Civil War and Living History Reenacting about People of Color. How to Begin, What to Wear, Why Reenact (Paperback, Annotated edition)

Love history? Why not live it? Reenacting history is more than just an exciting pastime; it is a powerful educational medium that breathes life into our heritage. This guide will inspire African-Americans to attend Civil War battle reenactments and join in the living history experience as reenactors representing either military roles or civilians in non-combat roles. Discussions include the basic requirements of this hobby and the rationale for participating, but reenacting as a means of celebrating the heroic deeds of black people during the Civil War is the primary focus of the text. Brief biographical sketches of such notable figures as Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass, a description of plantation life with quotes from slave narratives and Civil War documents, occupations of slaves and "free people of color," interviews with reenactors, numerous illustrations of appropriate wearing apparel, and much more will delight "living historians," who must be knowledgeable about the life experience of slaves and free persons. An extensive annotated bibliography of reference sources is a bonus for both for Civil War reenactors and for school library collections.