A new perspective on an importnt era of American history is presented in this enlightening book which focuses on the heroism of slaves prior to and during the Civil War. 65 prints and black-and-white photographs illustrate an informative book that forcefully shows the slaves' striving toward freedom.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
American history books tend to gloss over the heroism of slaves prior to and during the Civil War; after all, most contemporaneous accounts of slavery were written by those who profited from it--the slave owners. Katz, however, masterfully steers the reader step by step through the astonishing forms of resistance, both active and passive, offered by blacks--free men as well as slaves. Here the victims of injustice and cruelty speak for themselves: "So galling was our bondage, that to escape from it, we suffered the loss of all things, and braved every peril, and endured every hardship," a fugitive slave testifies. Famous mentors, such as Dred Scott, Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman, are vividly depicted, as are anonymous resisters: men and women who secretly preserved their African heritage; others who sent hidden messages to one another through drumbeats or took heart from the liberating themes of gospel songs; mothers who hid children in the woods to prevent the master from selling them. Several lengthy, informative chapters document black participation in the Civil War. The only weak spot is Katz's discussion of the transatlantic voyages of the slave ships, which could have been more detailed. And while the language is perhaps too difficult for its youngest targeted readers, this powerful and authentic collection will be welcomed by those seeking to reclaim the truth behind their heritage. Illustrated with prints and photos. Ages 10-up.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 9-12-- This book will force many readers to reexamine their assumptions about American history. Katz's objective is to lay to rest, through the use of primary-source material, widely accepted myths about the institution of slavery in the U. S. According to Katz, those myths--that slaves loved their masters and were happy in their bondage, and that (with few exceptions) blacks never rebelled or vociferously protested their situation--were perpetrated by white slave owners and given credence by their acceptance by noted historians. The power of the text's content is made even more impressive by the many black-and-white photographs and reproductions. Katz gives a touching yet compelling picture of slave life on plantations and in cities. He includes interesting and little-known bits of black history, such as the alliance between blacks and native Americans, as well as rare moments of humor. Tracing the history of slavery from its American inception through the Civil War, Katz does an admirable job of showing the impact of this "peculiar institution" not only on such areas as music and religion, but on the whole fabric of American history and race relations. Young adults will be fascinated and better informed for having experienced this book. --Rosie Peasley, Somerset School, Modesto, CA
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Breaking the Chains,
By A Customer
This review is from: Breaking The Chains (Paperback)
"Breaking the Chains: African-American Slave Resistance" is a book filled with stories of how black slaves dealt with their servitude. It gives examples of the horrible conditions they faced everyday and uses primary sources, such as interviews with former slaves, to give a accurate picture of their lives. Using many different methods, such as rebellions, running away, or sabatoging the plantations, the slaves did what they could to escape the bonds that tied them to their masters. "Breaking the Chains" gives first hand accounts from run away slaves, and it offers many details that keep the reader's interest. It tells how many slaves were willing to risk their life for their own freedom and the freedom of fellow slaves. They fought to get away from their hard plantation life, controlling masters, and to remain with their families. It also tells of the religious fervor held by the black slaves that gave them hope to carry on. Even after they were not allowed to gather together for any reason outside of work and faced severe punishment if caught, slaves continued to congregate to sing and pray for salvation from their oppression. Katz leaves out his own opinion and uses facts and interviews of other people, which allows the reader to form his or her own opinion. This book shows the restless spirit possessed by blacks during this time period that made them continue the struggle to be free.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Slavery Issues in the mind of William loren Katz,
By Adam (USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Breaking The Chains (Paperback)
Breaking the Chains was a well written book by a former middle school social studies teacher named William Loren Katz. It was organized in a very easy and understanding manner. This book was very interesting in that, it told about a lot more slavery issuses than a high school like myself has learned about. It brought to life many historical figures that influenced the institution of slavery on both sides if the issue. It talked about the slaves daily toils and struggles, to the fights and rebellions. It also takes you to their march to freedom. This book would be good for anyone who wants to know more about American slavery. It demonatrates how slavery in America was finally defeated through the sacrifices and rebellion of the slaves themselves. Breaking the Chains is a book that keeps your attetion from cover to cover. Katz lets the facts and truth of slavery known to man in this book.
3.0 out of 5 stars
Slave resistance in the United States.,
By
This review is from: Breaking The Chains (Paperback)
There is a certain amount of revisionist history floating around that the slave/master relationship was one of benefits to both slave and master. Katz puts this to bed by saying resistance was fairly common and the master/slave relationship was one of exploiter/exploited. Not only did slaves take over ships (Amistad), but they escaped to the North and Canada, started slave rebellions, and resisted in the plantation, factories, and homes of the slave holders. Slaves also destroyed the plantation economy of Santo Domingo and hung their slave masters.
Katz relays in this thin book about how slavery debased humanity for both the black and white population. This is a good short book about why slavery needed to end and answers the charges of the revisionist historians.
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