Unforgettable Sacrifice
Unforgettable Sacrifice: How Black Communities Remembered the Civil War offers a groundbreaking exploration into the heart of African American memory of the Civil War, challenging conventional narratives and revealing a rich history preserved through oral traditions and communal efforts. Through extensive archival research and stories shared on the porches of African American families, Hilary Green provides a detailed examination of how diverse Black communities across the United States have actively preserved and contested the memory of the Civil War, from the nineteenth century to the present.
By rejecting the reduction of their experiences to mere footnotes in history, African Americans have established a vibrant commemorative culture that respects the complexity of their ancestors’ sacrifices and struggles. From the rural landscapes of Black Pennsylvanians to the heart of emancipated communities in the South, Green connects the narratives of those who not only fought on battlefields but also in the realms of memory and heritage, ensuring their stories of resilience, courage, and patriotism are remembered.
Unforgettable Sacrifice brings to light the untold stories of ordinary African Americans who took extraordinary steps in remembrance and resistance. By refusing to accept diluted narratives and lies, they have ensured the legacy of the Civil War includes the end of slavery, the valor of Black soldiers and civilians, and the ongoing struggle for democracy and full citizenship.
This book is a testament to the enduring power of memory and the steadfast spirit of the African American community. It is an indispensable addition to the libraries of scholars, general readers, and descendant communities alike, offering new perspectives on the lasting impact of the Civil War on American identity and the persistent pursuit of justice and equality.
Reconstructing America Series
Available at Fordham University Press, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other booksellers.
ISBN: 9781531508524
Page Count: 400
Illustrations: 15 b/w illustrations
By rejecting the reduction of their experiences to mere footnotes in history, African Americans have established a vibrant commemorative culture that respects the complexity of their ancestors’ sacrifices and struggles. From the rural landscapes of Black Pennsylvanians to the heart of emancipated communities in the South, Green connects the narratives of those who not only fought on battlefields but also in the realms of memory and heritage, ensuring their stories of resilience, courage, and patriotism are remembered.
Unforgettable Sacrifice brings to light the untold stories of ordinary African Americans who took extraordinary steps in remembrance and resistance. By refusing to accept diluted narratives and lies, they have ensured the legacy of the Civil War includes the end of slavery, the valor of Black soldiers and civilians, and the ongoing struggle for democracy and full citizenship.
This book is a testament to the enduring power of memory and the steadfast spirit of the African American community. It is an indispensable addition to the libraries of scholars, general readers, and descendant communities alike, offering new perspectives on the lasting impact of the Civil War on American identity and the persistent pursuit of justice and equality.
Reconstructing America Series
Available at Fordham University Press, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other booksellers.
ISBN: 9781531508524
Page Count: 400
Illustrations: 15 b/w illustrations
Reviews
Unforgettable Sacrifice is a monumental book. Why? Because historians of Civil War memory have yet to offer a full examination of what the Civil War meant to African Americans. That is, until now. Hilary N. Green brings the reader into the post-Civil War lives of Black men and women who actively commemorated the history of that war, and honored the heroism of the men who volunteered to become soldiers in the United States Army to help defeat the Confederacy and make possible the freedom of four million lives. She arrives at this history by tapping into sources outside of the traditional archive—songs, poems, and the memories shared on porches both North and South, including those of her family. Unforgettable Sacrifice is more than a story of war and memory, however. It’s about the meaning of citizenship, and the sacrifices Black Americans made and continue to make to be full participants in our democracy.---Karen L. Cox, author of No Common Ground: Confederate Monuments and the Ongoing Fight for Racial Justice
Unforgettable Sacrifice is a monumental book. Why? Because historians of Civil War memory have yet to offer a full examination of what the Civil War meant to African Americans. That is, until now. Hilary N. Green brings the reader into the post-Civil War lives of Black men and women who actively commemorated the history of that war, and honored the heroism of the men who volunteered to become soldiers in the United States Army to help defeat the Confederacy and make possible the freedom of four million lives. She arrives at this history by tapping into sources outside of the traditional archive—songs, poems, and the memories shared on porches both North and South, including those of her family. Unforgettable Sacrifice is more than a story of war and memory, however. It’s about the meaning of citizenship, and the sacrifices Black Americans made and continue to make to be full participants in our democracy.---Karen L. Cox, author of No Common Ground: Confederate Monuments and the Ongoing Fight for Racial Justice