It's interesting when I find that a certain topic keeps cropping up in things that I read or see or conversations that I have. An exhibit that I recently saw at the Tacoma Art Museum, Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall - they both touch on slavery. Marshall's book (which we do not have in Plymouth Library) is about "how geography shapes not just history but destiny" according to Newsweek magazine. He writes about how slavery has existed for ... well, a really long time. Probably since the beginning of time. So I went to a book which we do have in the Library and which was written a really long time ago: the Bible. I knew that slave owners in the early years of the life of the United States would point to the Bible to justify the slave trade. And there it is, especially in the Book of Deuteronomy where there are all sorts of rules governing the taking of slaves and the treatment of slaves. Peter writes (in 1 Peter 2:18 ) “Slaves, be subject to your masters with all reverence, not only to those who are good and equitable but also to those who are perverse.” Paul also had something to say about slavery - or did he? In Colossians 4, exhorted his hearers "Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven." (NIV), but in another translation, slaves have been replaced by bondservants (NKJV). Beware of "cherry picking" bits of the Bible that seem to support your beliefs. The Abolitionists came up with Biblical support for their side as well.
Do you want to learn more about slavery and the Abolitionist Movement? Here is a sampling of books and videos from Plymouth Library.
Videos:
The African Americans : many rivers to cross / DVD 973.049 AFR
Amazing grace DVD F AMA
For adults:
I've got a home in glory land : a lost tale of the underground railroad / Smardz Frost, Karolyn. 306.3 FRO
Life and times of Frederick Douglass / Douglass, Frederick, B DOU
Lincoln and Chief Justice Taney : slavery, secession, and the president's war powers / Simon, James F. 342.73 SIM
The Missouri Compromise / Gold, Susan Dudley. 973.54 GOL
Mr. Lincoln & the Negroes; the long road to equality. Douglas, William O. 973.7 DOU
Redemption songs : suing for freedom before Dred Scott / Vander Velde, Lea, 342.73087 VAN
The slave route : from Africa to America / Holcroft, Harry. 910.4 HOL
Slavery by another name : the re-enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II / Blackmon, Douglas A. 305.896 BLA
Stamped from the beginning : the definitive history of racist ideas in America / Kendi, Ibram X., 305.800973 KEN
Underground airlines / Winters, Ben H., F WIN
For children:
Amazing grace : the story of the hymn / Granfield, Linda. J 264.23 GRA
Elijah of Buxton / Curtis, Christopher Paul. J F CUR
Follow the drinking gourd / Winter, Jeanette. E WIN
Free boy : a true story of slave and master / McConaghy, Lorraine and Judy Bentley J F MCC
Freedom struggle : the anti-slavery movement, 1830-1865 / Rossi, Ann. J 973.7 ROS
A good night for freedom / Morrow, Barbara Olenyik. E MOR
Harriet and the Promised Land / Lawrence, Jacob, E LAW
Harriet Tubman and the freedom train / Gayle, Sharon Shavers. J B TUB
Harriet Beecher Stowe and the Beecher Preachers/ Fritz, Jean, J B BEE
Many thousand gone : African Americans from slavery to freedom / Hamilton, Virginia, J 973.7 HAM
Meet Addy : an American girl / Porter, Connie Rose, J F POR
Minty : a story of young Harriet Tubman / Schroeder, Alan. J B TUB
My name is Phillis Wheatley : a story of slavery and freedom / Cooper, Afua. J F COO
A picture of Freedom : the diary of Clotee, a slave girl / McKissack, Pat, J F MCK