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Loading... Delaware's Forgotten Folk: The Story of the Moors & Nanticokesby C. A. Weslager
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. This is a fascinating chronicle of the multicultural Nanticoke Indians and Cheswold "Moors" of the Delmarva Peninsula...two groups whose tri-racial mixture has resulted in some interesting variations on Native American, African American and European traditions. The book was written in 1943, and therefore has a few outdated turns of phrase, as well as the occasional cringe-worthy paternalistic observation, but for the most part, the author presented the material in a scholarly, unbiased manner. It is definitely worth reading for its historical and sociological value, and was reprinted by the University of Pennsylvania Press in 2006 without editorial comment. It contains a section on folklore, crafts and natural medicine, as well as photos and figural illustrations. ( ) no reviews | add a review
"It is offered not as a textbook nor as a scientific discussion, but merely as reading entertainment founded on the life history, social struggle, and customs of a little-known people." ?From the PrefaceC. A. Weslager's Delaware's Forgotten Folk chronicles the history of the Nanticoke Indians and the Cheswold Moors, from John Smith's first encounter with the Nanticokes along the Kuskakarawaok River in 1608, to the struggles faced by these uniquely multiracial communities amid the racial and social tensions of mid-twentieth-century America. It explores the legend surrounding the origin of the two distinct but intricately intertwined groups, focusing on how their uncommon racial heritage ?white, black, and Native American ?shaped their identity within society and how their traditional culture retained its significance into their present.Weslager's demonstrated command of available information and his familiarity with the people themselves bespeak his deep respect for the Moor and Nanticoke communities. What began as a curious inquiry into the overlooked peoples of the Delaware River Valley developed into an attentive and thoughtful study of a distinct group of people struggling to remain a cultural community in the face of modern opposition. Originally published in 1943, Delaware's Forgotten Folk endures as one of the fundamental volumes on understanding the life and history of the Nanticoke and Moor peoples. No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)973.04History and Geography North America United States United States Ethnic And National GroupsLC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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