Undercurrents of Power

Aquatic Culture in the African Diaspora

Nonfiction, History, Military, Social & Cultural Studies, Social Science
Cover of the book Undercurrents of Power by Kevin Dawson, University of Pennsylvania Press, Inc.
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Kevin Dawson ISBN: 9780812294781
Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press, Inc. Publication: February 9, 2018
Imprint: University of Pennsylvania Press Language: English
Author: Kevin Dawson
ISBN: 9780812294781
Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press, Inc.
Publication: February 9, 2018
Imprint: University of Pennsylvania Press
Language: English

Long before the rise of New World slavery, West Africans were adept swimmers, divers, canoe makers, and canoeists. They lived along riverbanks, near lakes, or close to the ocean. In those waterways, they became proficient in diverse maritime skills, while incorporating water and aquatics into spiritual understandings of the world. Transported to the Americas, slaves carried with them these West African skills and cultural values. Indeed, according to Kevin Dawson's examination of water culture in the African diaspora, the aquatic abilities of people of African descent often surpassed those of Europeans and their descendants from the age of discovery until well into the nineteenth century.

As Dawson argues, histories of slavery have largely chronicled the fields of the New World, whether tobacco, sugar, indigo, rice, or cotton. However, most plantations were located near waterways to facilitate the transportation of goods to market, and large numbers of agricultural slaves had ready access to water in which to sustain their abilities and interests. Swimming and canoeing provided respite from the monotony of agricultural bondage and brief moments of bodily privacy. In some instances, enslaved laborers exchanged their aquatic expertise for unique privileges, including wages, opportunities to work free of direct white supervision, and even in rare circumstances, freedom.

Dawson builds his analysis around a discussion of African traditions and the ways in which similar traditions—swimming, diving, boat making, even surfing—emerged within African diasporic communities. Undercurrents of Power not only chronicles the experiences of enslaved maritime workers, but also traverses the waters of the Atlantic repeatedly to trace and untangle cultural and social traditions.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Long before the rise of New World slavery, West Africans were adept swimmers, divers, canoe makers, and canoeists. They lived along riverbanks, near lakes, or close to the ocean. In those waterways, they became proficient in diverse maritime skills, while incorporating water and aquatics into spiritual understandings of the world. Transported to the Americas, slaves carried with them these West African skills and cultural values. Indeed, according to Kevin Dawson's examination of water culture in the African diaspora, the aquatic abilities of people of African descent often surpassed those of Europeans and their descendants from the age of discovery until well into the nineteenth century.

As Dawson argues, histories of slavery have largely chronicled the fields of the New World, whether tobacco, sugar, indigo, rice, or cotton. However, most plantations were located near waterways to facilitate the transportation of goods to market, and large numbers of agricultural slaves had ready access to water in which to sustain their abilities and interests. Swimming and canoeing provided respite from the monotony of agricultural bondage and brief moments of bodily privacy. In some instances, enslaved laborers exchanged their aquatic expertise for unique privileges, including wages, opportunities to work free of direct white supervision, and even in rare circumstances, freedom.

Dawson builds his analysis around a discussion of African traditions and the ways in which similar traditions—swimming, diving, boat making, even surfing—emerged within African diasporic communities. Undercurrents of Power not only chronicles the experiences of enslaved maritime workers, but also traverses the waters of the Atlantic repeatedly to trace and untangle cultural and social traditions.

More books from University of Pennsylvania Press, Inc.

Cover of the book From Abolition to Rights for All by Kevin Dawson
Cover of the book Red Matters by Kevin Dawson
Cover of the book Of Gardens by Kevin Dawson
Cover of the book Child Soldiers in Africa by Kevin Dawson
Cover of the book The Writing on the Wall by Kevin Dawson
Cover of the book Shays's Rebellion by Kevin Dawson
Cover of the book Pulse of the People by Kevin Dawson
Cover of the book Bring Out Your Dead by Kevin Dawson
Cover of the book Deterring Rational Fanatics by Kevin Dawson
Cover of the book Washington Internships by Kevin Dawson
Cover of the book From Civil Rights to Human Rights by Kevin Dawson
Cover of the book Mayor by Kevin Dawson
Cover of the book Slavery in Medieval and Early Modern Iberia by Kevin Dawson
Cover of the book Group Harmony by Kevin Dawson
Cover of the book Women in Medieval Society by Kevin Dawson
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy