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qbenson11's review
4.0
This was a tough read and highlighted some untold abhorrent truths about slavery. This book focused on the role of white women as owners of enslaved people, rather than just of white men. It’s a heavy read and felt pretty academic, but I also think it’s an important read.
themoonshinegirl's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.0
lauren708's review
5.0
Impeccable. Jones-Rogers had a great thesis and argument and did amazing research. Having read about this era quite a bit, I didn't know that some were ignorant to or in denial of the active participation of white women in slavery, but the author dispels any notions otherwise. The amount of cringe expressions that came across my face while listening to this were... numerous. I believe it's also the only book that has made me come close to vomiting. Even having some familiarity with this topic, I learned a lot and am grateful for this book for bringing all of the information within it to light.
carbaji's review
5.0
This books was a fascinating telling of white southern women’s involvement in slavery. The history we often learn neglects the role of white women as perpetrators of slavery. Dr. Jones-Rogers makes a great observation that this might be because of how historically women have been marginalized, but also hints at another reason, white society’s tendency to shield and protect white women from criticism and admonishment. Dr. Jones-Rogers beautifully puts the results of that into words “if we acknowledge that white women stood to personally and directly benefit from the commodification and enslavement of African Americans we can better understand their participation in post-war white supremacist movements and atrocities such as lynching”
gittav's review
5.0
Extremely provocative; the unseen history of female slave owners. A must read if you're interested in American history and especially if your focus has been on male slave owners and you've conveniently neglected that women played a large role in the economy of the South. Women had their own slaves, women were given slaves by their fathers when they got married; they were the legal property of her, not her husband. This book is filled with things I had not come across or had thought about before; for example, Black wet nurses. Some women felt that having their children nursed by a slave was more problematic than the wet nurse's skin tone, and would set free Black wet nurses for the sole purpose of not "tainting" their children. What happened to the wealth of these families after the civil war? Some women put former slave children into apprenticeships, a new legal framework to still provide former slave owners with free labour.
Through extreme detail and close examination of interviews and legal documentation, Jones-Rogers paints a picture of society that is very nuanced and she addresses every element of a slave owner's household. I learnt so much from this that I already know I'll have to reread it.
Through extreme detail and close examination of interviews and legal documentation, Jones-Rogers paints a picture of society that is very nuanced and she addresses every element of a slave owner's household. I learnt so much from this that I already know I'll have to reread it.
wormlibrary's review
5.0
This book often reminds you of what exactly it set out to do - bury the idea that white women somehow weren't privy to the worst of slavery, that they somehow didn't know better (a frankly ridiculous notion in itself).
Not only were they willing and conscious participants in the slave economy, it was empowering to them.
It was how they became financially independent, they held their own corners of the market, and every move they made that's painted as benevolent or merciful towards their slaves (i.e. not beating them) was nothing more than calculated, long term thinking on how they can best use and profit from the bodies and labor of the enslaved people.
The straightforward, to-the-point, almost clinical narration just adds to the absurdity of the argument that white southern women weren't as bad as their male counterparts, and the slimy aftertaste of putting together how reminiscent of girlboss white feminism it all sounds. Absolutely sickening.
Not only were they willing and conscious participants in the slave economy, it was empowering to them.
It was how they became financially independent, they held their own corners of the market, and every move they made that's painted as benevolent or merciful towards their slaves (i.e. not beating them) was nothing more than calculated, long term thinking on how they can best use and profit from the bodies and labor of the enslaved people.
The straightforward, to-the-point, almost clinical narration just adds to the absurdity of the argument that white southern women weren't as bad as their male counterparts, and the slimy aftertaste of putting together how reminiscent of girlboss white feminism it all sounds. Absolutely sickening.