"Yet no book of Genovese’s has had the impact of Roll, Jordan, Roll: The World the Slaves Made (1974). A long, complex, almost Hegelian treatment of the master-slave relation – and of the dynamics of power that were embedded within it – Roll, Jordan, Roll is a study of intense struggle, unfolding over decades, that … Continue reading ESSAY: Hahn on the “Legacy Of Eugene Genovese”
commentary
Blight: What gives the Confederacy its staying power?
In April, when Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell issued a proclamation reviving Confederate History Month in the commonwealth, he reminded us once again of the Confederacy's staying power. Wittingly or not, McDonnell demonstrated that historical "memory disputes" are always about the present, as he spoke in the tradition of a long line of Southern leaders beginning … Continue reading Blight: What gives the Confederacy its staying power?
Thioub on Slavery, Colonialism and Africa’s “Predatory Elites” (Interview)
Dr. Ibrahima Thioub interviewed by Philippe Bernard discusses the legacy of colonialism, the problem of globalization and debates slavery and its impact on the African continent--including the idea of "predatory elites:" "Vous contestez le récit de la traite négrière qui en fait un pur pillage des Africains par les Blancs. Pourquoi ? La vision "chromatique" … Continue reading Thioub on Slavery, Colonialism and Africa’s “Predatory Elites” (Interview)
Wole Soyinka on Africa’s Role in the Slave Trade
At TheRoot.com, Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka discusses Africa's role in the slave trade in the two-part series, "Between Truth and Indulgences:" "The process of the independence struggle had already thrown up ominous signs of human inequities that would bedevil a newly liberated entity -- a familiar tendency toward self-attrition, once the external enemy is gone. … Continue reading Wole Soyinka on Africa’s Role in the Slave Trade
Gates on Slavery “Blame Game” (and Response)
excerpt from Op-Ed by Henry Louis Gates (read rest at NYT): "The African role in the slave trade was fully understood and openly acknowledged by many African-Americans even before the Civil War. For Frederick Douglass, it was an argument against repatriation schemes for the freed slaves. “The savage chiefs of the western coasts of Africa, … Continue reading Gates on Slavery “Blame Game” (and Response)
Preserving Manuscripts in Timbuktu (CSM)
"Ahmed Saloum Boularaf is holding a leather-bound sheaf of documents that date back to the 13th century. The manuscript contains a poetic rendition of the life of the Prophet Mohammad, written in the lacy Arabic handwriting of an African scholar who knew how to read before some Europeans even knew of the existence of books. … Continue reading Preserving Manuscripts in Timbuktu (CSM)
Ayiti Kraze / Haiti in Fragments Social Text)
"For some, Haiti is the “poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere,” a “failed state,” long on the brink of collapse. For others, Haiti is a beacon of freedom, evidence of the only successful slave revolt in modern history. This forum brings together scholars from different fields of study, and different parts of the world, for … Continue reading Ayiti Kraze / Haiti in Fragments Social Text)
SSRC Forum: Haiti, Now and Next
"Haiti is an alarming reminder that natural disasters have more devastating consequences where physical infrastructure is weak, where institutions are problematic, and where there is a lot of poverty. So trying to foster development is also a response to disaster. How humanitarian assistance is administered may make it more or less conducive to longer term … Continue reading SSRC Forum: Haiti, Now and Next
Schuller Talk on Humanitarian Crisis in Haiti (CUNY)
HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN HAITI: What is happening, and what can we do? Prof. Mark Schuller, York College HAITI IS EXPERIENCING THE MOST DEVASTATING HUMANITARIAN CRISIS OF OUR GENERATION. ESTIMATES OF 200,000 DEAD ONLY SCRATCH THE SURFACE. IMAGES IN MAINSTREAM MEDIA ONLY SERVE TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL POWERLESS. HAITIAN PEOPLE ARE THE HEROES OF THIS STORY, … Continue reading Schuller Talk on Humanitarian Crisis in Haiti (CUNY)
Henry Louis Gates: Don’t Blame the Devil (Haiti)
"If there is a curse on Haiti, we don’t have to sully another person’s religious beliefs to find it. Perhaps curses, like charity, start at home. And the first two places to search for the source would be the White House and Congress, especially those historically dominated by Dixiecrats. Starting with Thomas Jefferson and continuing … Continue reading Henry Louis Gates: Don’t Blame the Devil (Haiti)
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