A Daily, And Familiar, Basis. By Reading About These Often-intimate Relationships, Readers Will Better Understand Some Of The Views That Various Presidents Held About Class And Race In American Society, And How These Slaves Contributed Not Only To The Life And Comforts Of The Presidents They Served, But To America As A Whole. Introduction -- William Lee And New York City -- The Beginning Of African Slavery In The United States -- Oney Judge And Philadelphia -- Slavery And The Construction Of The White House -- Thomas Jefferson And The First White House Slaves -- The Great American Melting Pot -- Paul Jennings And The Burning Of The White House -- Slavery, Indentured Servitude And The Law -- Andrew Jackson's Stables -- The Rest -- Conclusion. Jesse J. Holland. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. THE INVISIBLES: Slavery Inside The White House and How It Helped Shape America is the first book to tell the story of the executive mansion's most unexpected residents, the African American slaves who lived with the U.S. presidents who owned them. Interest in African Americans and the White House are at an all-time high due to the historic presidency of Barack Obama, and the soon-to-be-opened Smithsonian National Museum of African American Culture and History. The Invisibles chronicles the African American presence inside the White House from its beginnings in 1782 until 1862, when President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation that granted slaves their freedom. During these years, slaves were the only African Americans to whom the most powerful men in the United States were exposed on a daily, and familiar, basis. By reading about these relationships, readers will better understand some of the views that various presidents held about class and race in American society, and how these slaves contributed not only to the life and comforts of the presidents they served, but to America as a whole. This book chronicles the African American presence inside the White House from its beginnings in 1782 until 1862. Holland examines the relationships between slaves and the presidents they served, concentrating on the slaves who served George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, Andrew Jackson, and James K. Polk. Includes William Lee, who worked for George Washington as "body servant," and Oney Judge, born at Mount Vernon, who was Martha Washington's favorite. During these years, slaves were the only African Americans to whom the most powerful men in the United States were exposed on a daily, and familiar, basis. By reading about these often-intimate relationships, readers will better understand some of the views that various presidents held about class and race in American society, and how these slaves contributed not only to the life and comforts of the presidents they served, but to America as a whole "The Invisibles chronicles the African American presence inside the White House from its beginnings in 1782 until 1862, when President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation that granted slaves their freedom. During these years, slaves were the only African Americans to whom the most powerful men in the United States were exposed on a daily, and familiar, basis. By reading about these often-intimate relationships, readers will better understand some of the views that various presidents held about class and race in American society, and how these slaves contributed not only to the life and comforts of the presidents they served, but to America as a whole." --Amazon.com. Introduction William Lee and New York City The beginning of African slavery in the United States Oney Judge and Philadelphia Slavery and the construction of the White House Thomas Jefferson and the first White House slaves The beginning of the great American melting pot Paul Jennings and the burning of the White House Slavery, indentured servitude and the law Andrew Jackson's stables The rest Conclusion.