Rebecca Hankins - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Rebecca Hankins
The Muslim World
of the New World-after Catholicism and before Judaism and Protestantism." 4 In fact, a 1670 Virgi... more of the New World-after Catholicism and before Judaism and Protestantism." 4 In fact, a 1670 Virginia slave statue declared that "many negroes, moors, mollatoes and others borne of and in heathenish, idollatrous, pagan and mahometan parentage and country have heretofore, and may hereafter be purchased, procured, or otherwise obtained of, from or out of such their heathenish country by some well-disposed Christians, who after such their obtaining and purchasing such negroe moor or molatto as their slave, out of a pious zeale have wrought the conversion of such slaves to the christian faith." 5 The historiographical recording of the Amistad Rebellion and the Muslim silences in the story of the Africans are thus crucial focal points. As a first step, this essay engages the initial and now canonical literary works, allowing us to tease out different versions of the Amistad story that too often were filtered through the language of others rather than the Africans themselves. In 1839, and for decades afterwards, the recording of historical events was primarily a white prerogative. Thus, in popular representations of the case, (white) lawyers representing both the various parties trying to lay claim to the kidnapped Africans, and those representing the Africans as they sought to reject their status as property, are very visibly equipped with documents, books, and loose sheets of paper. The Africans themselves, while engaging in verbal communication about the proceedings, do not have access to such recording tools. And, in fact, the history of the rebellion and subsequent trial has been recorded by numerous white parties, thus eclipsing the subject position of the Africans. This essay seeks to center Black artists and their artwork that will provide a shared racialized voice and perspective to the Amistad Africans. Engaging both archive and art, this essay asks: What are the implications of both official histories and alternative historical retellings for how we understand the Muslim American presence-both in a central drama of nineteenth century America and more broadly? What impact did the Amistad Research Center (named after this historic event and now housed at Tulane University in New Orleans), have on their representations of the Africans? How do works by twentieth century African American artists Hale Woodruff, Romare Bearden, and Jacob Lawrence choose to depict these individuals and the influence of the Amistad Revolt? Each artist has created unique artistic reproductions of the Amistad Revolt and of Cinque, its leader? These four works, Woodruff's Mutiny Aboard the Amistad, 1839 and The Amistad Slaves on Trial at New Haven, 1839, 6 Bearden's Slave Ship (Cinque), 7 and Lawrence's Revolt on The Amistad, 8 speak to the lasting impression the Amistad Revolt, the Amistad Research Center, and the Africans had on these artists' personal lives and careers. How do these stories continue to impact our understanding of the identities of Cinque and the Amistad Africans?
The Race and Ethnic Studies guide supports the research of faculty, staff and students that contr... more The Race and Ethnic Studies guide supports the research of faculty, staff and students that contribute to the critical understanding of the salience of race and ethnicity in human societies.
The Race and Ethnic Studies guide supports the research of faculty, staff and students that contr... more The Race and Ethnic Studies guide supports the research of faculty, staff and students that contribute to the critical understanding of the salience of race and ethnicity in human societies. W.E.B. DuBois and other primary source materials
Prof. Amy Earhart's 2014 course focuses on the Millican Riots U.S. Census, slave census, birt... more Prof. Amy Earhart's 2014 course focuses on the Millican Riots U.S. Census, slave census, birth marriage & death records, WWI draft registration records
Prof. Lisa Ramos Spring 2015 course Selected organization, family, and related manuscript materials
This guide provides access and assistance for finding books, articles and other information on Ar... more This guide provides access and assistance for finding books, articles and other information on Arabic and Middle Eastern subjects. Please feel free to submit any revisions or additions to Rebecca Hankins, rhankins@tamu.edu, 979-845-1951.
The Muslim World
of the New World-after Catholicism and before Judaism and Protestantism." 4 In fact, a 1670 Virgi... more of the New World-after Catholicism and before Judaism and Protestantism." 4 In fact, a 1670 Virginia slave statue declared that "many negroes, moors, mollatoes and others borne of and in heathenish, idollatrous, pagan and mahometan parentage and country have heretofore, and may hereafter be purchased, procured, or otherwise obtained of, from or out of such their heathenish country by some well-disposed Christians, who after such their obtaining and purchasing such negroe moor or molatto as their slave, out of a pious zeale have wrought the conversion of such slaves to the christian faith." 5 The historiographical recording of the Amistad Rebellion and the Muslim silences in the story of the Africans are thus crucial focal points. As a first step, this essay engages the initial and now canonical literary works, allowing us to tease out different versions of the Amistad story that too often were filtered through the language of others rather than the Africans themselves. In 1839, and for decades afterwards, the recording of historical events was primarily a white prerogative. Thus, in popular representations of the case, (white) lawyers representing both the various parties trying to lay claim to the kidnapped Africans, and those representing the Africans as they sought to reject their status as property, are very visibly equipped with documents, books, and loose sheets of paper. The Africans themselves, while engaging in verbal communication about the proceedings, do not have access to such recording tools. And, in fact, the history of the rebellion and subsequent trial has been recorded by numerous white parties, thus eclipsing the subject position of the Africans. This essay seeks to center Black artists and their artwork that will provide a shared racialized voice and perspective to the Amistad Africans. Engaging both archive and art, this essay asks: What are the implications of both official histories and alternative historical retellings for how we understand the Muslim American presence-both in a central drama of nineteenth century America and more broadly? What impact did the Amistad Research Center (named after this historic event and now housed at Tulane University in New Orleans), have on their representations of the Africans? How do works by twentieth century African American artists Hale Woodruff, Romare Bearden, and Jacob Lawrence choose to depict these individuals and the influence of the Amistad Revolt? Each artist has created unique artistic reproductions of the Amistad Revolt and of Cinque, its leader? These four works, Woodruff's Mutiny Aboard the Amistad, 1839 and The Amistad Slaves on Trial at New Haven, 1839, 6 Bearden's Slave Ship (Cinque), 7 and Lawrence's Revolt on The Amistad, 8 speak to the lasting impression the Amistad Revolt, the Amistad Research Center, and the Africans had on these artists' personal lives and careers. How do these stories continue to impact our understanding of the identities of Cinque and the Amistad Africans?
The Race and Ethnic Studies guide supports the research of faculty, staff and students that contr... more The Race and Ethnic Studies guide supports the research of faculty, staff and students that contribute to the critical understanding of the salience of race and ethnicity in human societies.
The Race and Ethnic Studies guide supports the research of faculty, staff and students that contr... more The Race and Ethnic Studies guide supports the research of faculty, staff and students that contribute to the critical understanding of the salience of race and ethnicity in human societies. W.E.B. DuBois and other primary source materials
Prof. Amy Earhart's 2014 course focuses on the Millican Riots U.S. Census, slave census, birt... more Prof. Amy Earhart's 2014 course focuses on the Millican Riots U.S. Census, slave census, birth marriage & death records, WWI draft registration records
Prof. Lisa Ramos Spring 2015 course Selected organization, family, and related manuscript materials
This guide provides access and assistance for finding books, articles and other information on Ar... more This guide provides access and assistance for finding books, articles and other information on Arabic and Middle Eastern subjects. Please feel free to submit any revisions or additions to Rebecca Hankins, rhankins@tamu.edu, 979-845-1951.