Description
Book Synopsis: Some oppressed groups fought with guns, some fought in court, some exercised civil disobedience; the Melungeons, however, fought by telling folktales. Whites and blacks gave the name “children of perdition” to mixed Americans during the 300 years that marriage between whites and nonwhites was outlawed. Mixed communities ranked socially below communities of freed slaves although they had lighter skin. To escape persecution caused by the stigma of having African blood, these groups invented fantastic stories of their origins, known generally as “lost colony” legends. From the founding of America, through the American Revolution, the Civil War, and World War II, the author documents the histories of several related mixed communities that began in Virginia in 1619 and still exist today and shows how they responded to racism over four centuries. Conflicts led to imprisonment, whippings, slavery, lynching, gun battles, forced sterilization, and exile—but they survived. America’s view of mixing became increasingly intolerant and led to a twentieth-century scheme to forcibly exile U.S. citizens, with as little as “one drop” of black blood, to Africa even though their ancestors arrived before the Mayflower. Evidence documents the collaboration between American race purists and leading Nazi Germans who perpetrated the Holocaust. The author examines theories of ethnic purity and ethnic superiority and reveals how mixed people responded to “pure race” myths with origin myths of their own as Nazi sympathizers in state and federal government segregated mixed Americans, citing the myth of Aryan supremacy. Finally, Children of Perdition explains why many Americans view mixing as unnatural and shows how mixed people continue to confront the Jim Crow “one drop” standard today.
Details
Discover the captivating history of mixed America with the groundbreaking book Children of Perdition: Melungeons and the Struggle of Mixed America. Uncover the untold tales of a resilient community that fought against oppression and discrimination in unique ways.
Throughout 300 years of marriage restrictions between whites and nonwhites, mixed Americans were labeled as "children of perdition" by both whites and blacks. Despite having lighter skin, they faced social rank below freed slaves and constant persecution. But instead of resorting to violence or legal battles, these communities fought back by weaving enchanting folktales to invent their origins, captivatingly known as "lost colony" legends.
Join the author as they chronicle the extraordinary journey of several related mixed communities, starting from their origins in Virginia in 1619, all the way to the present day. From the birth of America to the American Revolution, the Civil War, and World War II, witness their resilience in the face of racism spanning four centuries. Brave individuals endured imprisonment, whippings, slavery, lynching, gun battles, forced sterilization, and even exile—but they never gave up.
Delve into the dark corners of history as you learn about America's intolerant views on mixing, which eventually led to a chilling twentieth-century plan to forcibly exile U.S. citizens with as little as "one drop" of black blood to Africa, despite their ancestral ties predating the Mayflower. Shockingly, this narrative uncovers an unsettling collaboration between American race purists and leading Nazi Germans, who were responsible for the Holocaust.
Examining theories of ethnic purity and superiority, the author reveals how mixed people courageously countered the "pure race" myths with their own origin stories, even as Nazi sympathizers in state and federal government pushed for the segregation of mixed Americans, citing the false notion of Aryan supremacy.
Ultimately, Children of Perdition sheds light on why many Americans continue to view mixing as unnatural and showcases the ongoing struggle that mixed people face in challenging the Jim Crow-era "one drop" standard even in today's society.
Don't miss this eye-opening exploration of forgotten history. Uncover the truth that has shaped America's past and continues to impact its present. Join the countless readers who have already embarked on this enlightening journey with Children of Perdition: Melungeons and the Struggle of Mixed America.
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