Historiography of Historiography of SlaverySlavery

► Historiography = a historical narrativeHistoriography = a historical narrative►Three specific works shaped the way Three specific works shaped the way

slavery was viewed by most historians slavery was viewed by most historians and scholars in the 20and scholars in the 20thth century with century with the latter two undermining many of the latter two undermining many of the claims of the earlier one. the claims of the earlier one.

Three dominant studiesThree dominant studies

►Ulrich B. Phillips, Ulrich B. Phillips, American Negro American Negro Slavery: A Survey of the Supply and Slavery: A Survey of the Supply and Employment of Negro Labor as Determined Employment of Negro Labor as Determined by the Plantation Regime, by the Plantation Regime, 1918.1918.

► Kenneth Stampp, Kenneth Stampp, The Peculiar Institution: The Peculiar Institution: Slavery in the Ante-bellum South, Slavery in the Ante-bellum South, 1956.1956.

► Stanley ElkinsStanley Elkins, Slavery: A Problem in , Slavery: A Problem in American Institutional and Intellectual Life, American Institutional and Intellectual Life, 1959.1959.

Studies prior to these threeStudies prior to these three

►Before Phillips most accounts of slavery Before Phillips most accounts of slavery had been written prior to the civil war.had been written prior to the civil war.

►They were polemical, diametrically They were polemical, diametrically opposed accounts that emphasized the opposed accounts that emphasized the pro or anti-slavery cause.pro or anti-slavery cause.

►Phillips purported to be neutral. He Phillips purported to be neutral. He wrote five decades after the Civil War. wrote five decades after the Civil War. His study was recognized for being more His study was recognized for being more scholarly and comprehensive than scholarly and comprehensive than earlier accounts. earlier accounts.

Phillips argued:Phillips argued:

► Slavery was basically benign.Slavery was basically benign.► Slave owners behaved paternalistically, Slave owners behaved paternalistically,

providing for slaves’ needs in exchange for providing for slaves’ needs in exchange for labor. Slaves were largely well-treated and labor. Slaves were largely well-treated and content.content.

► Slavery civilized and Christianized the slave.Slavery civilized and Christianized the slave.►Mutual affection existed between many Mutual affection existed between many

slaves and slave owners.slaves and slave owners.► Slavery made possible a great elite culture.Slavery made possible a great elite culture.► Slavery was economically successful.Slavery was economically successful.

Phillips’s biasesPhillips’s biases

► Phillips seen as corrective to biased abolitionist Phillips seen as corrective to biased abolitionist historians.historians.

► Praised for doing an empirical study based on Praised for doing an empirical study based on voluminous plantation data and focusing on the effects voluminous plantation data and focusing on the effects on individuals.on individuals.

► However, he chose his evidence selectively to reinforce However, he chose his evidence selectively to reinforce his own prejudices and white supremacist attitudes.his own prejudices and white supremacist attitudes.

► Sample comment: “Negroes ... for the most part were by Sample comment: “Negroes ... for the most part were by racial quality submissive rather than defiant, racial quality submissive rather than defiant, lighthearted instead of gloomy, ingratiating instead of lighthearted instead of gloomy, ingratiating instead of sullen, and [their] very defects invited paternalism sullen, and [their] very defects invited paternalism rather than repression.” rather than repression.”

► Dismissed and disregarded slave testimony such as Dismissed and disregarded slave testimony such as slave narratives.slave narratives.

Phillips’s influencePhillips’s influence

►The study was highly influential.The study was highly influential.►Accepted by white historians and Accepted by white historians and

white Americans in general because white Americans in general because this benign picture helped ease guilt, this benign picture helped ease guilt, made it easier to rationalize continued made it easier to rationalize continued second class status of blacks and second class status of blacks and conformed to the popular conception conformed to the popular conception of blacks in white American folklore: of blacks in white American folklore: “docile, gentle, happy-go-lucky and “docile, gentle, happy-go-lucky and childlike.” (Nuruddin)childlike.” (Nuruddin)

StamppStampp

► Stampp’s 1956 book challenged most aspects of Stampp’s 1956 book challenged most aspects of Phillips’s view.Phillips’s view.

► He also drew on plantation data but uncovered and He also drew on plantation data but uncovered and emphasized many harsh aspects of slavery.emphasized many harsh aspects of slavery.

► Writing as the civil rights movement was winning Writing as the civil rights movement was winning legal victories, he rejected Phillips preconceived legal victories, he rejected Phillips preconceived ideas of racial inferiority.ideas of racial inferiority.

► ““In documenting the widespread resistance to In documenting the widespread resistance to slavery, Stampp deflated the myth of a docile, slavery, Stampp deflated the myth of a docile, infantile, contented, happy-go-lucky slave” infantile, contented, happy-go-lucky slave” (Nuruddin).(Nuruddin).

ElkinsElkins

►Writing a few years after Stampp, Elkins Writing a few years after Stampp, Elkins revived the “Sambo” image of the slave revived the “Sambo” image of the slave presented by Phillips.presented by Phillips.

►His condemnation of slavery was even His condemnation of slavery was even harsher than Stampp’s, but he argued that harsher than Stampp’s, but he argued that the effect of slavery was to the effect of slavery was to createcreate the the Sambo type. Sambo type.

► Phillips had said blacks were Sambos by Phillips had said blacks were Sambos by nature so they functioned best in slavery. nature so they functioned best in slavery. Elkins said slavery turned blacks into Elkins said slavery turned blacks into Sambos, and that this was tragic.Sambos, and that this was tragic.

Elkins first to use “Sambo” Elkins first to use “Sambo” labellabel

► ““...The characteristics that have been claimed for ...The characteristics that have been claimed for the type come principally from Southern lore. the type come principally from Southern lore. Sambo, the typical plantation slave, was docile but Sambo, the typical plantation slave, was docile but irresponsible, loyal but lazy, humble but chronically irresponsible, loyal but lazy, humble but chronically given to lying and stealing; his behavior full of given to lying and stealing; his behavior full of infantile silliness and his talk inflated with childish infantile silliness and his talk inflated with childish exaggeration. His relationship with his master was exaggeration. His relationship with his master was one of utter dependence and childlike attachment: one of utter dependence and childlike attachment: indeed it was the very key to his being. Although indeed it was the very key to his being. Although the merest hint of Sambo’s ‘manhood’ might fill the the merest hint of Sambo’s ‘manhood’ might fill the Southern breast with scorn, the child, ‘in his place,’ Southern breast with scorn, the child, ‘in his place,’ could be bothcould be both exasperating and lovable.”exasperating and lovable.”

► The above is Elkins’ summary of the Sambo type The above is Elkins’ summary of the Sambo type

The Elkins ThesisThe Elkins Thesis

► Slave owners ruled without checks on their Slave owners ruled without checks on their power.power.

► Slaves were cut off from African culture and Slaves were cut off from African culture and language and were prevented from forming their language and were prevented from forming their own enduring family ties.own enduring family ties.

► Acting out powerlessness and servility (i.e. Acting out powerlessness and servility (i.e. behaving as a Sambo) was a means of survival, behaving as a Sambo) was a means of survival, but the result was internalization of degradation.but the result was internalization of degradation.

► Elkins compared situation of slaves to Elkins compared situation of slaves to concentration camp prisoners.concentration camp prisoners.

The Elkins ThesisThe Elkins Thesis

►Underlying thesis—Slavery damaged Underlying thesis—Slavery damaged the African American psyche and the African American psyche and created a dependent, pathetic person created a dependent, pathetic person who identified with the white owners who identified with the white owners or was too frightened to resist. or was too frightened to resist.

►Later scholars who accepted Elkins Later scholars who accepted Elkins compared this idea to the Stockholm compared this idea to the Stockholm syndrome where a kidnapped person syndrome where a kidnapped person identifies with captors.identifies with captors.

Elkins work was both praised Elkins work was both praised and attackedand attacked

► Combined history and sociology so created Combined history and sociology so created interdisciplinary interest.interdisciplinary interest.

► The book became “required reading” in The book became “required reading” in graduate schools.graduate schools.

► But in time, the thesis was both over-But in time, the thesis was both over-simplified and distorted.simplified and distorted.

► Came into conflict with political realities. Came into conflict with political realities. Black Americans looking for strong leaders Black Americans looking for strong leaders and to claim power in 1960’s and 70’s and to claim power in 1960’s and 70’s reacted negatively to this book (and later to reacted negatively to this book (and later to Styron’s novel). Styron’s novel).

Rebuttal to ElkinsRebuttal to Elkins

►““The Southern aristocracy created the image The Southern aristocracy created the image of Sambo to ease their own fears. They of Sambo to ease their own fears. They desperately needed to believe in Sambo so desperately needed to believe in Sambo so that they could sleep easy at night“ that they could sleep easy at night“ (Nurrudin).(Nurrudin).

► Nurrudin claims the same argument applies to Nurrudin claims the same argument applies to those who were frightened by growing black those who were frightened by growing black power movement in the 1950’s and 60’s. power movement in the 1950’s and 60’s. They wanted to believe in docile blacks under They wanted to believe in docile blacks under slavery so they didn’t have to fear black slavery so they didn’t have to fear black violence and could believe integration could violence and could believe integration could be staved off.be staved off.

Rebuttal continuedRebuttal continued

► John Blassingame’sJohn Blassingame’s The Slave Community The Slave Community, 1972, , 1972, 1979 presented a rebuttal as well.1979 presented a rebuttal as well.

► B. challenged Elkins by writing about creativity B. challenged Elkins by writing about creativity and resilience of slaves and their culture.and resilience of slaves and their culture.

► They could sustain family and cultural ties They could sustain family and cultural ties despite constant oppression.despite constant oppression.

► The Black Family in Slavery and FreedomThe Black Family in Slavery and Freedom, by , by HerbertHerbert Gutman extended a similar argument.Gutman extended a similar argument.

►Meanwhile Herb Apethker’s study of slave revolts Meanwhile Herb Apethker’s study of slave revolts argued for more extensive black resistance.argued for more extensive black resistance.

More recent scholarshipMore recent scholarship

► In the 1980’s writers questioned the somewhat In the 1980’s writers questioned the somewhat utopian views of slave culture and family life utopian views of slave culture and family life argued by Blassingame and Guttman. Slavery argued by Blassingame and Guttman. Slavery diddid weaken or damage these institutions, but not weaken or damage these institutions, but not entirely destroy them.entirely destroy them.

► Some ties to African language and cultural were Some ties to African language and cultural were retained, but these were usually fragmentary.retained, but these were usually fragmentary.

► Slaves did establish families but autonomy was Slaves did establish families but autonomy was threatened always by the power of the master. threatened always by the power of the master.

More recent scholarshipMore recent scholarship

► Eugene Genovese and Eliz. Fox-Genovese arguedEugene Genovese and Eliz. Fox-Genovese argued Slave’s sense of degradation could be mitigated by sense Slave’s sense of degradation could be mitigated by sense

of place in master’s family—wished to think well of masters of place in master’s family—wished to think well of masters as children do of parents even when abusiveas children do of parents even when abusive

Slaves retained sense of dignity by developing their own Slaves retained sense of dignity by developing their own cultural identity yet still living within master’s norms. This cultural identity yet still living within master’s norms. This might mean adopting servile role while remaining might mean adopting servile role while remaining courageous and resourcefulcourageous and resourceful

► Stampp, Bertram-Wright and Nuruddin all suggest Stampp, Bertram-Wright and Nuruddin all suggest that the Sambo response is more a mask, a that the Sambo response is more a mask, a ritualized response that the slave performed, than ritualized response that the slave performed, than something that became internalized. Nuruddin something that became internalized. Nuruddin disputes whether Sambo was the primary disputes whether Sambo was the primary personality type. personality type.

Sources for this reportSources for this report

► Nuruddin, Yusuf. “The Sambo Thesis Revisited.” Nuruddin, Yusuf. “The Sambo Thesis Revisited.” Socialism and Democracy online Socialism and Democracy online 34. 18 Jan. 2004 34. 18 Jan. 2004 http://www.sdonline.org/ 33/yusuf_nuruddin.htm

► ““A Survey of Slave Trade Historiography.” A Survey of Slave Trade Historiography.” Encylopedia of Historians and Historical Writing. Encylopedia of Historians and Historical Writing. HistoryOnline.com HistoryOnline.com 1999.1999. 18 Jan 200418 Jan 2004 http://historyonline.chadwyck.com/ info/demo_sc/supref.htm

► Wyatt-Brown, Bertram. “The Mask of Obedience: Wyatt-Brown, Bertram. “The Mask of Obedience: Slave Psychology in the Old South.” 18 Jan. 2004 Slave Psychology in the Old South.” 18 Jan. 2004 http://www.clas.ufl.edu/users/bwyattb/sambo2.htm