The Irish Slaves: Slavery, Indenture and Contract Labor Among Irish Immigrants

by Rhetta Akamatsu

Overview

They came in the holds of overcrowded ships, packed in among cargo and animals. They were sold to others to work as hard and under as dismal conditions as their owners chose. They were taken to the West Indies, to Barbados, to the American colonies, and beyond. A familiar story, is it not? But these immigrants, derived of all personal freedom, were Irish, and their servitude started long before black slavery was common. Even among those not enslaved, many were treated nearly the same as indentured servants, or later as contract labor on the railroads, mines, and other dangerous tasks. Your eyes will be opened by this book if you dare to allow them to be, as you learn more of this nearly forgotten part of world history, the Irish slaves.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940013199422
Publisher:	Rhetta Akamatsu
Publication date:	08/09/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	188
Sales rank:	585,740
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Rhetta Akamatsu is an author and journalist who writes about an eclectic group of subjects, including social history, the paranormal, and blues music. She is Irish and just a little bit English in heritage. Rhetta lives in Marietta with her husband who gave her the Japanese name and her cat, near her 2 grown children and a growing number of grandchildren.

Editorial Reviews

he Irish Slaves: Slavery, Indenture and Contract Labour Among Irish Immigrants by Rhetta Akamatsu narrates, not only some often overlooked history, but a tale of humanity that both endures and is abhorrent. It is a well-researched, well-written book that opens a page on the slave trade of past ages ....The Irish Slaves is an absorbing read, making the history it recounts alive and vibrant in all its misery. The book is a fascinating look into a piece of darker history.

A.F. Stewart