Mahommah Gardo Baquaqua

An Enslaved Muslim of the Black Atlantic

By Nielson Bezerra, Paul E. Lovejoy | Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press

About the book

A literate Muslim born between 1820 and 1830 in present-day Benin, Mahommah Gardo Baquaqua was enslaved in West Africa and forcibly moved to Brazil in 1845. During a trip to New York City in 1847, he escaped from his master and fled to Haiti, where he converted to Christianity. When he eventually returned to the United States, he enrolled in New York Central College. Baquaqua published his autobiography —the only known narrative by a former Brazilian slave— in 1854 and traveled to England with the intention of returning to Africa. He apparently achieved this goal by the early 1860s, when his paper trail disappears.

Lovejoy and Bezerra’s analysis of this remarkable autobiography—the only known narrative by a former Brazilian slave—illuminates what Baquaqua’s home in Africa was like and examines African slavery in mid-nineteenth-century Brazil. It also offers an Atlantic perspective on resistance to slavery in the Americas in the era of the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850.

Editions of Mahommah Gardo Baquaqua

Hardcover
ISBN 9781469682440
Paperback
ISBN 9781469682457
EBook
ISBN 9781469682464
EBook
ISBN 9781469682488
EBook
ISBN 9781469682495
PDF
ISBN 9781469682471

Read an Excerpt

A literate Muslim born between 1820 and 1830 in present-day Benin, Mahommah Gardo Baquaqua was enslaved in West Africa and forcibly moved to Brazil in 1845. During a trip to New York City in 1847, he escaped from his master and fled to Haiti, where he converted to Christianity. When he eventually returned to the United States, he enrolled in New York Central College. Baquaqua published his autobiography —the only known narrative by a former Brazilian slave— in 1854 and traveled to England with the intention of returning to Africa. He apparently achieved this goal by the early 1860s, when his paper trail disappears.

Lovejoy and Bezerra’s analysis of this remarkable autobiography—the only known narrative by a former Brazilian slave—illuminates what Baquaqua’s home in Africa was like and examines African slavery in mid-nineteenth-century Brazil. It also offers an Atlantic perspective on resistance to slavery in the Americas in the era of the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Mahommah Gardo Baquaqua about?

A literate Muslim born between 1820 and 1830 in present-day Benin, Mahommah Gardo Baquaqua was enslaved in West Africa and forcibly moved to Brazil in 1845. During a trip to New York City in 1847, he escaped from his master and fled to Haiti, where he converted to Christianity. When he eventually returned to the United States, he enrolled in New York Central College. Baquaqua published his autobiography —the only known narrative by a former Brazilian slave— in 1854 and traveled to England with the intention of returning to Africa. He apparently achieved this goal by the early 1860s, when his paper trail disappears.

Lovejoy and Bezerra’s analysis of this remarkable autobiography—the only known narrative by a former Brazilian slave—illuminates what Baquaqua’s home in Africa was like and examines African slavery in mid-nineteenth-century Brazil. It also offers an Atlantic perspective on resistance to slavery in the Americas in the era of the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Mahommah Gardo Baquaqua?

History and Archaeology > History > General and world history

Where can I read a sample of Mahommah Gardo Baquaqua?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781469682440

How long is Mahommah Gardo Baquaqua and how many pages does it have?

Mahommah Gardo Baquaqua has 302 page(s)

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Mahommah Gardo Baquaqua?

Nielson Bezerra, Paul E. Lovejoy

Who is the Publisher of the book Mahommah Gardo Baquaqua?

The University of North Carolina Press

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Mahommah Gardo Baquaqua is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781469682440) and paperback(ISBN 9781469682457) and ebook(ISBN 9781469682464) and ebook(ISBN 9781469682488) and ebook(ISBN 9781469682495) and pdf(ISBN 9781469682471)

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