A People's History of Florida 1513-1876: How Africans, Seminoles, Women, and Lower Class Whites Shaped the Sunshine State Paperback – May 17, 2009

Adam Wasserman has been accused of writing a "liberal revisionist history" of the African American experience in Florida. I tend to agree, only because it is a story that deserves to be revised. As an educator, museum professional, turned filmmaker, I am often disappointed in the quality of stories purporting to tell the history of Blacks in Florida. I have seen the shame in young African American's eyes when they are told that they only come from a legacy of slavery. I've seen an amazing shift to pride when they are confronted with a legacy of free blacks dating back as far as Juan Ponce de Leon's first expedition to claim Florida for Spain. This book throws much needed light on the treasured legacy of Blacks in Florida. This history should endow African Americans with a pride of place. It was not only the sweat of their labor that built America, but their unrelenting, and ongoing, struggle for freedom that has given all American's freedom. Most African American's are not aware of their history and most are not anxious to listen to it. To shade the African American experience as victims only does them an injustice. To view them as free landholders, soldiers, traders, and yes, even slaveowners themselves, adds dimension to their story. Up until the time that Florida is acquired from Spain Florida's Black population posed a threat to slave states, a threat clearly laid out by Wasserman, and scholars like Larry E. Rivers, Canter Brown, Jr., James M. Dedham, and Rosalyn Howard, to name a few that come immediately to mind. If "conservative scholars" take exception to Wasserman's take on the history of Blacks in Florida, perhaps they should behave more like scholars and publish their version of events. I, for one, am pleased to add  A People's History of Florida 1513-1876: How Africans, Seminoles, Women, and Lower Class Whites Shaped the Sunshine State  to my collection of reference books on Florida.

As one who relishes early American history, I took my sweet time wading through "A People's History of Florida 1513 - 1876..." I have been to Saint Augustine three times and love the Castillo de San Marco there, and yes! my beloved castle was mentioned numerous times! This book helped put the facts and figures I have for St. Augustine and the regional locations along the Atlantic seaboard into relative place, and I easily could picture events happening around the entire state. As one who visits Florida often and will retire there, I was so engrossed in this book it was very hard to put it down when other duties called -- literally. From the panhandle north into Alabama and Georgia, and all the way down the peninsula, I became familiar with the American Indian tribes, black people fleeing captivity up north, along with Spaniards, Frenchmen and Englishmen who have left their marks on the wonderful state of Florida that we enjoy today. Especially intriguing was how the state of Georgia came to be, and why the northern border of Florida is where it is. If you are into American history, really OLD American history, why wouldn't you be chomping at the bit to dive into this book? I would give it more stars than five if I could. This is a rare find indeed.

Living in the stare of Florida, I'm always interested in books that can offer information on what went on in the area at different times in history. This book is well researched and beautifully written. The information is layed out in a way that it's easy to follow and understand. I don't think the book would be suitable for a child, but for an adult, it's first rate.

A truly incredible work of history. You will not find a more comprehensive examination of the myriad indigenous and African societies who fled slavery and displacement and establishes themselves in Florida, shaping the history of the region. These stories have been overlooked for too long. If you want to know the real history of Florida--not just the competing European empires--you won't be disappointed!

Terrible book. Author spends most of his time preaching about how bad white people are and conveniently overlooking our contribution to life in Florida. I realized after a few pages that this was nothing more than the script for a political rally. Don't waste your time. Paul

This fascinating book shows the hidden history of this part of the South. Anyone interested in Indigenous studies, Black History, or American history before and up to Reconstruction might enjoy this book. It illustrates the early imperialism of the United States, and the despotic behavior of some of the early presidents in their quest to enslave Africans and commit genocide on the rightful owners of Florida. The European "explorers" are also exposed as the ruthless killers that they were.

This book is very informative and gives what seems like a true accounting of the days and times in Florida and of the Seminole people.

The book contains a lot of historical fact - and, this is really closer to the way it was than the usual "fountain of youth and good guys coming to explore" narrative. BUT, instead of just laying the history out accurately, the author continually inserts extra statements which give the impression that, instead of trusting the reader, he wants to make sure you know how to think.Again, granted that he is much more correct than schoolbook history. I have read extensively on the settlement ways of the Spaniards as well as the US and other forces who pushed in. History is quite ugly and the stories of slavery, genocide and power even more so.If the author ever has the energy, a rewrite with collaborators (editors, historians) would be a valuable addition to Florida history. But, as it stands, it's too opinionated.On the "Socialist and Marxist" comments others left.... I feel these are often code words spoken by those who believe in White Supremacy and/or Manifest Destiny. It's better, IMHO, to just accept the fact that the West and even Europe were built on the backs and lands of Native Peoples.

Interesting history of the Seminole Interesting.