About the book
Challenging notions of race and sexuality presumed to have originated and flourished in the slave South, Diane Miller Sommerville traces the evolution of white southerners' fears of black rape by examining actual cases of black-on-white rape throughout the nineteenth century.
Sommerville demonstrates that despite draconian statutes, accused black rapists frequently avoided execution or castration, largely due to intervention by members of the white community. This leniency belies claims that antebellum white southerners were overcome with anxiety about black rape. In fact, Sommerville argues, there was great fluidity across racial and sexual lines as well as a greater tolerance among whites for intimacy between black males and white females. According to Sommerville, pervasive misogyny fused with class prejudices to shape white responses to accusations of black rape even during the Civil War and Reconstruction periods, a testament to the staying power of ideas about poor women’s innate depravity.
Based predominantly on court records and supporting legal documentation, Sommerville’s examination forces a reassessment of long-held assumptions about the South and race relations as she remaps the social and racial terrain on which southerners — black and white, rich and poor — related to one another over the long nineteenth century.
Editions of Rape and Race in the Nineteenth-Century South
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780807828915
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780807855607
- EBook
- ISBN 9780807876251
- PDF
- ISBN 9798890871244
Read an Excerpt
Challenging notions of race and sexuality presumed to have originated and flourished in the slave South, Diane Miller Sommerville traces the evolution of white southerners' fears of black rape by examining actual cases of black-on-white rape throughout the nineteenth century.
Sommerville demonstrates that despite draconian statutes, accused black rapists frequently avoided execution or castration, largely due to intervention by members of the white community. This leniency belies claims that antebellum white southerners were overcome with anxiety about black rape. In fact, Sommerville argues, there was great fluidity across racial and sexual lines as well as a greater tolerance among whites for intimacy between black males and white females. According to Sommerville, pervasive misogyny fused with class prejudices to shape white responses to accusations of black rape even during the Civil War and Reconstruction periods, a testament to the staying power of ideas about poor women’s innate depravity.
Based predominantly on court records and supporting legal documentation, Sommerville’s examination forces a reassessment of long-held assumptions about the South and race relations as she remaps the social and racial terrain on which southerners — black and white, rich and poor — related to one another over the long nineteenth century.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rape and Race in the Nineteenth-Century South about?
Challenging notions of race and sexuality presumed to have originated and flourished in the slave South, Diane Miller Sommerville traces the evolution of white southerners' fears of black rape by examining actual cases of black-on-white rape throughout the nineteenth century.
Sommerville demonstrates that despite draconian statutes, accused black rapists frequently avoided execution or castration, largely due to intervention by members of the white community. This leniency belies claims that antebellum white southerners were overcome with anxiety about black rape. In fact, Sommerville argues, there was great fluidity across racial and sexual lines as well as a greater tolerance among whites for intimacy between black males and white females. According to Sommerville, pervasive misogyny fused with class prejudices to shape white responses to accusations of black rape even during the Civil War and Reconstruction periods, a testament to the staying power of ideas about poor women’s innate depravity.
Based predominantly on court records and supporting legal documentation, Sommerville’s examination forces a reassessment of long-held assumptions about the South and race relations as she remaps the social and racial terrain on which southerners — black and white, rich and poor — related to one another over the long nineteenth century.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Rape and Race in the Nineteenth-Century South?
History and Archaeology > History > History of the Americas
Where can I read a sample of Rape and Race in the Nineteenth-Century South?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807828915
How long is Rape and Race in the Nineteenth-Century South and how many pages does it have?
Rape and Race in the Nineteenth-Century South has 432 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Rape and Race in the Nineteenth-Century South?
Diane Miller Sommerville
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Rape and Race in the Nineteenth-Century South is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807828915) and paperback(ISBN 9780807855607) and ebook(ISBN 9780807876251) and pdf(ISBN 9798890871244)
Where can I buy Rape and Race in the Nineteenth-Century South online or support local independent bookshops?
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Where can I buy Rape and Race in the Nineteenth-Century South?