The Families' Civil War: Black Soldiers and the Fight for Racial Justice

The book "The Families Civil War" explores the experiences of freeborn northern African Americans in Philadelphia during the Civil War, highlighting the negative effects of military service on family finances, living conditions, and mental health. It also emphasizes the long-term struggle for racial justice, with African Americans using the war to expand their fight against slavery into the South. The book acknowledges the differences in experiences based on race, class, and gender and aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the lives of northern USCT soldiers and their families.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 242 pages
Publication date: 15 June 2022
Publisher: University of Georgia Press

The Families Civil War is a groundbreaking work that sheds light on the experiences of freeborn northern African Americans in Philadelphia during the Civil War. The book, written by Holly A. Pinheiro Jr., takes a long view, spanning from 1850 to the 1920s, to explore how Civil War military service exacerbated the already challenging circumstances faced by these families. Through meticulous research and analysis, Pinheiro demonstrates how the war negatively impacted family finances, living conditions, mental well-being, and physical health.

At least seventy-nine thousand African Americans served in northern USCT regiments during the Civil War. Many of these soldiers, including the majority of those examined in the book, remained in the North after the war and formed a significant population of racial minorities living outside the former Confederacy. This book goes beyond the individual stories of soldiers and their families and argues that the Civil War was just one chapter in a longer war for racial justice.

Pinheiro highlights how the Civil War provided African American Philadelphians with an opportunity to expand the battlefield beyond their city and confront the oppressive system of slavery. By 1863, these soldiers had become armed combatants, fighting against the Confederates to end slavery. However, the war at home continued to be waged by white northerners, who sought to maintain their dominance and control over African Americans.

The Families Civil War acknowledges that Civil War soldiers experienced different challenges based on their race and class. Pinheiro examines the intersections of gender, race, class, and region to provide a comprehensive understanding of the experiences of northern USCT soldiers and their families. By doing so, the book offers a fresh perspective on the Civil War and its impact on American society.

This book is a valuable addition to the literature on the Civil War and its aftermath. It sheds light on the experiences of a marginalized and often overlooked group of Americans and provides a deeper understanding of the complexities of race, class, and gender during this period. The Families Civil War is a must-read for anyone interested in American history, social justice, and the Civil War era.

Weight: 288g
Dimension: 152 x 228 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780820361963