White Cargo is the forgotten story of the thousands of Britons who lived and died in bondage in Britain's American colonies.

In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, more than 300,000 white people were shipped to America as slaves. Urchins were swept up from London's streets to labor in the tobacco fields, where life expectancy was no more than two years. Brothels were raided to provide "breeders" for Virginia. Hopeful migrants were duped into signing as indentured servants, unaware they would become personal property who could be bought, sold, and even gambled away. Transported convicts were paraded for sale like livestock.

Drawing on letters crying for help, diaries, and court and government archives, Don Jordan and Michael Walsh demonstrate that the brutalities usually associated with black slavery alone were perpetrated on whites throughout British rule. The trade ended with American independence, but the British still tried to sell convicts in their former colonies, which prompted one of the most audacious plots in Anglo-American history.

This is a saga of exploration and cruelty spanning 170 years that has been submerged under the overwhelming memory of black slavery. White Cargo brings the brutal, uncomfortable story to the surface.

Formato	Tapa suave
Número de Páginas	320
Lenguaje	Inglés
Editorial	New York University Press
Fecha de Publicación	2008-03-08
Dimensiones	9.1" x 6.0" x 1.1" pulgadas
Letra Grande	No
Con Ilustraciones	No
Temas	Siglo 17, Siglo 17, Siglo 18, Siglo 18, Británico, Británico

Walsh, Michael

Michael Walsh spent twelve years as a reporter and presenter on World in Action and has won several awards for his work. He is now a producer and writer living in London, specializing in political and historical documentaries.

Jordan, Don

Don Jordan is an award-winning television director and writer who has worked on dozens of documentaries and dramas. He lives in London.