The Great Negro Plot: A Tale of Conspiracy and Murder in Eighteenth-Century New York

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The author provides a good social and political analysis of the colony and the times in the British colonies of that early era.

The ad hoc and prejudicial character of the rudimentary judicial system is a focal point in the events of that century in the relationship between the colonists, Dutch and English, and their slaves and the indentured servants, both white and black, and the free Africans who were in the colony. Johnson walks us through the twists of the trial and the ever-growing names suggested as invovled in the plot.

By the time the fearful and beleaguered accused finished making up names to add to their concocted stories, a whole host of slave and free, black and white, English, Spanish and Dutch were in custody, and a host convicted of death of a pure myth. It is amazing that this was a self-righteous and arrogant society that considered themselves enlightened, the cream of God's creation. Paranoid fear, unbelievable ignorance and credulity, deep prejudice and frantic fear drove a conspiracy of the establishment and the supposed justice system to badger, pressure, and torture accused until they would make up stories to "confess" what the court wanted to hear, producing a creative body of false stories to satisfy the need.

This story out of the true history of the British colonies ranks with the Salem witch trials to present a picture of ignorant and paranoid brutality and incredible lack of thought in a cruel and brutish system. Among the punishments were roasting alive, and a festival of hanging under the haranguing pressure of a blood-thirsty public. Search for a book to add a reference. We take abuse seriously in our discussion boards. Only flag comments that clearly need our attention.

A Tale of Conspiracy and Murder in Eighteenth-Century New York

As a general rule we do not censor any content on the site. Simpson murder case, it lasted for months energized by the anticipated public executions which also served as a form of entertainment held expeditiously after sentencing. The madness finally subdues when Mary Burton misses her cue and implies that members of New York's elite society were involved.

Coincidentally, it is about the same time that white slave owners grew weary of their most prized and expensive possessions slaves being withheld from work and destroyed at the expense of their purse, shrinking profit-margins, and public amusement. In the end, slaves and freedmen were jailed, 14 burned alive, 18 hanged and disappeared. Of the whites involved, 24 were imprisoned and four were executed; Hughson, his wife, a known prostitute who also was "knowingly friendly" with slaves , and an estranged newcomer.

Using actual court documents and the court recorder diaries, Johnson reconstructs a detailed time line against a realistic backdrop cleverly inserting the social mores, political climate, customs, traditions and mindset of the day. It was eye-opening to learn how largely uneducated the masses were and how slaves during this period of time were highly skilled craftsman as opposed to unskilled manual laborers.

At opportune moments, the author blends history with modern events, an example being the discovery of the African Burial ground in Manhattan, and points out where history has indeed repeated itself in years following Although it is quite obvious how things would end, Johnson's storytelling nonetheless kept me turning pages. History buffs will enjoy this read. May 09, R. Byers rated it it was amazing.

Dec 28, Margaret rated it did not like it Shelves: Johnson read some wonderful sources to write this, including several primary sources, but the book is neither historical fiction which I had hoped nor is it really a historical analysis. He retells the events with minimal context and 21st century commentary.

The best thing about this book is the list of sources Johnson consulted, which I would love to read! Jan 25, Sisters of the Desert Sun rated it really liked it. Mat Johnson is great! This account of the New York conspiracy was well researched and delivered in a highly engaging manner.

This is a very quick read but leaves you with a wealth of information.

The Great Negro Plot: A Tale of Conspiracy and Murder in Eighteenth-Century New York

The Great Negro Plot was quite informative. Definitely a must read recommendation on my list. Jul 31, ohradiogirl rated it liked it. I've enjoyed Johnson's previous novels. Not quite the summer read that my reading group had hoped for, but Johnson's sarcasm sneaks in quite a bit to break up the monotony of the continual witch hunt that took place in New York in the 18th century.

The Great Negro Plot: A Tale of Conspiracy and \t\t Murder in Eighteenth-Century New York

Oct 19, Karen Simpson rated it really liked it Recommends it for: Sep 04, Mike rated it liked it. This is a short interesting book on a little known aspect of Colonial New York. Much of what we hear about regarding slavery is centered on plantation slavery in the south. This book centers on the plight of urban black slaves in the north through the trial of blacks involved in the Great Negro Plot to destroy New York through arson and murder in The author draws interesting parallels to the Salem witch trials nearly a century before.

Although it is not mentioned in the book, I am also str This is a short interesting book on a little known aspect of Colonial New York. Although it is not mentioned in the book, I am also struck at how the Colonial justice system in North America appears to be very similar to the Soviet era show trials of the s through s under Josef Stalin. Although I would have liked to have seen the book fleshed out with a little more background on colonial New York and the colonial officials, the author clearly states that he is focusing on those on trial and their immediate accusers.

Mar 29, Michael rated it really liked it Shelves: It's pretty well written and very interesting, although Johnson's taste for sentence fragments sometimes irks me.

Jan 06, Orville Jenkins rated it it was amazing. I bought this book at an Arlington Public Library annual sale in September It is the story about a series of events involving a supposed conspiracy of arson and rebellion by slaves and free Africans in New York Colony in the s. The author provides a good social and political analysis of the colony and the times in the British colonies of that early era. The ad hoc and prejudicial character of the rudimentary judicial system is a focal point in the events of that century in the relations I bought this book at an Arlington Public Library annual sale in September The ad hoc and prejudicial character of the rudimentary judicial system is a focal point in the events of that century in the relationship between the colonists, Dutch and English, and their slaves and the indentured servants, both white and black, and the free Africans who were in the colony.

Johnson walks us through the twists of the trial and the ever-growing names suggested as invovled in the plot.

By the time the fearful and beleaguered accused finished making up names to add to their concocted stories, a whole host of slave and free, black and white, English, Spanish and Dutch were in custody, and a host convicted of death of a pure myth. It is amazing that this was a self-righteous and arrogant society that considered themselves enlightened, the cream of God's creation.

KIRKUS REVIEW

Paranoid fear, unbelievable ignorance and credulity, deep prejudice and frantic fear drove a conspiracy of the establishment and the supposed justice system to badger, pressure, and torture accused until they would make up stories to "confess" what the court wanted to hear, producing a creative body of false stories to satisfy the need. This story out of the true history of the British colonies ranks with the Salem witch trials to present a picture of ignorant and paranoid brutality and incredible lack of thought in a cruel and brutish system.

Among the punishments were roasting alive, and a festival of hanging under the haranguing pressure of a blood-thirsty public. Jun 27, Joshua rated it liked it Shelves: A quick account of an interesting event in America's and New York's history. Wanda rated it really liked it Jul 06, Nicholas rated it really liked it May 29, Julius Georgedes rated it really liked it Jan 04, Emma rated it really liked it Jan 05,

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