Book Description
This beautifully written book tells the haunting saga of a quintessentially American family. It is the story of Shoe Boots, a famed Cherokee warrior and successful farmer, and Doll, an African slave he acquired in the late 1790s. Over the next thirty years, Shoe Boots and Doll lived together as master and slave and also as lifelong partners who, with their children and grandchildren, experienced key events in American history--including slavery, the Creek War, the founding of the Cherokee Nation and subsequent removal of Native Americans along the Trail of Tears, and the Civil War. This is the gripping story of their lives, in slavery and in freedom.
Meticulously crafted from historical and literary sources, Ties That Bind vividly portrays the members of the Shoeboots family. Doll emerges as an especially poignant character, whose life is mostly known through the records of things done to her--her purchase, her marriage, the loss of her children--but also through her moving petition to the federal government for the pension owed to her as Shoe Boots's widow. A sensitive rendition of the hard realities of black slavery within Native American nations, the book provides the fullest picture we have of the myriad complexities, ironies, and tensions among African Americans, Native Americans, and whites in the first half of the nineteenth century.
Customer Reviews:
Revealing Little Known History.......2007-01-04
This book provides excellent insight into a little known part of American history. Few people realize that some American Indian tribes (particularly the "Five Civilized Tribes") practiced slavery and this text delves into the complex relationships resulting from it. The impact of the practice has repercussions still felt today. Most importantly, it reveals the rarely addressed interaction between African-Americans and Native Americans dating back to the earliest history of the United States.
Very Informative.......2005-04-15
I recently finished reading Tiya Miles' book. Several things impressed me regarding this work; the first one is the topic. I was surprised to learn that at one time Native Americans owned slaves! I am a college educated retired teacher and I believe this is something I should have learned somewhere in my education. I was also impressed with the research that was used as a basis for Ms. Miles' writing. A reader of her work has more than ample supply of resources to use for further reading. I also believe this book should be required reading for any American history curriculum at the college level.
Outstanding scholarship and storytelling!.......2005-03-29
First, let me say how much I enjoyed this book. It is a work of tremendous research informed by a mature mind which deeply understands the roles of history and story in creating self-identity.
I was alerted to its existence by Ilene Shepard Smiddy, author of DAUGHTER OF SHILOH, also a splendid narrative/adventure retelling a part of the Shoeboots story, but centering on Clarinda Allington and her children.
Dr. Miles provides us with a helpful family tree in the front of the book, and inside there are maps that help orient the story. The historical asides and reflections using Toni Morrison's BELOVED are treasures. Inside too are several illustrations and pictures, including one of a Shoeboots descendant. The text is divided into logical chapters. The notes are easy to follow and delicious to read, and they are followed by a full bibliography and a comprehensive index.
I would like to see the notes expanded to include the family of Napoleon Bonaparte, perhaps a grandson of Shoeboots, or of one of the Shoeboots, and who entered the mainstream population in Kentucky as a free black.
As Dr. Miles points out, there was more than one individual who was referred to as the Boot or Shoeboots (and other nicknames, in both English and Cherokee), and I suspect that this was a concept name involving the crow or the rooster--the hero of a Cherokee parable. It is fascinating to read about here, and her arguments are engaging. Highly recommended reading!
