Mastering Emotions: Feelings, Power, and Slavery in the United States

Emotions played a crucial role in the perpetuation of slavery and the survival and resistance of enslaved people. Erin Austin Dwyer's book explores the emotional politics of slavery, examining how emotions such as love, terror, happiness, and trust functioned as social and economic capital for slaveholders and enslaved people. The emotional politics of slavery were shaped by enslaved people and slaveholders, and emancipation marked a significant shift in the affective landscape. The postwar rise of legal and extralegal attempts to affectively control free Black people highlighted the commitment of elite White Southerners to preserving the power dynamics of slavery.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 05 October 2021
Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press

Emotions played a pivotal role in the perpetuation of slavery, as well as in the strategies employed by enslaved individuals to survive, resist bondage, and attain freedom. In her book, Mastering Emotions, Erin Austin Dwyer delves into the intricate dynamics between slaveholders, enslaved people, and White individuals, shedding light on how emotions such as love, fear, joy, and trust served as valuable social and economic capital for both groups. The daily interactions between slaveholders and enslaved individuals, coupled with broader discussions about race and freedom, formed the foundation of the emotional politics of slavery. The permissible and punishable emotions, as well as the appropriate modes of restraint, were heavily influenced by race and status. Consequently, mastering emotions—the ability to regulate one's own feelings and those of others—became crucial for slaveholders and enslaved individuals alike. The emotional politics of slavery were shaped by enslaved people and slaveholders through the crucible of slavery. The emancipation of enslaved individuals in the antebellum South brought about a seismic shift in the emotional landscape. While the end of the Civil War rendered the debate over emotional maintenance of slavery moot, the lingering question of whether the emotional constraints governing the South would be based on race or free status had significant consequences, particularly for free Black people. The postwar rise of legal and extralegal efforts to emotionally control free Black individuals highlighted the unwavering commitment of elite White Southerners to preserving the power dynamics of the emotional politics of slavery, by any means necessary. In conclusion, Mastering Emotions provides a comprehensive exploration of the emotional dimensions of slavery, shedding light on the complex interplay between slaveholders, enslaved people, and White individuals. By examining the role of emotions in the perpetuation and resistance of slavery, the book offers valuable insights into the long-term legacy of this historical phenomenon.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780812253399