Comments on: Thanks again for the tremendous reception for the book http://www.slaverybyanothername.com/blog/thanks-again-for-the-tremendous-reception-for-the-book/ Just another WordPress weblog Wed, 28 Sep 2011 16:55:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: John http://www.slaverybyanothername.com/blog/thanks-again-for-the-tremendous-reception-for-the-book/comment-page-1/#comment-41025 John Wed, 28 Sep 2011 16:55:07 +0000 http://www.slaverybyanothername.com/?p=52#comment-41025 Thanks for your email reports, especially the news that a PBS television documentary is in the works. Too few of us know the history you report in this book, and understand the longterm effects we continue to live with as a result. Thanks for your email reports, especially the news that a PBS television documentary is in the works. Too few of us know the history you report in this book, and understand the longterm effects we continue to live with as a result.

]]> By: JoAnn Gardner http://www.slaverybyanothername.com/blog/thanks-again-for-the-tremendous-reception-for-the-book/comment-page-1/#comment-36281 JoAnn Gardner Thu, 28 Jul 2011 20:38:32 +0000 http://www.slaverybyanothername.com/?p=52#comment-36281 I must add my voice to the chorus, "Thank-you". I too heard the stories as a child, that "men went missing, and never returned to their families. Imagine too, while only a few pages into your book, finding my own name there "Gardner" (I am from Alabama). It brought tears to my eyes and I had to put the book down. After spending my early years in the south, I didn't have to read these words to know they were true, but reading them helped "validate" us as a people. No one HEARS black people. We are treated like children (to be seen and not heard. To be used and then discarded like trash. No "we" don't believe we're trash, others do. After reading books like "Slavery By Another Name and King Leopold's Ghost (among others), I (trying to speak for my people), MUST believe in God. I must. I must believe that there is justice somewhere. To not believe in God would mean that insanity is the norm. Again....."Thank-you" I must add my voice to the chorus, “Thank-you”. I too heard the stories as a child, that “men went missing, and never returned to their families. Imagine too, while only a few pages into your book, finding my own name there “Gardner” (I am from Alabama). It brought tears to my eyes and I had to put the book down. After spending my early years in the south, I didn’t have to read these words to know they were true, but reading them helped “validate” us as a people. No one HEARS black people. We are treated like children (to be seen and not heard. To be used and then discarded like trash. No “we” don’t believe we’re trash, others do. After reading books like “Slavery By Another Name and King Leopold’s Ghost (among others), I (trying to speak for my people), MUST believe in God. I must. I must believe that there is justice somewhere. To not believe in God would mean that insanity is the norm. Again…..”Thank-you”

]]> By: Gina http://www.slaverybyanothername.com/blog/thanks-again-for-the-tremendous-reception-for-the-book/comment-page-1/#comment-14988 Gina Tue, 24 Aug 2010 18:27:55 +0000 http://www.slaverybyanothername.com/?p=52#comment-14988 Thank you for taking the time to research this material. You mentioned in one interview that Black people have always known this in their hearts, and that is absolutely true. I was raised in the inner city and was taught the standard public school education, and it wasn't until much later that I realized how much history was purposely left out. When I began to do my own research into the Black experience, I was saddened, shocked, horrified and angry all at once. Yet, I always suspected these things took place in my heart. What angers me the most is the fact that people choose to ignore these facts of history. Rather than feel any possible guilt, they would rather frame history in a way that puts the blame back on the victim, or ignore that it happened altogether. People may have expressed their disappointment in the fact that you are white, but I am thankful that you are. Unfortunately, had this information come from a black man, I fear it would have been discredited and overlooked. People would have assumed you were only out to promote the hated idea of reparations, which is an instant turn-off. I thank you again for this book. I look forward to the upcoming PBS special. Thank you for taking the time to research this material. You mentioned in one interview that Black people have always known this in their hearts, and that is absolutely true. I was raised in the inner city and was taught the standard public school education, and it wasn’t until much later that I realized how much history was purposely left out. When I began to do my own research into the Black experience, I was saddened, shocked, horrified and angry all at once. Yet, I always suspected these things took place in my heart. What angers me the most is the fact that people choose to ignore these facts of history. Rather than feel any possible guilt, they would rather frame history in a way that puts the blame back on the victim, or ignore that it happened altogether. People may have expressed their disappointment in the fact that you are white, but I am thankful that you are. Unfortunately, had this information come from a black man, I fear it would have been discredited and overlooked. People would have assumed you were only out to promote the hated idea of reparations, which is an instant turn-off.

I thank you again for this book. I look forward to the upcoming PBS special.