Amazon.com
The bloodiest day in United States history was September 17, 1862, when, during the Civil War battle at Antietam, close to 6,500 soldiers were killed or mortally wounded and another 15,000 were seriously wounded. Moreover, James M. McPherson states in his concise chronicle of the event Crossroads of Freedom, it may well have been the pivotal moment of the war and possibly of the young republic itself. The South, after a series of setbacks in the spring of 1862, had reversed the war's momentum during the summer, and was on not only on the "brink of military victory" but about to achieve diplomatic recognition by European nations, most notably England and France. Though the bulk of his book concerns itself with the details--and incredible carnage--of the battle itself, McPherson raises it above typical military histories by placing it in its socio-political context: The victory prodded Abraham Lincoln to announce his "preliminary" Emancipation Proclamation, freeing slaves. England and France deferred their economic alliance with the battered secessionists. Most importantly, it kept Lincoln's party, the Republicans, in control of Congress. McPherson's account is accessible, elegant, and economical. --H. O'Billovich
Book Description
The Battle of Antietam, fought on September 17, 1862, was the bloodiest single day in American history, with more than 6,000 soldiers killed--four times the number lost on D-Day, and twice the number killed in the September 11th terrorist attacks. In Crossroads of Freedom, America's most eminent Civil War historian, James M. McPherson, paints a masterful account of this pivotal battle, the events that led up to it, and its aftermath. As McPherson shows, by September 1862 the survival of the United States was in doubt. The Union had suffered a string of defeats, and Robert E. Lee's army was in Maryland, poised to threaten Washington. The British government was openly talking of recognizing the Confederacy and brokering a peace between North and South. Northern armies and voters were demoralized. And Lincoln had shelved his proposed edict of emancipation months before, waiting for a victory that had not come--that some thought would never come. Both Confederate and Union troops knew the war was at a crossroads, that they were marching toward a decisive battle. It came along the ridges and in the woods and cornfields between Antietam Creek and the Potomac River. Valor, misjudgment, and astonishing coincidence all played a role in the outcome. McPherson vividly describes a day of savage fighting in locales that became forever famous--The Cornfield, the Dunkard Church, the West Woods, and Bloody Lane. Lee's battered army escaped to fight another day, but Antietam was a critical victory for the Union. It restored morale in the North and kept Lincoln's party in control of Congress. It crushed Confederate hopes of British intervention. And it freed Lincoln to deliver the Emancipation Proclamation, which instantly changed the character of the war. McPherson brilliantly weaves these strands of diplomatic, political, and military history into a compact, swift-moving narrative that shows why America's bloodiest day is, indeed, a turning point in our history.
Customer Reviews:
Concise and informative.......2007-06-12
This book is in the Pivotal Moments in American History series and the thrust of the book is to show why the battle of Antietam deserves to be considered a pivotal moment. This book focuses on the failings of General McClellan and on the political (both domestic and foreign) importance of this battle. Even a partial Confederate victory would likely have led to Britain and France forcing a negotiated settlement of the war, or at least it would have led to the recognition of the Confederacy as an independent state, which was a major Confederate aim. A complete Confederate victory could have led to their occupation of Washington and a complete collapse of the Union forces. As such, Professor McPherson makes a strong case for this being the most pivotal battle of the American Civil War. Other battles were very important, but it is likely that they would not have been fought had the Union not won the battle of Antietam, even if the victory was less than a complete one. The partial Union victory improved the Republican showing in the congressional elections of 1862, led to the dismissal of General McClellan, prevented the European recognition of the Confederacy, and allowed Lincoln to present the Emancipation Proclamation (which he had formulated weeks before) thereby permanently preventing any European recognition of the Confederacy.
This is a short book (only 156 pages of text). It briefly discusses military events of 1862 and how these led to a continual seesawing of the fortunes of the North and South. It then discusses the factors immediately leading up to the battle and the importance of the battle. However, the fighting of the battle is only covered in a brief 34-page chapter, so those looking for a detailed history of the battle itself may be disappointed.
Professor McPherson shows why he is currently a preeminent Civil War scholar. His writing is entertaining and the points he makes are made forcefully and clearly. This is a great book for those who what to know why Antietam was a pivotal moment in American history, as well as for those who not ready to tackle his 952-page complete history of the Civil War.
not very interesting.......2007-01-09
The author uses personal records such as diaries and letters to add local color to this campaign. Overall the book does not turn much new ground.
McClellan is, as usual, condemned as barely competent. For my two cents, McClellan is the victim of hindsight, and was a serious, effective man, though I have yet to read that in any popular Civil War history. Perhaps McClellan did overestimate the size of Lee's army, but he acted on the data that was provided him. Much like Admiral Jellicoe at the WWI naval battle of Jutland, he did not lose his force, and he held the field, and that was the essential strategic requirement.
