Prince among Slaves: The True Story of an African Prince Sold Into Slavery in the American South [Paperback]

Terry Alford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 4, 1986 | ISBN-10: 0195042239 | ISBN-13: 978-0195042238

In 1807, an Irish ship's surgeon recognized a slave at a Mississippi produce market as the son of an African king who had saved his life many years earlier. "The Prince," as he had become known to local Natchez, Mississippi, residents, had been captured by warring tribesmen when he was 26 years old, sold to slavetraders, and shipped to America. An educated, aristocratic slave, Abd Rahman Ibrahima was made overseer of the large cotton and tobacco plantation of his master, who refused to sell him to the doctor for any price. After 25 years of petitioning, Dr. Cox finally gained Ibrahima his freedom, through the intercession of U.S. Secretary of State Henry Clay. Sixty-six-year-old Ibrahima sailed for Africa the following year, with his wife, two sons, and several grandchildren, and died there of fever just five months after his arrival. Prince Among Slaves is the first full account of Ibrahima's life, pieced together from first-person accounts and historical documents. It is not only a remarkable story, but the story of a remarkable man, who endured the humiliation of slavery without ever losing his dignity or his hope for freedom.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Alford writes with a straightforward simplicity that nonetheless takes account of all sorts of complexities, including racial attitudes in this country at that time, and class attitudes as well."--The New Yorker

"Vividly re-creates a life as dramatic as a work of fiction."--Booklist

"Absorbing reading....The succession of events surrounding [the prince's] enslavement and emancipation almost defy belief."--Library Journal

"The story moves along with the excitement, pace, and emotion of a well-paced novel."--Best Sellers

"An exceptional study. A much needed introduction to Africans as real people during the slavery era....Prince Among Slaves affirms the African heritage of Afro-Americans."--Stephen Middleton, University of Cincinnati

About the Author

Terry Alford is at au.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (December 4, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195042239
• ISBN-13: 978-0195042238
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,225,825 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible, September 8, 2002

By 

Munir "ahmad" (Cerritos, California USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Prince among Slaves: The True Story of an African Prince Sold Into Slavery in the American South (Paperback)

According to the reviews on the back cover, Alford's book "vividly re-creates a life as dramatic as a work of fiction...events...almost defy belief." I'd tend to agree. This remarkably detailed book narrates the life of Ibrahima, a Fulani prince captured at the age of 26 and enslaved in the USA for 40 years, during which he lost neither his Muslim faith nor his dignity- both of which finally led to his freedom. The details surrounding those events are incredible and sometimes even mystical. Perhaps the most striking aspect of this book was its contrast of the literate, cosmopolitan culture of Futa Jalon, Ibrahima's homeland, and the illiterate, racist, and often homicidal nature of the whites of Natchez.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most inspiring and factual books on slavery, November 20, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Prince among Slaves: The True Story of an African Prince Sold Into Slavery in the American South (Paperback)

Terry Alford is a very brilliant man for his insights and facts to uncover Abd Rahman Ibrahima's life. If written without strong and factual information an attempt to publish an account of his life would be useless. The author did Ibrahima great justice in taking note that it would be very important in making this man's place in history known. In the book the author overwhealms the reader with facts that cast away any doubts the reader may have about the authenticity of this book. Alford deserves highest regards for having the patience and faith to document the life of such an extraordinary person.

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Karim Abdul Jabbar did not become Muslim because of this book, July 16, 2006

By 

Mersad Islamovic (Chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prince among Slaves: The True Story of an African Prince Sold Into Slavery in the American South (Paperback)

This is a valuable work that should be read to discover the life of a Muslim during the time of slavery since most slave narratives do not mention Islam even when 10 to 15 percent of slaves here were of Muslim origin.

By the way, Karim Abdul Jabbar became Muslim at the hands of Khalifah Hamaas Abdul Khaalis, founder of the D.C. based Hanafi Madh-hab, around 1970. The venerable Sufi and Black Muslim leader wrote the work "Look and See" that will soon be released on Magribine Press. If someone makes claims that a work made someone become Muslims, or some other such claim, they should give references.