The Legacies of American Slavery blog is taking a winter break—but we’ll be back on January 6, 2025. We hope that your holidays are …
more like this …
and less like this!
In the meantime, here are some holiday-related links that we shared in the past:
- “The Slave Experience of the Holidays,” Documenting the American South: LINK.
- Robert E. May, “The Grim History of Christmas for Enslaved People in the Deep South,” TIME (December 21, 2021): LINK. Historian Robert E. May discusses the reality of the holiday season for enslaved people in the South. Also see his important book on the topic, with thoughtful reviews here and here.
- “How Women Used Christmas to Fight Slavery,” History Channel: LINK. In 1834, Black and white women from the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society organized Christmas bazaars to sell donated gifts to support the abolitionist cause.
- Robin Washington, “The creator of Kwanzaa modified a Hanukkah menorah—and gave advice to Black Jews,” Forward (December 23, 2021): LINK. Washington, who co-founded the Alliance of Black Jews, recalls the advice his group received at a critical moment from the creator of Kwanzaa, Maulana Karenga.
- Kayla Stewart, “Tracing the Origins of a Black American New Year’s Ritual,” New York Times (December 24, 2021): LINK. Eating collard greens, Hoppin’ John, or black-eyed peas on New Year’s Eve are closely associated with Black Americans—but these foodways can be traced back to West African traditions.