]]> By: Stephen Bishop http://www.slaverybyanothername.com/blog/thanks-again-for-the-tremendous-reception-for-the-book/comment-page-1/#comment-10674 Stephen Bishop Fri, 07 May 2010 16:17:27 +0000 http://www.slaverybyanothername.com/?p=52#comment-10674 I caught a bit of your discussion of your book on TV and subsequently went out and purchased your book. At first I was hesitant to buy the book as I thought that reading it would bring up feelings of anger, however it didn't. What it did was "break my heart" as I see how cruelly men can treat other men and at what lengths they would go to to do just that. I am well aware that a key component in the Atlantic slave trade originated with Africans selling other Africans to the slavers. Being a black man of multi-racial background (Belize) I thought of the movie Apocolyto and concluded that the mayans would have sold off their conquered rivals to foreigners as well if given the opportunity. That said, money is the root of many evils, however, the cruelness inflicted upon freed slaves and the governments indifference to this treatment (persecution, genocide, pick one) makes me realize just how frogile freedom is. When Bill Clinton apologized to Americans of African descent for the USA's slavery trade, there were a buch of people who became very upset about that. Hopefully they were ignorant to the facts as if there is anyobe who reads this book and does not feel that Americans of African descent are owed a world of apology, they are truely heartless and to be feared. I say as African Americans, we need to do all we can to 1) succeed, 2) ensure our children are well educated, 3) eradicate the use of the N word 4) hold our heads up! As we have survived being subjected to every possible horror and are still here today!! There is no shame being the descendant of slaves who were kidnapped and stolen. There is however shame in the purchase and abuse of a fellow man. We cannot change the past but we can take what is available to us today and make the most of it. Life is not fair, but lets not forget, the first abolitionists were white and that there were whites whom marched with Dr. King, and there were black slave traders and black slave owners. Recognize a man for what he is, good or evil, acknowledge a man for his deeds and actions, not for his race, nationality or such and let us do all we can to ensure that the past shall never be repeated. God Bless. I caught a bit of your discussion of your book on TV and subsequently went out and purchased your book. At first I was hesitant to buy the book as I thought that reading it would bring up feelings of anger, however it didn’t. What it did was “break my heart” as I see how cruelly men can treat other men and at what lengths they would go to to do just that. I am well aware that a key component in the Atlantic slave trade originated with Africans selling other Africans to the slavers. Being a black man of multi-racial background (Belize) I thought of the movie Apocolyto and concluded that the mayans would have sold off their conquered rivals to foreigners as well if given the opportunity. That said, money is the root of many evils, however, the cruelness inflicted upon freed slaves and the governments indifference to this treatment (persecution, genocide, pick one) makes me realize just how frogile freedom is. When Bill Clinton apologized to Americans of African descent for the USA’s slavery trade, there were a buch of people who became very upset about that. Hopefully they were ignorant to the facts as if there is anyobe who reads this book and does not feel that Americans of African descent are owed a world of apology, they are truely heartless and to be feared. I say as African Americans, we need to do all we can to 1) succeed, 2) ensure our children are well educated, 3) eradicate the use of the N word 4) hold our heads up! As we have survived being subjected to every possible horror and are still here today!! There is no shame being the descendant of slaves who were kidnapped and stolen. There is however shame in the purchase and abuse of a fellow man. We cannot change the past but we can take what is available to us today and make the most of it. Life is not fair, but lets not forget, the first abolitionists were white and that there were whites whom marched with Dr. King, and there were black slave traders and black slave owners. Recognize a man for what he is, good or evil, acknowledge a man for his deeds and actions, not for his race, nationality or such and let us do all we can to ensure that the past shall never be repeated. God Bless.

]]> By: Gary Crowell http://www.slaverybyanothername.com/blog/thanks-again-for-the-tremendous-reception-for-the-book/comment-page-1/#comment-10339 Gary Crowell Sun, 25 Apr 2010 09:06:04 +0000 http://www.slaverybyanothername.com/?p=52#comment-10339 I have read the book "Slavery by Another Name" and just finished, along with that "The Imperial Cruise" by James Bradley. The two books together left me numb at first and then enraged that I was well indoctrinated growing up as a white man in this country, always believing in our inate "goodness", and "purity" of purpose; that we were always the "good Guys". I begin to believe that the Nazis probably took pointers from us to refine their own approach as to race (the book "War Against the Weak" seems to make that point very well), and that we must reeducate ourselves. Educators and political leadership will not do the job. I have read the book “Slavery by Another Name” and just finished, along with that “The Imperial Cruise” by James Bradley. The two books together left me numb at first and then enraged that I was well indoctrinated growing up as a white man in this country, always believing in our inate “goodness”, and “purity” of purpose; that we were always the “good Guys”. I begin to believe that the Nazis probably took pointers from us to refine their own approach as to race (the book “War Against the Weak” seems to make that point very well), and that we must reeducate ourselves. Educators and political leadership will not do the job.

]]> By: Teresa Whitfield Farris http://www.slaverybyanothername.com/blog/thanks-again-for-the-tremendous-reception-for-the-book/comment-page-1/#comment-7879 Teresa Whitfield Farris Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:21:35 +0000 http://www.slaverybyanothername.com/?p=52#comment-7879 When I read your book a light bulb clicked. I got up and went thru the papers I have been getting from colleges all over the south about my fathers family-The Whitfields. In it was a convict list dated 1879. IT now made sense!!!The Whitfields owned plantations from NC to Texas and STILL own banks, railroads and MINES. My fathers DNA and oral history says he is from one of the Slavemasters. The Whitfields have Plantation Museums in Marengo County, ALA. They are Gaineswood and the Whitfield Forscue House. I have wanted to go to Alabama and research some more, visit the museums. But my hubby who is from the Miss. Delta says no I can't. Whenever I have called to research I get lots of help until they figure out I'm black. He believes that they will not be willing to help me and might harm me if I dig too far.The Whitfields held over 4000 slaves while becoming Judges, Senators, Doctors, etc. there are 30,000 people now still carrying the name. While researching I have cried and laughed, I had to come to grips with the history of this country , which most people do not know or don't care to know. Thanks for writing this book, it was a courageous! I also understand that sometimes it does take a white person to get this info. County Clerks have growled at me, refused to help, especially when it is one their beloveds, as the Whitfields are to the soouth. Look forward to your next book! Thanks! When I read your book a light bulb clicked. I got up and went thru the papers I have been getting
from colleges all over the south about my fathers family-The Whitfields. In it was a convict list dated 1879. IT now made sense!!!The Whitfields owned plantations from NC to Texas and STILL own banks, railroads and MINES. My fathers DNA and oral history says he is from one of the Slavemasters. The Whitfields have Plantation Museums in Marengo County, ALA. They are Gaineswood and the Whitfield Forscue House. I have wanted to go to Alabama and research some more, visit the museums. But my hubby who is from the Miss. Delta says no I can’t. Whenever I have called to research I get lots of help until they figure out I’m black. He believes that they will not be willing to help me and might harm me if I dig too far.The Whitfields held over 4000 slaves while becoming Judges, Senators, Doctors, etc. there are 30,000 people now still carrying the name. While researching I have cried and laughed, I had to come to grips with the history of this country , which most people do not know or don’t care to know.

Thanks for writing this book, it was a courageous! I also understand that sometimes it does take a white person to get this info. County Clerks have growled at me, refused to help, especially when it is one their beloveds, as the Whitfields are to the soouth. Look forward to your next book! Thanks!

]]> By: Bill Collins http://www.slaverybyanothername.com/blog/thanks-again-for-the-tremendous-reception-for-the-book/comment-page-1/#comment-7520 Bill Collins Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:35:24 +0000 http://www.slaverybyanothername.com/?p=52#comment-7520 Dear Mr. Blackmon: I bought and read your book in Spring of 2008 and have been digesting its terrible contents ever since. It's a marvelous combination of journalistic research, writing skill, barely concealed contempt for the perpetrators, and compassion. You have produced something for the ages. I simply wanted to say how proud I was that a fellow white man brought work this forward. After all of the incalculable damage we have done, this is more than a tidbit proffered to African- Americans in the manner of reparations. People always look at me with astonoshment when I speak to them about this book. Unfortunately, the subject matter seems to be largely undiscovered by the masses. I hope this will change as time goes on. Thank you for this terrible treasure. I'm so proud of you and have gained even more respect and admiration for the people who continue to thrive today despite their brutal history. Dear Mr. Blackmon:

I bought and read your book in Spring of 2008 and have been digesting its terrible contents ever since. It’s a marvelous combination of journalistic research, writing skill, barely concealed contempt for the perpetrators, and compassion. You have produced something for the ages. I simply wanted to say how proud I was that a fellow white man brought work this forward. After all of the incalculable damage we have done, this is more than a tidbit proffered to African- Americans in the manner of reparations.

People always look at me with astonoshment when I speak to them about this book. Unfortunately, the subject matter seems to be largely undiscovered by the masses. I hope this will change as time goes on.

Thank you for this terrible treasure. I’m so proud of you and have gained even more respect and admiration for the people who continue to thrive today despite their brutal history.

