'New Raiments of Self': African American Clothing in the Antebellum South (Dress, Body, Culture) [Paperback]

Helen Bradley Foster (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1997 | ISBN-10: 1859731899 | ISBN-13: 978-1859731895 | Edition: First Edition

This book examines the clothing worn by African Americans in the southern United States during the thirty years before the American Civil War. Drawing on a wide range of sources, most notably oral narratives recorded in the 1930s, this rich account shows that African Americans demonstrated a thorough knowledge of the role clothing played in demarcating age, sex, status, work, recreation, as well as special secular and sacred events. Testimonies offer proof of African Americans' vast technical skills in producing cloth and clothing, which served both as a fundamental reflection of the peoples' Afrocentric craftsmanship and aesthetic sensibilities, and as a reaction to their particular place in American society. Previous work on clothing in this period has tended to focus on white viewpoints, and as a consequence the dress worn by the enslaved has generally been seen as a static standard imposed by white overlords. This excellent study departs from conventional interpretations to show that the clothing of the enslaved changed over time, served multiple functions and represented customs and attitudes which evolved distinctly from within African American communities. In short, it represents a vital contribution to African American studies, as well as to dress and textile history, and cultural and folklore studies.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"(A) fascinating analysis of dress, body and culture. [...] It is a brilliantly structured text, with extensive utilization of quotations to give agency to subjects. [...] The volume is crafted in lucid prose that is a joy to read." --African Studies Review & Newsletter

About the Author

Helen Bradley Foster is a Lecturer,at the University of Minnesota.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Berg Publishers; First Edition edition (June 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1859731899
• ISBN-13: 978-1859731895
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,329,903 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Slave Narrative Re-boot, September 8, 2011

By 

Lovely Zombie - See all my reviews

This review is from: 'New Raiments of Self': African American Clothing in the Antebellum South (Dress, Body, Culture) (Paperback)

And yes, the pun was intended.

This is a wonderfully researched book and very enjoyable to read thanks to the careful organization of chapters and the quality of author insight included. My only complaint, as a matter of fact, is that the author did not infuse the text with more of her own critical observation. The majority of the sources used for this book appear to be Slave Narratives from the 1930's Federal Writer's Project. Helen Foster seems to have worked her way through most if not all of the Narratives in order to fill out the various demands of her book.

The book is one of the precious few resources available to students of costume related to American slaves. It focuses on the American South-East and the 19th century at that. I was delighted that photographs of extant garments and pertinent photographs of slaves in a variety of dress were included along with the text.

I highly, highly recommend this book to anyone studying 19th century slavery in America in general and the garments of slaves in particular. It is clear, well-written and full of information that would take years to find on your own.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definite Book on Antebellum African American Clothing, March 19, 2007

By 

R. Riley - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: 'New Raiments of Self': African American Clothing in the Antebellum South (Dress, Body, Culture) (Paperback)

Bradley Foster uses primary sources to illutrate the clothing of the African American antebellum community. A must read for anyone who is interested in the social structure of the South.