Now in paperback

Blacks in the DutchWorld
The Evolution of Racial Imagery in a Modern Society

Allison Blakely

Examination of the developmentof racial attitudes and color prejudice.

"In Blacks in theDutch World Blakely provides scholars with a valuable record -- in word and image --of the complex interaction between Dutch history and black history even as itexamines, sensitively and persuasively, some of the intricate combinations offactors which are involved in color bias and its cultural expression." --Catherine Levesque, New West Indian Guide/Nieuwe West-IndischeGids

..". provocative and exceptionally well written -- asignificant contribution to the history of Dutch overseas expansion." --Johannes Postma, Journal of Interdisciplinary History

"Thisis a very interesting, well-written, and thoroughly researched study based on agreat variety of sources." -- Choice

Blacks in the DutchWorld examines the interaction between Black history and Dutch history to gain anunderstanding of the development of racial attitudes. Allison Blakely reveals cracksin the self-image and reputation of Dutch society as a haven for those escapingintolerance. Pervasive images of "the Moor" and "the noblesavage" appear in Dutch art and popular culture; and "Black Pete" isa servant to Santa Claus in Dutch Christmas tradition. These and many other culturalartifacts reflect the racial stereotyping of Blacks that existed in the Dutch worldthrough the time of slavery and servitude, and thenfreedom.

Blakely weighs the proposition that factors unique to themodern period have contributed to the creation of this racial imagery in Dutchfolklore, art, literature, and religion. By viewing evolving images of Blacksagainst the backdrop of Western expansion, the agricultural, scientific, andindustrial revolutions, and the advent of modern secular doctrines, Blakelydiscovers that humanism and liberalism, hallmarks of Dutch society since medievaltimes, have been imperfect guardians against racial bias.

AllisonBlakely, Professor of European History and Comparative History at Howard University, is author of Russia and the Negro: Blacks in Russian History and Thought, winner ofan American Book Award.

Blacks in the Diaspora -- Darlene ClarkHine, John McCluskey, Jr.,
David Barry Gaspar, generaleditors

March 2001 (cloth 1994)
352 pages, 119 illus., intro., notes, index, 6 1/8 x 9 1/4
cloth 0-253-31191-8 $45.00 L /34.00
paper 0-253-21433-5 $22.95 s / 17.50