Red, White, and Black Make Blue: Indigo in the Fabric of Colonial South Carolina Life
- ISBN-10
- 0820345539
- ISBN-13
- 9780820345536
- Category
- History
- Pages
- 140
- Language
- English
- Published
- 2013
- Publisher
- University of Georgia Press
- Author
- Andrea Feeser
Description
Like cotton, indigo has defied its humble origins. Left alone it might have been a regional plant with minimal reach, a localized way of dyeing textiles, paper, and other goods with a bit of blue. But when blue became the most popular color for the textiles that Britain turned out in large quantities in the eighteenth century, the South Carolina indigo that colored most of this cloth became a major component in transatlantic commodity chains. In Red, White, and Black Make Blue, Andrea Feeser tells the stories of all the peoples who made indigo a key part of the colonial South Carolina experience as she explores indigo's relationships to land use, slave labor, textile production and use, sartorial expression, and fortune building. In the eighteenth century, indigo played a central role in the development of South Carolina. The popularity of the color blue among the upper and lower classes ensured a high demand for indigo, and the climate in the region proved sound for its cultivation. Cheap labor by slaves—both black and Native American—made commoditization of indigo possible. And due to land grabs by colonists from the enslaved or expelled indigenous peoples, the expansion into the backcountry made plenty of land available on which to cultivate the crop. Feeser recounts specific histories—uncovered for the first time during her research—of how the Native Americans and African slaves made the success of indigo in South Carolina possible. She also emphasizes the material culture around particular objects, including maps, prints, paintings, and clothing. Red, White, and Black Make Blue is a fraught and compelling history of both exploitation and empowerment, revealing the legacy of a modest plant with an outsized impact.
Get the book
Other editions
-
- 2013-11-15
- 168 pages
- Ebook
- University of Georgia Press
-
- 2013
- 168 pages
- Paperback
- University of Georgia Press
Similar books
-
Red, White & Royal Blue: A Novel
By Casey McQuistonWhere do we find the courage, and the power, to be the people we are meant to be? And how can we learn to let our true colors shine through? Casey McQuiston's Red, White & Royal Blue proves: true love isn't always diplomatic.
-
Red, White, and Black: Rescuing American History from Revisionists and Race Hustlers
By Robert L. Woodson, Sr.Rejecting this false narrative, a collection of the most prominent and respected black scholars and thinkers has come together to correct the record and tell the true story of black Americans in all its complexity, diversity of experience, ...
-
Red, White, Blue
By Lea CarpenterSmart and suspenseful, Red, White, Blue is a story about the lengths we will go to protect those we cherish.
-
Red, White, and Blue
By Laurie Lazzaro KnowltonPoems and fabric illustrations portray the American flag, its significance to this country, and the ideals it represents, such as freedom and opportunity.