Dark Work: The Business of Slavery in Rhode Island (Early American Places, 12)

Prof Clark-Pujara's style is direct and always focused on the topic. The organization of the book is brilliant, drilling down on the business of slavery and not just on slave holding. That way she exposes the links between business interests in Rhode Island and the South, in particular, going well beyond traditional treatments of this topic. Also, the granularity of the book is excellent, focusing on a single state (so its local, and global at the same time). The book should win prizes and is an important contribution not only to African-American studies, but to history generally, and to business history. At the same time the book is not overly academic, making it accessible to general readers. I certainly had no idea about the centrally of RI to the system of slavery in the Americas.

This is an excellent examination of my home state's role in the slave trade and business of sustaining slavery. It has many insights I haven't seen in other RI histories, and is well worth reading for anyone interested in RI or NE history, in the history of slavery north and south, and especially in the history of people of color in the North. As a Rhode Islander who likes history I'm very grateful for this fine book.

I have lived in RI all of my life. This book was incredibly eye-opening for me. It should be must reading for not just all Rhode Islanders, but anyone who considers themselves a student of U. S. history and an informed citizen of this country. My understanding of the history of my state and country were greatly enhanced, and I am grateful to Ms. Clark-Punta for putting it all down in such concise and resonant prose. We all need to understand that slavery was not confined to the South, and that in fact the economy North and South was built upon the business of slavery.