Witness for Freedom: African American Voices on Race, Slavery, and Emancipation

by C. Peter Ripley (Editor), Roy E. Finkenbine (Editor), Michael F. Hembree (Editor), Donald Yacovone (Editor)

Overview

Encompassing a broad range of African American voices, from Frederick Douglass to anonymous fugitive slaves, this collection collects eighty-nine exceptional documents that represent the best of the five-volume Black Abolitionist Papers. In these compelling texts African Americans tell their own stories of the struggle to end slavery and claim their rights as American citizens, of the battle against colonization and the "back to Africa" movement, and of their troubled relationship with the federal government.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780807864357
Publisher:	The University of North Carolina Press
Publication date:	11/15/2000
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	332
Lexile:	1400L (what's this?)
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

C. Peter Ripley, professor of history and black studies at The Florida State University, is editor of the Black Abolitionist Papers volumes and author of Slaves and Freedmen in Civil War Louisiana.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

A critical source for understanding how Free Negroes of the North were transformed by the battle to free their brethren in the slave states.—Washington Post Book World

These documents well represent the resilience, progressive spirit, and hope of black men and women during the pre- and post-Civil War periods.—Journal of the Early Republic

A fitting finale to a remarkable scholarly undertaking.—Journal of Southern History

A judicious and extremely useful selection of documents from one of the most important publishing projects of our time. At long last students in history courses throughout the country can become familiar with the crucial writings of the black abolitionists.—David Brion Davis, Yale Univeristy

The capstone of a heroic effort to collect and publish the papers of the black men and women who organized and led the movement against slavery in the antebellum North. Witness for Freedom provides the best entry point to understand the full complexity of Afro-American life in the North and the historic meaning of the struggle of black people for universal freedom and racial equality.—Ira Berlin, University of Maryland at College Park

For too long, black abolitionists have stood in the shadow of their white counterparts. In bringing to life these often-neglected men and women, and allowing us to read in their own words how they viewed the crusade against slavery, C. Peter Ripley has made a major contribution to our understanding of antebellum reform.—Eric Foner, Columbia University

A well-conceived and valuable supplement to the Black Abolitionist Papers volumes.—Richard Blackett, Indiana University

Editorial Reviews

In 89 documents that represent the best of the recently published Black Abolitionist Papers (Chapel Hill, N.C., 1985-92), African Americans tell their own stories of the struggle to end slavery and claim their rights as American citizens, of the battle against colonization and the "back to Africa" movement, and of their troubled relationship with the federal government. Includes a contextual introduction, chronology, glossary, and bibliographical essay. Paper edition (unseen), $10.95. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

A judicious and extremely useful selection of documents from one of the most important publishing projects of our time.

David Brion Davis, Yale Univeristy

C. Peter Ripley has made a major contribution to our understanding of antebellum reform.

Eric Foner, Columbia University

Provides the best entry point to understand the full complexity of Afro-American life in the North.

Ira Berlin, University of Maryland at College Park

"A judicious and extremely useful selection of documents from one of the most important publishing projects of our time.

David Brion Davis, Yale Univeristy"

"C. Peter Ripley has made a major contribution to our understanding of antebellum reform.

Eric Foner, Columbia University"

"Provides the best entry point to understand the full complexity of Afro-American life in the North.

Ira Berlin, University of Maryland at College Park"

A critical source.

"Washington Post Book World"

A fitting finale to a remarkable scholarly undertaking.

"Journal of Southern History"

From the Publisher