Lexington was initially the slave trade center for
Kentucky in the 1800s due to many factors that included the demand for slaves
in southern states, the large number of slaves in Kentucky and the decreasing
profits of slavery, the Kentucky anti-importation law of 1833, and attacks by
abolitionists against the African slave trade and slavery in general. As the
economic demands for more slaves increased in southern states, the Kentucky and
Virginia slave markets responded to the demand in the cotton belt, economically
benefiting the states. In 1840, Robert Wickliffe, the largest slave owner in
Fayette County, boasted to the Kentucky Legislature that as many as 6,000
slaves per year were being sold to southern states from Kentucky, though the
actual number was not known because there were no definitive accounting records
for all sales. Prior to the late 1840s, the sale of slaves was a personal
business transaction that was not tracked or announced to the public, other
than through public auctions, as was the case with the sale of livestock. In
1843, two of the more prominent slave trade firms in Kentucky were the firm of
Downing and Hughes and the much larger firm of Griffin and Pullum, both located
in Lexington. In 1849, the Kentucky anti-importation law of 1833 was repealed,
allowing slaves from other states to be brought into Kentucky and sold. That
same year, the Kentucky Legislature adopted a resolution denouncing abolition.
It was also around 1849 that two other major changes took place. First,
Kentucky newspapers garnered a greater share of the slave trade economy and
promoted the trade with an increased number of paid advertisements and hand
bills for the sale of slaves or those looking to buy slaves, for the services
of slave trade firms and brokers, and for the recapture of runaway and
kidnapped slaves. Second, the slave trade in Louisville became a major
competitor to the trade in Lexington, and adjoining towns were developing their
own slave trade businesses. In 1859, when there were discussions of
re-establishing the African slave trade, loud voices of opposition were heard
from Kentucky and Virginia. For more see T. D. Clark, "The Slave trade
between Kentucky and the Cotton Kingdom,"
The Mississippi Valley Historical
Review, vol. 21, issue 3 (Dec., 1934), pp.331-342; and Lexington's slave dealers and their Southern trade,
by J. W. Coleman, Jr. See also Kentucky and slavery: the constitutional
convention of 1792 (thesis) by M. Herrick.
Subjects: Businesses, Journalists, Newspapers, Magazines, Book Publishers,
Music Publishers, Politicians, Politics, Appointments
& Elections, Migration South, Slave Trade (U.S.)
Geographic Region: Lexington and Louisville, Kentucky /
Virginia
- http://www.ket.org/pressroom/2008/03/kmuse_000104_homepage.html
- Jim Crow Laws by year in Kentucky
- Reflections of Black Life in Kentucky: Race Riots In The 1960's by Cameron Owens
-
The Appalachian Center at the University of Kentucky gives us information about the intersections of Appalachia Studies and African American Studies. Some terms and ideas that can be discussed and explore include:
- Double Consciousness and associated appropriations of the DuBois' theory in Appalachia Studies
- Tenant Farming
- Black Invisibility in Appalachia narratives and "Whiteness" Studies
- H-2A and H-2B visas
- Indian Removal Act
- Carter Woodson
- Booker T. Washington
The Appalachian Center at the University of Kentucky gives us information about the intersections of Appalachia Studies and African American Studies. Some terms and ideas that can be discussed and explore include:
- Double Consciousness and associated appropriations of the DuBois' theory in Appalachia Studies
- Tenant Farming
- Black Invisibility in Appalachia narratives and "Whiteness" Studies
- H-2A and H-2B visas
- Indian Removal Act
- Carter Woodson
- Booker T. Washington
I believe the poets that spoke in the videos presented showed a form of Pan-Africanism by uniting their cultural background along side white ideology like Appalachia and discovering it as Affrilachia. Their poems bring unity and education to black lives in the south and their diverse challenges that come along side being black in the south as well as in America.
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ReplyDeleteThese poets spoke with an Appalachia dialect, which made their poems even more powerful. There It was interesting to hear these stories unfold, especially "Dear Johnny P." I never knew that the a majority of the south was considered the Appalachian territory. I never heard it referred to this way. I do see a sense of connection among African Americans who have strong ties to these areas, either by their ancestors or their current living situation. It's a different kind of an environment, considering the south had such strong ties to slavery, so those who still have a hatred for African Americans are still verbal in these beliefs. In sum, the Appalachian region is a constant reminder of a dark past for many.
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ReplyDeleteThis series of poetry was really interesting to hear, especially after learning more about the term "Affrilachia". I think even just analyzing the name of the series "Black Coal Voices" gives insight to how unique this collective is to this geographic region, as coal is such a prevalent aspect of Kentucky life.
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