About the book
In the antebellum Natchez district, in the heart of slave country, black people sued white people in all-white courtrooms. They sued to enforce the terms of their contracts, recover unpaid debts, recuperate back wages, and claim damages for assault. They sued in conflicts over property and personal status. And they often won. Based on new research conducted in courthouse basements and storage sheds in rural Mississippi and Louisiana, Kimberly Welch draws on over 1,000 examples of free and enslaved black litigants who used the courts to protect their interests and reconfigure their place in a tense society.
To understand their success, Welch argues that we must understand the language that they used — the language of property, in particular — to make their claims recognizable and persuasive to others and to link their status as owner to the ideal of a free, autonomous citizen. In telling their stories, Welch reveals a previously unknown world of black legal activity, one that is consequential for understanding the long history of race, rights, and civic inclusion in America.
Editions of Black Litigants in the Antebellum American South
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781469636436
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781469659152
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469636450
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469636467
- PDF
- ISBN 9798890853899
- PDF
- ISBN 9798890853905
Read an Excerpt
In the antebellum Natchez district, in the heart of slave country, black people sued white people in all-white courtrooms. They sued to enforce the terms of their contracts, recover unpaid debts, recuperate back wages, and claim damages for assault. They sued in conflicts over property and personal status. And they often won. Based on new research conducted in courthouse basements and storage sheds in rural Mississippi and Louisiana, Kimberly Welch draws on over 1,000 examples of free and enslaved black litigants who used the courts to protect their interests and reconfigure their place in a tense society.
To understand their success, Welch argues that we must understand the language that they used — the language of property, in particular — to make their claims recognizable and persuasive to others and to link their status as owner to the ideal of a free, autonomous citizen. In telling their stories, Welch reveals a previously unknown world of black legal activity, one that is consequential for understanding the long history of race, rights, and civic inclusion in America.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Black Litigants in the Antebellum American South about?
In the antebellum Natchez district, in the heart of slave country, black people sued white people in all-white courtrooms. They sued to enforce the terms of their contracts, recover unpaid debts, recuperate back wages, and claim damages for assault. They sued in conflicts over property and personal status. And they often won. Based on new research conducted in courthouse basements and storage sheds in rural Mississippi and Louisiana, Kimberly Welch draws on over 1,000 examples of free and enslaved black litigants who used the courts to protect their interests and reconfigure their place in a tense society.
To understand their success, Welch argues that we must understand the language that they used — the language of property, in particular — to make their claims recognizable and persuasive to others and to link their status as owner to the ideal of a free, autonomous citizen. In telling their stories, Welch reveals a previously unknown world of black legal activity, one that is consequential for understanding the long history of race, rights, and civic inclusion in America.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Black Litigants in the Antebellum American South?
Society and Social Sciences > Society and culture: general > Social groups, communities and identities > Ethnic studies / Ethnicity
Where can I read a sample of Black Litigants in the Antebellum American South?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781469636436
How long is Black Litigants in the Antebellum American South and how many pages does it have?
Black Litigants in the Antebellum American South has 328 page(s)
Is Black Litigants in the Antebellum American South part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series The John Hope Franklin Series in African American History and Culture
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Black Litigants in the Antebellum American South?
Kimberly M. Welch
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Black Litigants in the Antebellum American South is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781469636436) and paperback(ISBN 9781469659152) and ebook(ISBN 9781469636450) and ebook(ISBN 9781469636467) and pdf(ISBN 9798890853899) and pdf(ISBN 9798890853905)
Where can I buy Black Litigants in the Antebellum American South online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Black Litigants in the Antebellum American South from below
Where can I buy Black Litigants in the Antebellum American South?