Think slavery in the U.S. ended when the Emancipation Proclamation was signed in 1862? Yeah, I did, too. Until today, when I listened to author -- and Wall Street Journal Atlanta bureau chief -- Douglas Blackmon being interviewed about his book Slavery By Another Name.
It was eye-opening. As eye-opening as learning about sundown towns.
And no, I'm not talking about the legacy of slavery, I'm talking about actual slavery.
Oh, and lest I forget, this book by Benjamin Skinner about slavery worldwide -- now more pervasive than ever before in history -- is also worth checking out.
more from skinner: http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/sunday/commentary/la-op-skinner23mar23,0,7647430.story
worth reading to see the bush administration's half-hearted efforts to address non-sex worker slavery.
Posted by: dj spellchecka | March 25, 2008 at 05:09 PM
I've been in a Sundown Town in Oklahoma; I've seen the sign - though it said "black man" and not "nigger."
This was in 1982-83, I was 10 or 11. My Mother and I were traveling home to NM from visiting my grandparents, and we needed gas and something to eat. We got the gas, and when driving a little further into town, we saw the sign. My Mom high-tailed it out of there. Neither of us felt like eating for a while.
Posted by: Stephen | March 25, 2008 at 05:42 PM
Thank you for this post, Lisa. I thought I was pretty well-read and well-informed about a variety of subjects, yet I learned something monumental and new (and dreadful) today.
Knowledge is power, though: when we know better we can do better.
(I have to say, I feel more than a little sick to my stomach after reading about Sundown Towns.)
Posted by: litbrit | March 25, 2008 at 06:39 PM
Er, the Emancipation Proclamation only went into effect on January 1, 1863. But it only abolished slavery in the areas in rebellion. Slavery wasn't generally abolished until the 13th Amendment in 1865.
Posted by: John | March 25, 2008 at 06:49 PM
A couple of weeks ago I met a man at Quaker Meeting who did an Emmy award-winning special on the subject. This is his website and the video is available on the site. He believes that we have all of the mechanisms in place to eradicate slavery if we have the political will. This is his website: http://www.freetheslaves.net It is worth a look.
Posted by: PLR | March 25, 2008 at 09:46 PM