African-American Slavery

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My book review is on Ar’n’t I a woman? by Deborah Gary White. This book was a very interesting book and an eye opener. Throughout the history of North American slavery, no one came across worse treatment while at the same time receiving next to no historical attention than the enslaved African-American woman. Almost every single notable historian has focused solely on the male slaves. Deborah Gray White's Ar'n't I A Woman? Female Slaves in the Plantation South, attempts to provide an explanation of African-American women history. 

The study of African-American slavery has changed a lot throughout the years, with African-American women finally starting to earn their respects on the eve of the 21st century. "African-American women were close…show more content…
White discusses how slave children had roughly the same day-to-day routine whether male or female. At puberty things begin to change as women are urged to find a mate. The teenage duties consisted of pulling weeds, and raking the yards. While performing these duties the girls were heavily surrounded by other young mothers "which helped them develop a sense of what was expected of them in their future role of mother” Slave women usually had their first child late into teen hood. At this time if you were a barren woman you would be separated from your husband and…show more content…
As White talks about in the beginning the male slave has overshadowed the female slave throughout history, which is exactly true with my past learning's of the slave trade. I personally had the Mammy stereotype in my head, and figured that women slaves had it easier than their male counterparts. I figured they got to stay in the kitchen and solely raise children. While reading this book White bombards you with a systematic series of statements and claims, which she then followed by first or second hand accounts supporting the statements. I feel she did about as good of a job as possible realizing the hardships of finding good sources. Many of her first hand interviews bring light into specific slave farms and provide excellent examples to help pound in her points. The book provides an excellent insight into the life of the African American slave women as a whole, and many specific examples as well. She was persuasive enough to kill the stereotype I had of the Mammy and replace it with the incredibly multifaceted tough yet vulnerable slave woman that truly existed. The only thing I questioned was when she said that most women had to continue to work throughout their pregnancy; I personally find this hard to believe that they were able to continue working the whole time. If it's

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