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Loading... The Free People of Color of New Orleans: An Introduction (edition 1994)by Mary Gehman
Work InformationThe Free People of Color of New Orleans: An Introduction by Mary Gehman
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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 history of free people of color is a mere introduction. Its scope is decidedly small and it is not a work of any original scholarship, as far as I could see. There is some interesting but undeveloped work at the end of the book as to what it means to be a Creole of color today, but the work on the antebellum period was derivative at best, and the post-war Reconstruction and Jim Crow periods received barely a nod of recognition. There are far better works on the free people of color of New Orleans, many mentioned in the extensive bibliography that is part of this work. ( ) The Free People of Color of New Orleans is from a small independent publisher that specializes in books on Louisiana's people, culture, and music. Subtitled "An Introduction," it doesn't try to be a comprehensive study, but is rather a succinct survey of the history of the largest community of free people of color in the United States. While the volume has a somewhat amateurish appearance, the information within is coherent, clear, and really quite interesting. I highly recommend for anyone who wants to learn more about New Orleans, Creole culture, the legacy of blacks in America, or just enjoys well-written, no nonsense history. no reviews | add a review
Finally a comprehensive, easy-to-read history of LES GENS DE COULEUR LIBRE - as the French called them in the 1700s (the free people of color) known as Creoles of color after the Civil War & today, simply as Creoles. The pocket sized book, illustrated & with notes & index, describes a missing link in most histories of the African-American experience. Freed from the 1730s on, these people emerging in French & Spanish colonial Louisiana, formed a large & powerful community. Some of them owned wealthy estates & others dominated trades such as leatherworking, cigar making & carpentry. On the eve of the Civil War, these Creoles of color numbered in the thousands, owned $15 million of property in New Orleans & were active in the slave trade; thus some of them fought with the Confederacy. The book explains contributions of free people of color in education, politics, religion, journalism, art, etc.; the laws that tried to keep them in their place; & the major role of PLACAGE, liaisons between free women of color & white men. It discusses the ongoing effect of this group on New Orleans today, as well as ongoing issues of race & the Creole controversy resulting in their unique history. Includes an extensive bibliography & index. Volume discounts from publisher: Margaret Media, 421 Manasses Place, New Orleans, LA 70119; 504-822-9305. No library descriptions found.
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)976.33500496073History and Geography North America South Central U.S. Louisiana Southeast Louisiana Orleans ParishLC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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