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The Devil's Half Acre
The Untold Story of How One Woman Liberated the South's Most Notorious Slave Jail
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Format: Hardback
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See moreThe riveting true story of an enslaved woman who liberated herself, her children, and a notorious jail for enslaved people in the Confederacy's capital, transforming the property into one of the nation's first HBCUs.
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Description
The inspiring true story of an enslaved woman who liberated an infamous slave jail and transformed it into one of the nation's first HBCUs.
In The Devil's Half Acre, New York Times bestselling author Kristen Green draws on years of research to tell the extraordinary and little-known story of young Mary Lumpkin, an enslaved woman who blazed a path of liberation for thousands. She was forced to have the children of a brutal slave trader and live on the premises of his slave jail, known as the "Devil's Half Acre." When she inherited the jail after the death of her slaveholder, she transformed it into "God's Half Acre," a school where Black men could fulfil their dreams. It still exists today as Virginia Union University, one of America's first Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
A sweeping narrative of a life in the margins of the American slave trade, The Devil's Half Acre brings Mary Lumpkin into the light. This is the story of the resilience of a woman on the path to freedom, her historic contributions, and her enduring legacy.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Kristen Green offers a meticulously researched exploration of Mary Lumpkin's life, highlighting the erased narratives of enslaved women's experiences in Richmond, Virginia. The book reveals vivid details about the domestic slave trade and Black education, portraying Lumpkin's journey from slavery to contributing significantly to one of America's first Historically Black Colleges. Reviewers praise it as a powerful, essential piece of history that contributes to the understanding of systemic racism and the resilience and achievements of Black women.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781541675636
Publisher: Basic Books
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 28 April 2022
Country: United States
Imprint: Basic Books
Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 34.0mm
Width: 162.0mm
Height: 236.0mm
Weight: 540g
Pages: 352
About the Author
Kristen Green is a reporter and the author of the New York Times bestseller Something Must Be Done About Prince Edward County, which received the Library of Virginia Literary Award for Nonfiction and the People's Choice Award. She has worked as a writer for two decades for newspapers including the Boston Globe, the San Diego Union-Tribune, and the Richmond Times-Dispatch. She holds a master's in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School, and lives with her husband and two young daughters in Richmond, Virginia.
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