Synopses & Reviews
Much of what we think we know about African American history isn't completely true, says Betty DeRamus in the introduction to Freedom by Any Means.
According to the usual story, slaves gained their freedom by running away, being freed by their owners, buying their way out of bondage or having someone else buy them. But how do we account for people like John Bowley, who bluffed his and his family's way to freedom, or Althea Lynch, whose cooking sprang her from jail? And what about all those who managed to win their freedom by sidestepping tricks and traps or winning lawsuits?
Bowley, Lynch and dozens of others are as vivid and surprising as the very real characters who made the veteran journalist's first book, Forbidden Fruit, a best-seller. Essence magazine described Forbidden Fruit as a rich collection of true slave-era tales that are at times haunting, often riveting, but always triumphant in the end.
The same can be said of Freedom by Any Means, which takes a broader look at the various extraordinary ways that enslaved and dehumanized people achieved freedom and the means to a self-determined life. Among these people are visionaries who not only survived against the odds, but prospered -- building businesses, owning land and other property.
The historical research that grounds this beautifully written narrative is drawn from unpublished memoirs, census records, government reports, periodicals, books and much more. The story of slavery and the African American experience before the Emancipation Proclamation isn't one story, according to DeRamus, but rather a multitude of stories. This book reveals how men and women were willing not just to risk their lives to escape the slave system, but able to use their intelligence and cunning to manipulate the court system, outwit slave traders and brave the unknown in order to assert their humanity.
Synopsis
Essence best-seller Betty DeRamus continues the history of blacks who used the legal system and cunning to break free from slavery.
Synopsis
Following up Betty DeRamus's Essence bestselling Forbidden Fruit, Freedom by Any Means follows the story of extraordinary acts of courage and love by Blacks in the American slave era with beautifully written and inspiring stories of how slaves used the law--against all odds--to gain freedom for themselves and loved ones. In Freedom by Any Means, Betty DeRamus explains that "Much of what we think we know about African American history isn't completely true." Slave freedom isn't limited to the usual story--slaves gained their freedom by running away, being freed by their owners, buying their way out of bondage, or having someone else buy them. But history doesn't account for the slaves who bluffed their way to freedom, sidestepped tricks and traps, won lawsuits, or even gained their freedom by their cooking.
Riveting and surprising, DeRamus captures the tumultuous lives of the humans in inhumane situations who were able to salvage their families and marriages and achieve freedom together against tremendous odds. It takes a broader look at the various extraordinary ways that enslaved and dehumanized people achieved freedom and the means to a self-determined life. Among these people are visionaries who not only survived against the odds, but prospered--building businesses, owning land and other property. Freedom by Any Means also features the return of many of the beloved figures from her previous book Forbidden Fruit, including Lucy Nichols, Al and Margaret Wood, and Sylvia and Louis Stark.
This inspiring account, steeped in rich historical research, attests to the resolve of the human spirit and reveals how men and women were willing to risk it all to escape the slavery.
Synopsis
A veteran and award winning journalist, DeRamus was the jury's pick and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 1993. She has been awarded a Michigan Press Association Award, as well as a Deems Taylor award for a profile of Roberta Flack published in Essence.
DeRamus was one of an international group of select journalists who toured Central African refugee camps under the auspices of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and one of a small group of journalists outside Voerster prison in 1990 when Nelson Mandela finally left his cell.
She has wriiten about African-American history for Essence, Time-Life, North Star Journal, and Black World. She is a former commentator for The Detroit News, The Detroit Free Press, The Michigan Chronicle, and the British Broadcasting Company.
Synopsis
Fandlt;Iandgt;reedom by Any Means andlt;/Iandgt;explains how African Americans resorted to using extraordinary methods to maintain their seemingly impossible personal relationships during the antebellum period. Besides running away together or raising money to buy their freedom, loved ones filed successful lawsuits, became military spies or counterspies, and used rumors of voodoo to create bluffs and tricks in order to survive. andlt;BRandgt;Riveting and surprising, Betty DeRamus captures the tumultuous lives of the humans in inhumane situations who were able to salvage their families and marriages and achieve freedom together against tremendous odds. andlt;Iandgt;Freedomandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;Iandgt;by Any Means andlt;/Iandgt;also features the return of many of the beloved figures from her previous book andlt;Iandgt;Forbidden Fruitandlt;/Iandgt;, including Lucy Nichols, Al and Margaret Wood, and Sylvia and Louis Stark. andlt;BRandgt;This inspiring account, steeped in rich historical research, attests to the resolve of the human spirit and reveals how men and women were willing to risk it all to escape the slavery.
