The Slave Community: Plantation Life
in the Antebellum South by John W.
Blassingame
A Classic Contribution
Taking into account the major recent studies, this volume presents an
updated analysis of the life of the black slave--his African heritage, culture,
family, acculturuation, behavior, religion, and personality.
Personal Review: The Slave Community: Plantation Life in the
Antebellum South by John W. Blassingame
In this revised and expanded edition, scholar John Blassingame describes
not only what facts his researched uncovered, but also how he uncovered
those facts. In particular, Blassingame's research emphasizes slave
narratives and slave letters.
He explains that both of these types of documentation allow the researcher
to enter the inner world of the enslaved person through his or her eyes,
rather than simply accepting the plantation owners' views about slave life.
His discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of historical resources
along with his explanation of how to use internal and external evidence to
assess the credibility of such sources offers a fine lesson in historiography.
In his choice of subject areas, Blassingame cuts a wide swath that
overviews every core aspect of enslaved life. He begins with an intriguing
examination of acculturation by comparing how enslaved Europeans in
African, enslaved Africans in South America, and enslaved Africans in
North America acculturated. He also explores the important but often
neglected issue of the Africanization of the South--how southern Whites
acculturated to African American culture.
Having laid this foundation, two moving chapters ensue. Blassingame
documents slave family life with all its harrowing, horrible obstacles. Yet he
also demonstrates the resilience and love of enslaved African American
families. Next Blassingame addresses the many obstacles to rebellion and
escape, putting to rest the notion that the lack of runaways in any way
suggested acceptance of enslavement.
His final three chapters explore roles, realities, and personality types. At
times his use of now-outdated sociological and psychological theory clouds
the issues for modern readers. However, once sifted through and sorted

out, these chapters continue to offer fresh information, if not always fresh
insights.
Overall no researcher can afford to ignore Blassingame's contribution.
Though many have critiqued some of his conclusions, all seem to quote
him repeatedly.
Reviewer: Robert W. Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of "Beyond the
Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and
Spiritual Direction." He has also authored "Soul Physicians" and "Spiritual
Friends."
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