They Were White and They Were Slaves: The Untold History of the Enslavement of Whites in Early America.

by Michael A. Hoffman II

Book Overview

They Were White and They Were Slaves is a thoroughly researched challenge to the conventional historiography of colonial and industrial labor, a stunning journey into a hidden epoch, the slave trade... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0929903056
• Release Date: January 1993
• Publisher: Independent History
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.51 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 0.5" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

pricey, but worth it

When I first opened the package containing this book, I was shocked by its small size, given it's not so small price. Nonetheless, once I began reading it I could not put it down. This is the untold story of white slavery, and makes a perfect companion to another much weightier tome I'm reading called "The Slave Trade," by Hugh Thomas, which focuses on black slavery. This side of slavery, that it was NOT inherently a racist institution, that the racism came later, is vital in understanding this important historical phenomenon. It also helps ameliorate the racial tension that usually attends discussion of slavery in the United States. That said, there are a few passages in the book, and some terminology, that could easily lead the reader to believe that this author has a racist agenda. I would not assert that myself, as there is nothing untrue or slanted in his actual account, but it would not surprise me to learn that he did not believe in racial mixing. Again, this is speculative, but I urge potential readers not to be put off by this remark, as the content and history are far too important to be lost in such latter-day controversy. Read it for the history. Then read "the Slave Trade."

Another "don't read this"

Not particularly well-written but the effort, the research and the stones to put it out there rate 5 stars. Modern Americans believe slavery to be an American sin and only a Southern sin at that. Well, The Negro in New England by Greene challnges that on the back end but the scope and sweep of slavery goes far beyond the development of the Western Hemisphere. It is a human scourge which is not only ancient but contemporary.It has impacted all times and all races. What this volume trys to accomplish is to assemble facts and records to explain a story yet untold...white slavery. Was a slave less a slave because they were white or because it will send someone into roid rages if we even bring it up? "Indentured servitude" was NOT some enlighted apprenticeship program whereby people were redeemed, freed and released with land, tools, skills and a wide open future. A few of the more shocking facts: * The "Slavs" of eastern Europe were thus named for the millinium of slavery they were subjected to by every conqueror that swept through the region; Celts, Greeks, Roman, Barbarians. * Death rates on the Atlantic passage of white slaves exceeded that of African slaves * The reason that only 6% of the African slaves brought to the Western Hemisphere ended up in what became the US is because there were enough white slaves to supply demand. * The very word "kidnapping" has its roots in the colonial period when British children were stolen ("kidnabbed") and sent to the New World Round out your understanding of this underplayed and ignored historical development by reading "Bound Over" by John Van Der Zee.(also VERY hard to find) An excellent book remains to be written by someone who can write well and using some of the sources mentioned here. If we could see the full historical scope of slavery much of the modern vitriol and victimology could be set aside. Perhaps we could even focus on the real tragedy....25 million people are STILL in slavery today.

Much needed book in today's slavery debate

As other reviewers have noted, this book is a barrage of facts that are a little rambling and disorganized, but this in NO WAY takes away from the interest of the subject matter that is presented in this volume.Mr. Hoffman presents a rough outline of the history of the enslavement of whites in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, the Carribean and finally in America from Roman times to the begining of the 20th century. Documented are such details as:-Slavery in ancient Greece and attitudes towards slaves there-Arab traffic in white slave to the Middle East-The Vikings' massive involvement in the slave trade during the middle ages-White slavery and ethnic-cleansing in Ireland and Barbados under Oliver Cromwell-Kidnapping of whites in Britain to bring to the Americas-Child labor and gross working conditions in the mines and factories in America and Britain during the industrial revoloution.-One of the most disturbing events documented here: the use of "human brooms" as chimney sweeps in England during the 1800's. These might be able to claim the worst status. The orphans who had to climb up chimneys filled with toxic dirt and soot weren't even paid to do so, they were forced to do that work and then BEG for a living.-White slavery and white slave trade in colonial America. These whites were treated as more expendable then the African slaves because the slave ships had to go out of their way to pick up Africans.-"Redneck," because whites had to work out in the fields in the sun so their skin would get tanned and burned.-"Hillbilly," because when they were freed or escaped, the slaves had nowhere to live except in remote places in the backwoods and especially APPALACIA.-The race politics presented here explain and elucidate the animostiy between blacks, lower class whites and the white slave-and-plantation owning aristocracy in the South.-This one's the kicker: the word SLAVE actually comes from SLAV, the white peoples of Eastern Europe who were often raided and held in bondage by invaders.This book is well worth getting a hand on and reading, because it proves that slavery is a universal condition that has been practiced against all races and nations of people, even against those traditionally portrayed (i.e. Anglo Saxons/whites) as being the slavemasters and oppressors.

Although provocative, it is a must read.

The book "They Were White and They Were Slaves" is no doubt controversial. Definitely, it will lift up some people's eyebrows,and make their faces turn red when picking up this masterful work of revisionism. However, no matter how truthful it maybe, there will obviously be conscientious objectors to it. For instance, after taking a cursory thru Hoffman's web site, admittedly he seems to be linked up with Christian Identity Group leaders, such as Louis Beam and Pete Peters. And so,unsurprisingly, the critics may take advantage of that and use it to cast dispersions on "They Were White and They Were Slaves". Afterall, isn't Hoffman affiliated with White Supremacist Groups? Although I think that is highly probably - actually, it is hard to tell - that is totally irrelevant. Truth is never determined by behavior. To cast dispersion on Hoffman's writings because of his affiliations with certain movements is just like doubting the authenticity of Pat Robertson's Christianity because of his connection with a radical Christian Coalition movement. In the end, just looking at the content is the only legitimate type of evaluation. In otherwords, I refrain from throwing the baby out of the bath water.My favorite parts in the book is the author's thorough discussion on Wealthy Women who use double standards by leaving young children left for dead in Chimney pipes while supposedly being sympathetic to the plight of the African American slaves. Another one of my favorite parts is explainations as to how Blacks were allowed in the Military while while white servants weren't.To sum up, the book extensively argues that white slaves, constantly called even by black slaves themselves 'Rednecks' and 'Hillbillies' fared worse than black servants.This is a perfect countering view to the black paranoi of 'equal rights' as if slavery is uniquely a black thing despite evidence to the contrary. I just can't put the book down!

a book of great historical information, to genealogists

I purchased this book, with great reluctance, as I thought it might be "racist" in nature. However, I found it most enlighting. It reveals, that slavery was never about race, but rather about labor. Labor was looked upon as a commodity to be bought and sold. My interest was from a genealogical and historical point. It alowed me to locate lines of my family both white, Irish and English that were sold on the auction block, in Barbados in the 1600's, along with other slaves who were black. It will further give great insight in the abusive child labor of 1800 England. For any and all it is a great read.