Generations of Captivity: A History of African-American Slaves from May 5, 2003 From Politics and Prose Bookstore in Washington, DC, Historian Ira Berlin

Historian Ira Berlin discusses his book on North American slavery, “Generations of Captivity.” The book traces the history of slavery from its 17th-century origins to its demise during the civil war. According to Mr. Berlin, American slavery evolved and developed within the changing context of American history. Delineated periods or ‘generations’ defined the stages of this evolution. The experiences of slaves adapting to their new environment during the first century of settlement produced the ‘chartered generation.’ The familiar southern experience of slavery, when cotton dominated the national economy, is titled the ‘plantation generation.’ The ‘revolutionary generation’ followed as international views on slavery and freedom began to influence domestic politics and culture. Mr. Berlin identifies the period during the Civil War as the ‘freedom generation.’ Finally, he examines the ‘migration generation,’ which was defined by the substantial shift in the black population from the south to the north and west. Following his remarks, Mr. Berlin answers questions from members of the audience.