I am having difficulties with reading the two books. Not because of the language, but because of their approach. In both books we have a narrow top-down history. I understand the sources of the area are from the elite class, however, there is little attempt by Morgan or Wood to reconcile the issues of the oppressed. I understand we need both sides, but the other side has not been discussed. Morgan discussed Bacon's rebellion without discussing how the Native Americans viewed it. Morgan and Wood discuss the paradox of slavery and freedom from the point of view of the master rather than the slave.
If we are to believe Woods that this is the most radical revolution in all of history, what must ask for whom. The thesis could be revived that in his opinion this is the most radical revolution for middle to upper-class whites. Ask a slave who worked before the revolution, during the revolution for American freedom, and after the revolution, if this was the most socially radical revolution in history. Ask women if their life was changed, if they were part of "universal suffrage."
We cannot ignore the voices of the oppressed. The questions must be raised.
On to Genovese!
ReplyDeleteBy which I mean, let's get on to a history of the oppressed and forgotten.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Alejandro, while reading these two books, I was also frustrated by the lack of other voices and views of the events. If the authors were women or men of color, would they have taken a different or more inclusive approach?
ReplyDelete