In Black Jacks by Jeffrey Bolster, the author discusses the complications and ramifications black seafaring had on the creation of black identity in America, which challenges the typical narrative we learn, that the sea was only used to transport blacks through the middle passage for land based slave labor. Bolster argues that black men significantly contributed to maritime labor while it also providing blacks with certain levels of freedom, community, and interaction among other things. Bolster paints a picture for the reader through multiple secondary sources which in this case were autobiographies written by various black sailors. The author seeks to explore these black sailors backgrounds and first hand experiences looking all the way
…show more content…
One of the tales explored in one of the earlier autobiographies focus on life abroad a ship, discussing the environments that were both uncompromising and “free”. Similarly comparisons were drawn between plantation workers and those black classified as seaman who had to live in “dual” worlds. These dual world black seafarers not only developed stronger skillsets but also to an extent were appreciated and respected by white seafarers. Their appreciation also was translated to higher pay in comparison to those working on land. One of main arguments Bolster presents in the early chapters was that seafaring blacks from the north benefited most from becoming seafarers due to mostly the political and geographical landscape of the south. These black seafarers became a source of news for the southern blacks who were unaware of such opportunities in the …show more content…
This intertwined nature spilled into various attitudes and behaviors across white and black seaman. One example was the allure of having anonymity as a sailor. Bolster mentions that typically black slaves had multiple identities which was adopted by sailors across both skin colors. Additionally, “interracial musical exchange” was another common sight, where the shanteys were driven by black presence. There were however boundaries. Bolster describes these boundaries during the War of 1812, in which African Americans found themselves at the center of racial tension. As the U.S. ship Chesapeake surrendered off the Virginia capes, war prisoners were taken to Dartmoor Prison. As more and more prisoners were captured the blacks found themselves outnumbered by the French and White Americans which led to “taunting” and various punishments. This situation later changed when black populations grew larger and certain whites successfully petitioned to have black prisoners separated through ideologies which became a building block for racial encounters in Dartmoor. The interesting thing in all of this was that there was unique self-regulation created by the black prisoners. The war of 1812 defined what it meant to be “free and black”, it was the ability to
One of the tales explored in one of the earlier autobiographies focus on life abroad a ship, discussing the environments that were both uncompromising and “free”. Similarly comparisons were drawn between plantation workers and those black classified as seaman who had to live in “dual” worlds. These dual world black seafarers not only developed stronger skillsets but also to an extent were appreciated and respected by white seafarers. Their appreciation also was translated to higher pay in comparison to those working on land. One of main arguments Bolster presents in the early chapters was that seafaring blacks from the north benefited most from becoming seafarers due to mostly the political and geographical landscape of the south. These black seafarers became a source of news for the southern blacks who were unaware of such opportunities in the …show more content…
This intertwined nature spilled into various attitudes and behaviors across white and black seaman. One example was the allure of having anonymity as a sailor. Bolster mentions that typically black slaves had multiple identities which was adopted by sailors across both skin colors. Additionally, “interracial musical exchange” was another common sight, where the shanteys were driven by black presence. There were however boundaries. Bolster describes these boundaries during the War of 1812, in which African Americans found themselves at the center of racial tension. As the U.S. ship Chesapeake surrendered off the Virginia capes, war prisoners were taken to Dartmoor Prison. As more and more prisoners were captured the blacks found themselves outnumbered by the French and White Americans which led to “taunting” and various punishments. This situation later changed when black populations grew larger and certain whites successfully petitioned to have black prisoners separated through ideologies which became a building block for racial encounters in Dartmoor. The interesting thing in all of this was that there was unique self-regulation created by the black prisoners. The war of 1812 defined what it meant to be “free and black”, it was the ability to