2009 Reading #43: A Peculiar Imbalance
Books 1-10.
Books 11-20.
Books 21-30.
Books 31-40.
41. Jade Tiger by Jenn Reese.
42. Norse Code by Greg van Eekhout.
43. A Peculiar Imbalance: The Fall and Rise of Racial Equality in Early Minnesota by William D. Green. A short book focusing mostly on the fluidity of African-American social and economic identity and opportunity from pre-territory days through statehood and the passing of black suffrage and school desegregation here in 1869. Green's thesis is that blacks and other racial minorities had more or less equal opportunities while Minnesota was the frontier, but as territory and then statehood came in their rights were restricted, at least for a time. Some interesting accounts of new-to-me historical facts like the catering of the St. Anthony community to Southern slaveholding tourists, and incidents of threatened and actual violence between Irish laborers and newly freed blacks moving into the state during the Civil War. In addition to the Irish--who had political but not economic advantage over the early African-American settlers--Green contrasts the situation of the local Native Americans, particularly the Dakotas, who were offered full voting rights as incentive to "civilize" themselves while blacks were denied same.
Books 11-20.
Books 21-30.
Books 31-40.
41. Jade Tiger by Jenn Reese.
42. Norse Code by Greg van Eekhout.
43. A Peculiar Imbalance: The Fall and Rise of Racial Equality in Early Minnesota by William D. Green. A short book focusing mostly on the fluidity of African-American social and economic identity and opportunity from pre-territory days through statehood and the passing of black suffrage and school desegregation here in 1869. Green's thesis is that blacks and other racial minorities had more or less equal opportunities while Minnesota was the frontier, but as territory and then statehood came in their rights were restricted, at least for a time. Some interesting accounts of new-to-me historical facts like the catering of the St. Anthony community to Southern slaveholding tourists, and incidents of threatened and actual violence between Irish laborers and newly freed blacks moving into the state during the Civil War. In addition to the Irish--who had political but not economic advantage over the early African-American settlers--Green contrasts the situation of the local Native Americans, particularly the Dakotas, who were offered full voting rights as incentive to "civilize" themselves while blacks were denied same.