The book has a general point of view bias to the Union side. An OK read for someone unfamiliar with the campaign, but Civil War buffs won't find much new here.
Another great installment in the Pivotal Mometns in American History.......2006-12-14
Another great installment in the Pivotal moments of American history. I think one of the great triumphs of this book is the explanation as to why this is a more important battle than Gettysburg. This book takes into consideration all of the international factors that went into the significance of the battle. It clearly provides a discussion of what happened and with the pictures and diagrams provided you get a very vivid picture of one of the bloodiest battles in the Civil War. This is an excellent book for civil war buffs and a must have for a civil war library. James McPhereson continues his streak of developing excellent and thoughtful civil war novels.
Shorter McPherson, but still terrific research and contextually sound.......2006-12-13
Crossroads of Freedom, by James M. McPherson, does a superb job in its goal of discussing how the Battle of Antietam was a turning point in the American Civil War. McPherson, our pre-eminent historian on the Civil War era, writes clearly and concisely and is very successful in the goals set forth by the author and fellow editor of the Pivotal Moments in American History Series, David Hackett Fischer. As Fischer states in the Editor's Note "It takes a long view of its subject and sets the battle firmly in the context of large historical processes. This is also an idea of historical change not as a single transforming event, but as a web of contingencies."
A word of caution here. For those who have read McPherson's Battle Cry of Freedom, (and if one is interested in this period it should be required reading) his prose in Crossroads seems a bit pithy, but rest assured, as with all of McPherson's writings and teachings, there is no shortfall on research. Professor McPherson weaves wonderful quotes from letters written by privates, by generals, both "Presidents", Lincoln and Davis, and news articles and headlines into his always strong narrative. His writing always seems to amaze as his narrative is seamless but, at the same time, his ability to put an event into its historical context is his main strength in his written research.
All in all a terrific, if short, book on a period in time where so much of our young country's future hung in the outcome of many variables, all well delineated in this great entry into a fun and educational series by the Oxford University Press.
Good popular history.......2006-10-05
Though more a highly abbreviated history of the Civil War than a history of the battle of Antietam per se, CFA is well written, well argued, and entertaining. Earlier in his career, McPherson wrote one of the finest histories ever (The Battle Cry of Freedom). CFA does not begin to match BCF for its sweep and erudition, but of course its focus (on a "pivotal moment in American history") is intentionally more narrow. CFA is pitched to the McCullough and Ken Burns crowd (I among them), purveyors both of excellent popular histories and excellent scholarly histories. With BCF, McPherson proved himself a master of the latter genre; with CFA, he proves himself a master of the former genre. If you're interested in Civil War history and looking for a book to begin with, CFA is as good as any. If you're seriously interested, BCF is a must.
Book Description
Countries at the Crossroads is an annual survey of government performance in 30 key countries worldwide that are at a critical crossroads in determining their political future. Crossroads provides a unique comparative tool for assessing government performance in the areas of civil liberties, rule of law, anticorruption and transparency, and accountability and public voice. Through narratives, numerical scores, and specific policy recommendations, the survey is an indispensable tool for policymakers, scholars, and the international community.
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Freedom Struggle: The Anti-Slavery Movement 1830-1865 (Crossroads America)
Ann Rossi
Manufacturer: National Geographic Children's Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0792278283
Release Date: 2005-01-01 |
Book Description
By 1860 nearly 4 million black people were slaves in the United States. The lives of these people were very difficult and provided them no freedoms. In the early part of the 19th century, rumblings from people who felt that slavery was wrong began to surface. These people came to be known as abolitionists. Freedom Struggle tells the story of the fight they waged to end slavery in America. The reader will learn about leaders of the anti-slavery movement, including Frederick Douglass, the Grimkes, Harriet Tubman, and John Brown, among others, and how members of the Underground Railroad helped slaves escape the South to the free states of the North. The slavery debate took over and divided the nation, becoming one of the primary issues of the Civil War and threatening to destroy our country. Examples of arguments from opposing sides are found in this book. After many struggles and many years, constitutional amendments (the 13th and the 14th) were passed giving black Americans greater civil liberties and ended slavery in the U.S. The abolitionists had won! Like the other books in the series, Freedom Struggle is illustrated with period photographs, paintings and drawings. Also included are a glossary and an index.
