For this episode, lets look at slavery in another way. While we rightfully spend a lot of time on this show grappling with the impact of slavery both on the enslaved and on our society today, this week's show explores what it was like to be a free person of color in the South. Dr. Warren Milteer's book, "Beyond Slavery's Shadow: Free People of Color in the South," explains what it was like to live adjacent to those in bondage. He explains the threats they were under, how southern Blacks were used as political pawns, and how some cultivated success against long odds. Dr. Milteer also describes how his family lineage, which includes those who were enslaved and those who were free, inspired him to write this book. Towards the end of our episode, he discloses a piece of his family history that may be the most memorable personal story we have ever had on this show.
Dr. Milteer's website is warrenmilteer.com
His book is available from The University of North Carolina Press at https://uncpress.org/book/9781469664392/beyond-slaverys-shadow/
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