Peculiar Institution – U.S. to 1877

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Throughout this course we have discussed the significance of slaves in the New World. As such, it is fitting that the final reading wrap up this discussion by hypothesizing on the importance and profound significance of emancipation.

Davis concludes his writing by stipulating that while emancipation was a clear turning point in U.S. history, it did not mean that African Americans were free from suffering. Moreover, he concludes that African Americans are still under persecution and must continually fight against the subjection of their civil rights. While Davis ends shortly after discussing emancipation’s effects, I would have liked to read his opinion on Jim Crow, particularly in how it served as an extension of slavery by relegating African Americans to an even lesser existence.

I have to agree with Matt StLawrence as well, concerning Davis’ treatment of Lincoln. I too often think of Lincoln with a classical mythos. We frequently represent him as a selfless individual, striving for humanitarianism and the just treatment of all peoples. In fact, if Lincoln isn’t in your top three favorite presidents list, you’re probably doing something wrong. That being said, it is still important to understand that Lincoln was a pragmatist, not a foolhardy idealist. He was honorable and his death was tragic, but he was still just a man sworn to live the will of the people. Perhaps his ability to so aptly defy the populace – or at least approximately half of the country – is what makes him so memorable and distinctive.

Ultimately, Davis’ handling of slavery was excellent. He aptly summarized both northern passions and southern rationalizations for the peculiar institution, while trying not to inject any bias – an incredibly difficult, but still well executed undertaking.

Although I enjoyed the content that Davis presented in Inhuman Bondage, I disagree with many of my classmates, in that I did not particularly enjoy his writing. While he frequently reaches thoughtful, provocative conclusions, following his thought process is often strenuous. Davis tends to jump between time periods and places frequently, and often introduces new subject matter with little to no explanation. Although perhaps his content is more protracted than Taylor, by and large I find Taylor easier to read.

Despite his writing style, much of what Davis relayed in chapters four and five was incredibly shocking. The suggestion that the atrocities committed during the slave trade were too horrible to describe with words was incredibly powerful. Additionally, although Davis never explicitly makes such a claim, the implied comparison between slaves and cattle was also enlightening. Upon further study, I found the linked artist’s rendition to be incredibly revealing and eye-opening. We often have a tendency to whitewash our own history, perhaps to protect our own consciousnesses from guilt, or perhaps to absolve past figures of their indecencies; however, Davis does an excellent job of presenting the unfiltered truths of the slave trade. In approaching this task, Davis writes like a journalist – he, to a certain degree, is free of bias and presents facts at face value. As such, he allows the reader to pass judgement.

I was also interested to learn about slavery in different parts of the “New World.” Traditionally, mostly in high school environments, we focus on plantation farming in the English colonies. However, I was intrigued to learn about the larger use of enslaved peoples in the Caribbean and Brazil. Up until that point, my understanding of the brutality of slave labor was somewhat limited, as I was really only familiar with slavery as it’s portrayed in media. As such, Davis’ accounts have made me interested to learn more about the brutality of that “peculiar institution” in those regions.

Tag: Peculiar Institution

A Farewell to Davis

Inhuman Bondage 4 & 5