Synopsis
F
reedom by Any Means explains how African Americans resorted to using extraordinary methods to maintain their seemingly impossible personal relationships during the antebellum period. Besides running away together or raising money to buy their freedom, loved ones filed successful lawsuits, became military spies or counterspies, and used rumors of voodoo to create bluffs and tricks in order to survive.
Riveting and surprising, Betty DeRamus captures the tumultuous lives of the humans in inhumane situations who were able to salvage their families and marriages and achieve freedom together against tremendous odds. Freedom by Any Means also features the return of many of the beloved figures from her previous book Forbidden Fruit, including Lucy Nichols, Al and Margaret Wood, and Sylvia and Louis Stark.
This inspiring account, steeped in rich historical research, attests to the resolve of the human spirit and reveals how men and women were willing to risk it all to escape the slavery.
About the Author
Aandnbsp;veteranandnbsp;andandnbsp;awardandnbsp;winningandnbsp;journalist,andnbsp;DeRamusandnbsp;wasandnbsp;theandnbsp;jury'sandnbsp;pickandnbsp;andandnbsp;aandnbsp;finalistandnbsp;forandnbsp;theandnbsp;Pulitzerandnbsp;Prize inandnbsp;1993.andnbsp;Sheandnbsp;hasandnbsp;beenandnbsp;awardedandnbsp;aandnbsp;Michiganandnbsp;Pressandnbsp;Associationandnbsp;Award,andnbsp;asandnbsp;wellandnbsp;asandnbsp;aandnbsp;Deemsandnbsp;Taylorandnbsp;awardandnbsp;forandnbsp;aandnbsp;profileandnbsp;ofandnbsp;Robertaandnbsp;Flackandnbsp;publishedandnbsp;inandnbsp;Essence.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andnbsp;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;DeRamusandnbsp;wasandnbsp;oneandnbsp;ofandnbsp;anandnbsp;internationalandnbsp;groupandnbsp;ofandnbsp;selectandnbsp;journalistsandnbsp;whoandnbsp;touredandnbsp;Centralandnbsp;Africanandnbsp;refugeeandnbsp;campsandnbsp;underandnbsp;theandnbsp;auspicesandnbsp;ofandnbsp;theandnbsp;Unitedandnbsp;Nationsandnbsp;Highandnbsp;Commissionerandnbsp;forandnbsp;Refugees,andnbsp;andandnbsp;oneandnbsp;ofandnbsp;aandnbsp;smallandnbsp;groupandnbsp;ofandnbsp;journalistsandnbsp;outsideandnbsp;Voersterandnbsp;prisonandnbsp;inandnbsp;1990andnbsp;whenandnbsp;Nelsonandnbsp;Mandelaandnbsp;finallyandnbsp;leftandnbsp;hisandnbsp;cell.andnbsp;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;She has wriiten about African-American historyandnbsp;for andlt;iandgt;Essenceandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;iandgt;Time-Lifeandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;iandgt;North Star Journalandlt;/iandgt;, and andlt;iandgt;Black Worldandlt;/iandgt;. She is a former commentator for andlt;iandgt;The Detroit Newsandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;iandgt;The Detroit Free Pressandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;iandgt;The Michigan Chronicleandlt;/iandgt;, and the British Broadcasting Company.
Table of Contents
Foreword BOOK I
PRISONERS OF LOVE
one The Big Bluff
two Waters of Hope
three He Had to Have Her
four Romeo Must Live nice
five Aunt Sally's Coffeehouse
six The Pregnant Pilgrim
seven The Six-Gun Solution
eight These Feet Were Made for Walking
nine A Penny for Your Pain
BOOK II
TRICKS AND TRAPS ON THE ROAD TO FREEDOM
Introduction
ten The Breakfast of Generals
eleven The Danger of Being Dangerfield
twelve Fake Lawyers and Phony Washing Machines
thirteen Horse Hair Can Be Handy
fourteen And the Oscar Goes to...
BOOK III
THAT COLD BLACK MAGIC
fifteen Don't Call Her Mammy
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Selected Bibliography
Permissions Index