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9/11 in American Culture (Crossroads in Qualitative Inquiry)
Norman K. Denzin
Manufacturer: AltaMira Press
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Binding: Paperback
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Terrorism
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September 11
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ASIN: 075910350X |
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Civil Rights Crossroads: Nation, Community, and the Black Freedom Struggle
Steven F. Lawson
Manufacturer: University Press of Kentucky
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Binding: Hardcover
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Gender and the Civil Rights Movement
ASIN: 0813122872 |
Book Description
Over the past thirty years, Steven F. Lawson has established himself as one of the nation's leading historians of the black struggle for equality. Civil Rights Crossroads is an important collection of Lawson's writings about the civil rights movement that is essential reading for anyone concerned about the past, present, and future of race relations in America.
Lawson examines the movement from a variety of perspectives—local and national, political and social—to offer penetrating insights into the civil rights movement and its influence on contemporary society. Civil Rights Crossroads also illuminates the role of a broad array of civil rights activists, familiar and unfamiliar. Lawson describes the efforts of Martin Luther King Jr. and Lyndon Johnson to shape the direction of the struggle, as well as the extraordinary contributions of ordinary people like Fannie Lou Hamer, Harry T. Moore, Ruth Perry, Theodore Gibson, and many other unsung heroes of the most important social movement of the twentieth century. Lawson also examines the decades-long battle to achieve and expand the right of African Americans to vote and to implement the ballot as the cornerstone of attempts at political liberation.
Book Description
David R. Roediger's powerful book argues that in its political workings, its distribution of advantages, and its unspoken assumptions, the United States is a "still white" nation. Race is decidedly not over. The critical portraits of contemporary icons that lead off the book--Rush Limbaugh, Bill Clinton, O.J. Simpson, and Rudolph Giuliani--insist that continuities in white power and white identity are best understood by placing the recent past in historical context. Roediger illuminates that history in an incisive critique of the current scholarship on whiteness and an account of race-transcending radicalism exemplified by vanguards such as W.E.B. Du Bois and John Brown. He shows that, for all of its staying power, white supremacy in the United States has always been a pursuit rather than a completed project, that divisions among whites have mattered greatly, and that "nonwhite" alternatives have profoundly challenged the status quo.
Colored White reasons that, because race is a matter of culture and politics, racial oppression will not be solved by intermarriage or demographic shifts, but rather by political struggles that transform the meaning of race--especially its links to social and economic inequality. This landmark work considers the ways that changes in immigration patterns, the labor force, popular culture, and social movements make it possible--though far from inevitable--that the United States might overcome white supremacy in the twenty-first century. Roediger's clear, lively prose and his extraordinary command of the literature make this one of the most original and generative contributions to the study of race and ethnicity in the United States in many decades.
Customer Reviews:
At a crossorads, 3.7 stars.......2002-12-02
About a decade ago, David Roediger published "The Wages of Whiteness," which looked at the question of why members of the Northern Working Class, especially recent Irish immigrants, were so hostile to African-Americans and so supportive of pro-slavery politicians. What, one might ask, would Catholic Irish immigrants get from supporting extremely arrogant Southern Protestant landowners, who tended to look down on both laborers and Catholics? Roediger's insight was that by emphasizing a common "whiteness," Irish-Americans could challenge those who would denounce them as Catholics, proletarians, and arguably, not white themselves.
