Reviews with content warning for Slavery - Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo"

i read a few chapters of Barracoon during my anthropology degree, and have found the revisit incredibly enriching

the combination of Kossola’s brilliant storytelling and Hurston’s compassionate approach to interviewing makes this brief read so very rich. Hurston’s ethnographic approach is thoughtful, innovative, and personal, contrasting to the salvage anthropology practiced by her contemporaries through her consideration for Kossola’s and the residents of Africatown’s wellbeing and privacy. She situates herself within the tale as an active but nonjudgemental participant, transparently admitting her personal interests, questions, and impressions. the whole book is heartily framed by essay additions which contextualize and offer discussion of the layers of understanding presented in this single story

Content Warnings

nneka23's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark informative sad slow-paced

Content Warnings

snowiceblackfruit77's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

5.0

Content Warnings

capp518's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging informative medium-paced

3.75

Couldn’t give it 4 stars because only half of the book is Kossula’s story. It reads more like a piece of scholarly work than a novel, which may be my own fault for not researching the book better before reading. Overall though, this is a necessary read to get a first-had account of what enslaved people experienced because there are so few records from their perspectives out there.

Content Warnings

tey_lynn's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional funny informative reflective sad fast-paced

4.5

Content Warnings

More...