Peter H. WoodStrange New Land: Africans in Colonial America

I'm not really sure whom this book is for. On the one hand, it seems to have been written for people with little or no knowledge of American slavery (and perhaps little background in history of most kinds--several pages are dedicated to the basics of the Protestant Reformation). And despite the pro-forma descriptors ("this terrible institution") applied with regularity, it really pulls its punches with regard to exactly what made it terrible. I could see it being used as supplemental reading in a high school history class: it provides the outlines of how slavery took on its eventual 19th century form, which is more typically described in textbooks, without in any way discomfiting majority sensibilities.It's a shame, because it could have been a really rich and informative book. The author clearly knows a great deal about the subject. He summarizes major topics and tantalizing biographies with a paragraph or two apiece; if you already know something of a topic, you'll likely find peculiar what he mentions and what he glosses over. If you don't, often there's enough to be intrigued by but not enough to be satisfied with. If this larger subject the book addresses is of interest to you, the book might best serve as a series of pointers for further reading. The author even seems to anticipate this: there's an "Additional reading" list in the back.

Read this for an African-American history class. Very insightful. FELLOW WHITE PEOPLE, please consider. truly unveils how the US was literally Built on/with racism.

Had this book for an African American studies class. Really enjoyed it!

I had to read this for US History. It was actually very interesting. I probably would have enjoyed it more if I wasn't forced to read it.

easy read and well organized. not a test book but worthwhile read to lead you to explore some items more deeply.

Outstanding! This book is well written history of African American in New York City. Many people are unware of the historical Chambers Street legacy. I will buy extra copies in the future to share.

A terrific sad but true account of Africans in early America. I am recommending this book to everyone I know.

This book pictures the reall life of the salve at that time or era, with all the details I have read on every single chapter I was craying.