]]> By: Joseph Kirby http://www.slaverybyanothername.com/blog/thanks-again-for-the-tremendous-reception-for-the-book/comment-page-1/#comment-5979 Joseph Kirby Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:55:30 +0000 http://www.slaverybyanothername.com/?p=52#comment-5979 Thank you and I'm SORRY! I did not know how bad and how long and for the life of me can not imagine trying to survive if it was me. I want to tell people I am sorry for all of it. The institionalization of it; the crimes against humanity but more importantly the crimes against each individual, the total disregard for life and for failing to look after our children. I never had a keen interest in history and grew up without any means so I wondered if people could have had it that much worse than what we did since it seemed so many had it so much better. I grew up in an area which was not rife with racial tensions mostly because ours was an insular neighborhood environment and we have religion in our family. Before this book, I had believed slavery ended 150 years ago and did not understand why the racial issue was such a hot topic. I first read "Up from Slavery" and was moved by Mr. Washington's selfless determination. Always having been intrigued about the polarization around the "N" word, I recently read "Nigger:The Strange Career of a Troublesome Word" by Dr. Randall Kennedy. After all, what’s in a word? Isn’t it just a word but why can some use it and others can’t or shouldn’t? I have a hard time with hypocrisies and was intrigued to follow the flow of that book. Then an article about this book in the WSJ caught my attention, so I chose if for a vacation in MD. Not exactly light summer reading and yet I struggled to both open it and put it down. I wept as I looked away from the book and towards my own children and tried to imagine some of the unimaginable events which you documented. We visited the Harriet Tubman Museum while on vacation and we tried to begin teaching our children about this horrible past, since I now know I did not learn enough about this in school, which is very frustrating to me. America the great, and I believe it is, but what a tarnished past. So I am thankful this book was written to keep confronting it. I have a sense that I should be saying I am sorry to every African-American I know and meet even though I am from poor white immigrant families from the North. I want to know, would that help? For what it is worth, I thought the author was in fact black (if not the subject maybe it was the last name) but never cared to look until so many pages into the book. Merely from the title alone of Dr. Kennedy’s book I thought for certain that was a book which had to be written by a black person, and for obvious reasons, which is another recognition that we may still be another hundred years away from moving past the race issue we have here but with books like this I think you help to ensure we stay on track and hopefully speed the process up. Knowledge, truth and love have no color but I wonder if fortitude and perseverance aren’t rightfully of a darker hue. For the record I am a Republican and capitalist and would not think Mr. Blackmon is a bleeding heart liberal for this book since the truth is non-political even though all politicians spend so much time and energy trying to bend it and shape it to their liking. Together I hope we can help overcome this horrible past and make the USA a much better place in less than another 100 yrs time. Thank you and I’m SORRY! I did not know how bad and how long and for the life of me can not imagine trying to survive if it was me. I want to tell people I am sorry for all of it. The institionalization of it; the crimes against humanity but more importantly the crimes against each individual, the total disregard for life and for failing to look after our children. I never had a keen interest in history and grew up without any means so I wondered if people could have had it that much worse than what we did since it seemed so many had it so much better. I grew up in an area which was not rife with racial tensions mostly because ours was an insular neighborhood environment and we have religion in our family. Before this book, I had believed slavery ended 150 years ago and did not understand why the racial issue was such a hot topic. I first read “Up from Slavery” and was moved by Mr. Washington’s selfless determination. Always having been intrigued about the polarization around the “N” word, I recently read “Nigger:The Strange Career of a Troublesome Word” by Dr. Randall Kennedy. After all, what’s in a word? Isn’t it just a word but why can some use it and others can’t or shouldn’t? I have a hard time with hypocrisies and was intrigued to follow the flow of that book. Then an article about this book in the WSJ caught my attention, so I chose if for a vacation in MD. Not exactly light summer reading and yet I struggled to both open it and put it down. I wept as I looked away from the book and towards my own children and tried to imagine some of the unimaginable events which you documented. We visited the Harriet Tubman Museum while on vacation and we tried to begin teaching our children about this horrible past, since I now know I did not learn enough about this in school, which is very frustrating to me.
America the great, and I believe it is, but what a tarnished past. So I am thankful this book was written to keep confronting it. I have a sense that I should be saying I am sorry to every African-American I know and meet even though I am from poor white immigrant families from the North. I want to know, would that help? For what it is worth, I thought the author was in fact black (if not the subject maybe it was the last name) but never cared to look until so many pages into the book. Merely from the title alone of Dr. Kennedy’s book I thought for certain that was a book which had to be written by a black person, and for obvious reasons, which is another recognition that we may still be another hundred years away from moving past the race issue we have here but with books like this I think you help to ensure we stay on track and hopefully speed the process up. Knowledge, truth and love have no color but I wonder if fortitude and perseverance aren’t rightfully of a darker hue. For the record I am a Republican and capitalist and would not think Mr. Blackmon is a bleeding heart liberal for this book since the truth is non-political even though all politicians spend so much time and energy trying to bend it and shape it to their liking. Together I hope we can help overcome this horrible past and make the USA a much better place in less than another 100 yrs time.

