Black Elders

Frederick C. Knight is Professor of History at Morehouse College and author of Working the Diaspora: The Impact of African Labor on the Anglo-American World, 1650-1850.

Introduction Chapter 1. Coastal Africa and Atlantic Slavery Chapter 2. Management, Labor, and Life Cycles Chapter 3. The "Law of Respect to Elders" Chapter 4. Communities of Care and Concern Chapter 5. Home for the Aged Epilogue. A Black Wisdom Tradition Notes Index Acknowledgments

"By centering the politics of age and eldership from the height of the Atlantic slave trade through the Civil War, Black Elders offers a new and important contribution to the study of Black life in slavery and freedom." (Erica Armstrong Dunbar, author of Never Caught: The Washingtons' Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge) "With the publication of Black Elders, Frederick C. Knight has made a remarkable contribution to the study of slavery and freedom, introducing 'the politics of age' as a principal lens of analysis. Beginning the story in West Africa and following it into North America via the transatlantic trade, he shows how the African-descended, through slavery, post-emancipation, and even into more contemporary times, fought to retain, reclaim, and refashion the saliency and meaning of 'the elders' within their community. Drawing from a range of primary sources, Knight allows us to hear the voices of those long rendered voiceless. It is a compelling story that Knight tells well, skillfully and movingly. Black Elders is a must read." (Michael A. Gomez, author of African Dominion: A New History of Empire in Early and Medieval West Africa) "Spanning continents and centuries, Black Elders is the first comprehensive history of Black elderhood as lived experience and cultural ideal. Frederick C. Knight offers a transformative history of slavery and freedom that recognizes the importance of Black elders as leaders who held together multigenerational families, spurred community development, and passed down wisdom. This extensively researched and beautifully written book should be required reading for everyone interested in African American history and culture, age studies, or what it means to grow old." (Corinne T. Field, author of The Struggle for Equal Adulthood: Gender, Race, Age, and the Fight for Citizenship in Antebellum America)