A People's History of Florida

[Geronimo Pratt]

Now Available on Amazon!

http://www.amazon.com/Peoples-History-Florida-1513-1876-Seminoles/dp/1442167092/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8“s=books“qid=1243000971“sr=8-8

Read Free Book Excerpts!

http://apeopleshistoryflorida.tripod.com/index.html

Book Description:

Beneath the normal tropical romanticism that has comprised Florida history, lies a long bloody history of struggle of runaway slaves and Seminoles fighting the U.S. military for land and freedom. Beneath the fancy tourist hotels, theme parks, and lily-white suburban enclaves, lie the bones of black Seminole maroons who fled from their masters, seeking freedom under Spanish and Seminole protection. Underneath the shore-front retirement homes of Northern migrants, the wealthy mansions of South Florida, and the overdeveloped downtown areas, lie the bones of Florida’s poor whites who fought against an aristocracy of big banks, wealthy speculators, and aristocratic planters. Underneath the Civil War tourist attractions, gift shops, and battlefield renditions, lie the bones of poor whites who were drafted into the Confederate army to fight for the privileged, only to desert and return to fight Florida’s Confederate government on the home front. You get the picture. This is not a postcard image of Florida as a sunny beach found in a tourist-based gift shop in the middle of a Gulf-front town. This is the blood, sweat, and tears of countless people who fought for freedom, land, and autonomy.

[New Tet]

Sounds interesting as hell!

[KurtFF8]

As someone who lives in Florida right now (although I'm probably leaving soon) this sounds quite interesting and I'll likely pick it up.

The Amazon description is well written:



Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Howard Zinn, author of A People's History of the United States, predicted that the bottom class perspective of history would eventually gain ground, enveloping the old way of narrating history as told by the powerful. Since then, numerous historical events have been redefined through the outlook of common people that were involved from the bottom-up, forever altering how we understand history. No more romantic diatribes glittered in patriotic myths. No more traditional heroes, standardized viewpoints, unquestionable "facts," or generalized falsehoods. Just plain raw truth that is not afraid to stampede powerful governments with the herd of popular outrage. The People's History of Florida follows the People's History tradition, documenting the active involvement of African-Americans, indigenous people, women, and poor whites in shaping the Sunshine State's history.

[Geronimo Pratt]

Good looks. I'm hoping that this book starts a precedent for people to research and write about the history of common people organizing and challenging the system in their own local regions. Applying the People's History perpective to regional history is perfect for the left-wing. Obviously, anarchists emphasize a fraternity of local movements to create a network of resistance over a wider region. And what could help local organizing more so than understanding the failures, successes, tactics, and ideas of common people in our regional history?

[Revy]

VERY interesting. I live in Florida too, so I'm definitely getting this.

[mykittyhasaboner]

Awesome, I think I might actually buy this.

[Il Medico]

Damn, this sounds cool. I am picking this one up next time I go to the books store.

[Geronimo Pratt]

If you want to pick it up now, your best bet is Amazon. It still hasn't reached stores across the country yet.