]]> By: Susan Burnore http://www.slaverybyanothername.com/blog/thanks-again-for-the-tremendous-reception-for-the-book/comment-page-1/#comment-5947 Susan Burnore Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:08:53 +0000 http://www.slaverybyanothername.com/?p=52#comment-5947 Mr. Blackmon, I don’t know if you’ll remember me, but I met you at the Atlanta Journal and Constitution as part of a group of readers reviewing “Slavery by Another Name.” My great-grandfather was John S. Williams, one of the more…memorable…people you wrote about. I enjoyed meeting you very much; you were gracious and sensitive. Congratulations on your Pulitzer Prize! Well deserved! My seventeen-year-old niece, Kate Willis, is writing her senior international baccalaureate paper on peonage in Georgia, focusing (pretty bravely, you’d have to admit) on her great-great-grandfather’s times. She is particularly interested in trying to understand how stories like his could be forgotten, how society could have just absorbed such atrocities, changing only slowly. Your book has initiated many family discussions, and Kate is trying to capture our collective memory. Would you be willing to be interviewed by Kate? She’s a sharp student, serious and committed to doing a good job. I would be happy to bring her to your Atlanta office, or wherever you suggest, if you could spare an hour. (She has an early November deadline.) Please let me know if you could be available some time in the next month or so. Thank you so much and, again, congratulations! Susan Burnore susanburnore@bellsouth.net Mr. Blackmon,
I don’t know if you’ll remember me, but I met you at the Atlanta Journal and Constitution as part of a group of readers reviewing “Slavery by Another Name.” My great-grandfather was John S. Williams, one of the more…memorable…people you wrote about. I enjoyed meeting you very much; you were gracious and sensitive.

Congratulations on your Pulitzer Prize! Well deserved!

My seventeen-year-old niece, Kate Willis, is writing her senior international baccalaureate paper on peonage in Georgia, focusing (pretty bravely, you’d have to admit) on her great-great-grandfather’s times. She is particularly interested in trying to understand how stories like his could be forgotten, how society could have just absorbed such atrocities, changing only slowly. Your book has initiated many family discussions, and Kate is trying to capture our collective memory.

Would you be willing to be interviewed by Kate? She’s a sharp student, serious and committed to doing a good job. I would be happy to bring her to your Atlanta office, or wherever you suggest, if you could spare an hour. (She has an early November deadline.)

Please let me know if you could be available some time in the next month or so. Thank you so much and, again, congratulations!
Susan Burnore susanburnore@bellsouth.net

]]> By: Dustin Herron http://www.slaverybyanothername.com/blog/thanks-again-for-the-tremendous-reception-for-the-book/comment-page-1/#comment-5758 Dustin Herron Tue, 18 Aug 2009 05:28:53 +0000 http://www.slaverybyanothername.com/?p=52#comment-5758 Thank you for writing this book, Mr. Blackmon. It is incredibly educational and your style is very readable. I am curious, however, why did you and/or the publisher choose such a non-descript cover? It didn't discourage me from purchasing it, but I am wondering if it might appeal to more people with something more eye-catching -- not that the term "slavery" isn't dramatic enough! I apologize if you've already addressed this issue and I'm just not finding your response ... Also, I saw on the Wikipedia entry for the book that there's a forthcoming documentary. Do you have any idea when it might be released? Will it be seen on PBS? HBO? Thanks again & please keep up the good work, Dustin Herron Corvallis, OR Thank you for writing this book, Mr. Blackmon. It is incredibly educational and your style is very readable.

I am curious, however, why did you and/or the publisher choose such a non-descript cover? It didn’t discourage me from purchasing it, but I am wondering if it might appeal to more people with something more eye-catching — not that the term “slavery” isn’t dramatic enough! I apologize if you’ve already addressed this issue and I’m just not finding your response …

Also, I saw on the Wikipedia entry for the book that there’s a forthcoming documentary. Do you have any idea when it might be released? Will it be seen on PBS? HBO?

Thanks again & please keep up the good work,

Dustin Herron
Corvallis, OR

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