The First Passage: Blacks in the Americas 1502-1617 (Young Oxford History of African Americans)
Grade 7 Up?The first title in what will ultimately be an 11-volume series. Palmer's text ranges from detailing differences among African cultures to providing precise information on the changes traditional customs and religions underwent as a result of diaspora and enslavement. Much of the book focuses on the experiences of slaves in Mexico, Brazil, and Peru; this sets it apart from many other works that deal mainly with slavery in the U.S. Just as the author is determined to challenge the standardized image of all Africans being from identical societies, so does he enlarge the concept of all slaves laboring as field hands or domestics; many readers will be surprised to discover that they also worked at pearl-fishing and mining. While this volume presents what is undoubtedly one of the most complete overall studies of slavery, it does not include as many personal accounts as William Evitts's Captive Bodies, Free Spirits (Messner, 1985; o.p.). Also, extracts from outside sources are not footnoted, and there is no bibliography. These concerns aside, The First Passage is still useful for its forceful black-and-white reproductions, large amount of material, and broad-ranging geographical outlook.?Anita Palladino, Finkelstein Memorial Library, Spring Valley, NYCopyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.