Historian Miranda Spieler reveals how Black individuals in 18th-century capitals resisted servitude, tracing their hidden lives and narrow paths to emancipation.
Historian explores hidden lives of Black individuals
Historian Miranda Spieler investigates the concealed experiences of Black women and men in the late 18th century who resisted their status as enslaved people, focusing on their struggles and limited opportunities for freedom in the capital.Focus on resistance and servitude
Spieler's work highlights the ways in which Black individuals in the capital challenged the institution of slavery, often through acts of defiance, escape, or legal maneuvering, despite the severe risks involved.Narrow paths to emancipation
The historian emphasizes that the road to freedom for these individuals was extremely limited, often requiring legal loopholes, financial resources, or the support of sympathetic individuals, which were rare in that era.Setting in the late 18th century capital
The study is centered on the capital city at the end of the 18th century, a time when slavery was still widespread, and the legal and social structures heavily favored the enslavers, making emancipation a difficult and dangerous pursuit.
