Scan barcode
A review by tanyarobinson
The Price for Their Pound of Flesh: The Value of the Enslaved, from Womb to Grave, in the Building of a Nation by Daina Ramey Berry
3.0
I admire the research Berry did for this book, and find the subject matter very compelling. I just couldn't get past her writing style, which reminded me of a not-that-great Master's Thesis, constantly trying to justify why what she was saying was new or important. She has a tendency to restate the obvious over and over, making a point, giving examples, then unnecessarily telling the reader that her examples prove her point. I just found it a little tedious.
For me the biggest take-away from this book is what I learned about valuation of deceased slaves, both in terms of insurance policies (I never realized life insurance on slaves was a thing, though it makes perfect sense) and as part of the market for anatomical specimens. The section on the value of women of reproductive age for breeding purposes was also strong.
Berry very passionately asserts that not only do Black Lives Matter, but Black Bodies have always mattered. 3.5 stars.
For me the biggest take-away from this book is what I learned about valuation of deceased slaves, both in terms of insurance policies (I never realized life insurance on slaves was a thing, though it makes perfect sense) and as part of the market for anatomical specimens. The section on the value of women of reproductive age for breeding purposes was also strong.
Berry very passionately asserts that not only do Black Lives Matter, but Black Bodies have always mattered. 3.5 stars.