Quality Rating: 4.5 out of 5
"It was a market and a gathering ground where African music could resound/ Grouped by nation, language, tribe, they drummed ancestral roots alive." (Weatherford 23-26)
Summary:
How much do you know about African American history in 19th century Louisiana? This picture book illustrates how enslaved Africans in this state found hope within an unjust system. Every Sunday afternoon they were allowed to congregate in New Orleans' Congo Square to sing, dance, play music, and have an open market. This brief freedom provided a momentary haven from their worries and oppression. The hope and happiness found within Congo Square shares just how this location became an epicenter for freedom, even if only for a few hours.
Stereotypes/biases present in the text:
1. Slaves adhered to stereotypical gender roles present in society.
Gendered roles in a white, patriarchal society also applied to the slave society. Most enslaved men performed manual labor such as tending to the animals and plowing the crops while most enslaved women performed housework such as laundry, cooking, cleaning, and childcare. However, some manual labor tasks involved both enslaved men and women in order to get them done efficiently, such as picking cotton. Weatherford's poetry throughout the book indicates the various tasks which slaves had to complete throughout the week. The genders that performed these roles were indicated in the pictures by the illustrator R. Charles Christie.
Misconceptions I realized I was carrying:
1. The lives of enslaved Africans were defined by the oppression they faced.
Slavery existed from the initial colonization of the United States in 1607 until the abolition of such practices after the American Civil War in 1865. Yet, in all of my classes involving American history, slavery was mentioned only when important to the wars and dates we were studying. The readings and media platforms provided throughout my K-12 education failed to highlight the resilience of enslaved Africans, and instead solely emphasized ways in which they were dehumanized by their slave masters. Learning about the events in New Orlean’s Congo Square opened my eyes to the creativity and strength of enslaved Africans. In the midst of oppression, they found opportunities to celebrate their cultural heritage and create a community to share experiences and sorrows with. This lack of information about the lives of slaves on American soil in history classes is important to recognize. What else don't I know? What else has been erased from the history books that would help us understand this oppressed group of people?
@vickroyh, @lillianwinnie1, It is so important to note that American history classes don’t go in depth on the concept of slavery except when discussing wars. My ENG 304 class (international children’s literature with Prof. Bloem) actually were discussing the shortcomings of our education in our lit circle discussions because of how little we knew about major historical events in other parts of the world. We have the power to go back to our school districts and advocate for future generations to get a more comprehensive education. I want to challenge, if possible, you to have a conversation with your local school district.
Rachel,
I really appreciate your how you discussed your education in K-12 schooling as it pertained to your understanding of slavery. I have to admit that I also hold many of the same misconceptions about slavery outside of the parameters of war. I think it is very interesting that throughout our earliest years of school we only learn about our own side of each war and what was going on in our own culture throughout history. There is an abundant amount of rich history from all over the world, but we are limited in our early years of life to only learn about the history of the United States and allies of it. This is a great reminder to keep…
I really like the way that this post explores the topics of slavery and the misconceptions that go along with it. It really opened my eyes to my own misconceptions of slavery and the way that it was handled. What really caught my attention was how slavery is not often mentioned unless the topic of war is brought up, because I feel that was true in my own American history classes as well. It is honestly very sad that my classmates or I were not properly educated on the lives of slaves when they were not being mistreated during wars. Their lives were always difficult, not just during those times.