What is a good, concise book(s) explaining abolition of US institutionalized slavery?

[closeupready]

I was thinking this morning how does progressive social change happen - its genesis, growth, and eventual victory?

It's tempting to read about things like Fruit of the Loom outsourcing or the consolidation of big media, and throw up your hands, 'nothing I can do.'

But that is also a choice, and another choice is to resolve that one will do the right thing any and everytime one has a choice.

Studying the history of institutionalized slavery's abolition in the US could perhaps give guidance to progressives here how to get from point A to point B, on a range of issues we hold up as important and liberal.

I may not respond to every post, but thanks in advance for any pointers.

[malthaussen]

1. David Brion Davis...

... is, if not the premier scholar of slavery, then on the short list. His books are the best place to start, IMO. Any university library should have them, and are still in print and available at Amazon and bookstores. Addressing your specific interest is The Problem of Slavery in the Age of Emancipation.

-- Mal

[closeupready]

4. Thx.

[Ed Suspicious]

2. You could read W.E.B DuBois. He outlines a prescription for the development of an oppressed

minority out of slavery and includes a critique of Booker T Washingon's much more subdued call for cooperation with their former masters as the means to ascension. Washingington thought serving former masters as employes would give black people time to learn the lessons of independence In a measured way.


Both authors extolled the virtues of education, but Washington argued for a technical education that would teach trade skills thereby increasing economic participation of African-Americans in a new mixed economy.

DuBois thought that there would be always a urge for whites to oppress to bolster their own superiority and therefore a liberal education would enable blacks to recognize and see through the veil. This clarity would be required for black leadership to become established within black society. DuBois seemed to advocate for a recognition of two americas and was eager to work within that paradigm.

[closeupready]

5. Thanks.

[enlightenment]

3. Eric Foner

is another excellent resource, particularly for an understanding of the politics surrounding institutionalized slavery.

http://www.ericfoner.com/

I use his textbook in my classes - it's nice to have a single author text for students. Foner has done some podcasts for the texts that you might find interesting.

http://www.wwnorton.com/college/history/give-me-liberty3-brief/podcasts.aspx

[closeupready]

6. Excellent.

[Ed Suspicious]

7. I can second the Foner recommendation.

[eppur_se_muova]

8. Well, this may seem like a peripheral source, but ...

I am just finishing reading "All The Great Prizes", a biography of John Hay, Lincoln's personal secretary, among many other things. The first few chapters deal with the Lincoln years, and include explanations of the factors Lincoln was dealing with -- issuing the EP too soon, for example, might very well have lost some or all of the "border states" to the Confederacy. He had Democrats in Congress who sympathised with the Confederates (known as "Copperheads&quot to deal with as well. Even the exact wording of the EP was carefully chosen so as not to inflame potential resistance from these factions.

Even if this doesn't help answer your specific question well enough, it's a good read.

[closeupready]

9. Thx - I will look into that.