This is the third book where Roediger has expanded his concept of "whiteness." A key element is that "race" is a social construction, and that in the past "whiteness" has been a subjective concept. Not only have Arabs, Hispanics and Indians from India been excluded from the concept of "Caucasian," but immigrants from Ireland and Germany, Eastern and Southern Europe have all been "in-between" at times. (Benjamin Franklin once wrote that Swedes and most Germans weren't white, indeed only the English and Saxons were.) Ethnic groups have had to struggle to ensure their "whiteness", usually at the expense of African Americans. But there has also been opposing tendencies in American history from those who would challenge the shibboleths of "whiteness" and the racial oppression that it supports.
This collection includes an interesting essay on Rudolph Gulliani's demagogic campaign against Chris Ofili's Virgin Mary, pointing out an Italian tradition of black Madonnas. There is an insightful essay on O.J. Simpson, which is very informative on the complex links between sports, commercialism, and race. Another chapter looks at why abolitionists got on better with early feminists than with early trade unionists, even though both of them compared their plight to slavery. (The answer is that feminists, having grown out of the abolitionist movement in the first place, were more sensitive to the horrors of slavery, whereas trade unionists tended to belittle it.) The final chapter deals with the ambiguity of Elvis' forays into African-American music, and the phenomenon of "wiggers." Roediger's account here is particularly subtle as he points out both the strengths and weaknesses of such "crossing-overs" for an anti-racist agenda. Some wiggers want to identify with the culture of hip-hop, others vicariously identify with its misogyny and violence.
Perhaps the best essay deals with a critique of the neoliberal view on race. There has been much talk of appealing to "class" as opposed to "race" issues. But as Roediger points out what the Democratic Party of Clinton did was not support such issues as trade unionism, free trade, maternity leave, childcare, or national health insurance. Instead it appealed to pre-existing prejudices against blacks. Roediger points out that affirmative action potentially benefits a large majority of the working class, or would if we did not define such a group as white males. "Because of existing inequalities of race, some new benefits will clearly be utilized at different levels across racial lines," while at the same time "the tremedous benefits of Federal Housing Administration loans, home mortgage tax deductions, and federal subsidy of highway construction serving new suburbs are seen as 'race neutral,' despite the fact that their benefits accrue overwhelmingly to the white middle class."
Certain problems exist though. (1) There is a somewhat annoying tendency to cite Melville, Ellison, Du Bois and other heroes of the past in a somewhat uncritical and hagiographic manner. (2) Although this book is extensively footnoted, there is little primary research. There is much reference to new scholarship, but it is sometimes repetitive. (3) On the hand it is important to note that "whiteness" is not a natural or uncontested concept. On the other hand, as Barbara Fields and Eric Arnesen have pointed out, racialization of "blacks" and "whites" are not equally subjective. The Northern Democratic Party, the Roman Catholic Church and naturalization judges have never really doubted the "whiteness" of most European Catholic immigrants. (4) An emphasis on "whiteness" ignores other aspects of conservative hegemony in the United States. One aspect is religion, the other is the English/Scottish assumptions of what it is constitutively "American." Another aspect is the ideology of anti-totalitarianism. After all, when the National Review and The New Republic attack welfare, the model they invoke is not George Wallace, but George Orwell, castigating intellectuals in the name of the people, damning the left for refusing to face the facts about a decripit underclass. (5) There is much talk of "people of color" being an "other" for white Americans. But as Orlando Patterson pointed out in the New Left Review in the 1960s, there is also a tendency to obscure their presence completely. Many Americans, after all, live in states where racial minorites are non-existent, while others, of course, live in hyper-segregated suburbs.
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Crime Prevention at a Crossroads (Acjs/Anderson Monograph Series)
Manufacturer: Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 087084511X |
Book Description
In 1993 Rik Scarce was imprisoned for refusing to testify to a federal grand jury about his interviews with animal rights activists who had broken into a research laboratory. This retelling of his incarceration and his ethical stance is a painful, rare glimpse of the jail world, and will be essential reading for those concerned with American criminal justice and civil liberties. Visit our website for sample chapters!
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- A Naturalist and Other Beasts: Tales From a Life in the Field
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