California, a Slave State

Slavery and resistance in California have a long and complex history, from Spanish missions, indentured Native American ranch hands, Indian boarding schools, Black miners, kidnapped Chinese prostitutes, and convict laborers to modern trafficking victims. Jean Pfaelzer's book "A Searing Survey of '250 Years of Human Bondage in What Is Now the State of California" explores this history, revealing how California profited from slavery and how enslaved people fought, fled, and resisted human bondage.

Format: Hardback
Length: 520 pages
Publication date: 22 August 2023
Publisher: Yale University Press

California's history is deeply intertwined with the institution of slavery,spanning over 250 years. This comprehensive examination explores the various forms of human bondage that have existed in the state,from the Spanish missions that relied on indentured Native American ranch hands to the Indian boarding schools that forcibly educated Indigenous children. The story also delves into the experiences of Black miners,who toiled in dangerous conditions to extract gold and silver,and the kidnapped Chinese prostitutes who were forced into prostitution in early San Francisco. Moreover,the text sheds light on the convict laborers who were employed in the state's prisons and plantations.

California's history of slavery is not limited to its early days. The state continued to be a hub for the trade of human beings throughout its development. Russian otter hunters shipped Alaska Natives,the first slaves transported into California,and established a Pacific slave triangle that extended to China. Plantation slaves were marched across the plains during the Gold Rush,and San Quentin Prison became a symbol of Californias carceral state.

In her book,Jean Pfaelzer challenges the traditional narrative of slavery as a North-South struggle and highlights the unique experiences of enslaved people in California. Through extensive research and compelling interviews,Pfaelzer exposes how California actively participated in slavery,consuming a vast number of human beings. This appetite for slavery persists today,as evidenced by the global trade in human beings,which lures individuals with promises of employment but often leads to their imprisonment in sweatshops,remote marijuana grows,or exploitation as nannies and sex workers.

Slavery has had a profound impact on California's identity and reputation. It has shattered the state's utopian image and rewritten our understanding of the West. Moreover,it has contributed to the complex and often fraught paths to freedom that Americans have pursued. Pfaelzer's book serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle against human bondage and the need for continued awareness and action to combat this global issue.

Weight: 938g
Dimension: 165 x 243 x 39 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780300211641