Black Masters by Michael P Johnson
In 1860, when four million Afro-Americans were enslaved, a quarter-million others, including William Ellison, were 'free people of color.' But Ellison was remarkable. Born a slave, his experience spans the history of the South from George Washington and Thomas Jefferson to Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis. In a day when most Americans, black and white, worked the soil, barely scraping by, Ellison was a cotton-gin maker -- a master craftsman. When nearly all free blacks were destitute, Ellison was wealthy and well-established. He owned a large plantation and more slaves than all but the richest white planters.While Ellison was exceptional in many respects, the story of his life sheds light on the collective experience of Afro-Americans in the antebellum South to whom he remained bound by race. His family history emphasizes the fine line separating freedom from slavery.
Michael P. Johnson is professor of history at the University of California in Irvine. James L. Roark is professor of history at Emory University.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780393303148 |
| ISBN 10 | 0393303144 |
| Title | Black Masters |
| Author | Michael P Johnson |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | WW Norton & Co |
| Year published | 1986-04-17 |
| Number of pages | 440 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |