There is nothing quite like holding a copy of your own book for the first time. Yesterday UNC Press sent along a single copy of Searching for Black Confederates: The Civil War’s Most Persistent Myth and it looks amazing. The cover art is stunning. I am still feeling overwhelmed over the fact that this book is now a reality.
The book has been shipped from the printer to the warehouse and should be going out to those of you who pre-ordered as well as bookstores across the country very soon.
I was able to thank a number of you in the acknowledgments section, but I am sure I missed many, who over the years have supported my efforts, commented on the blog, and sent along additional sources. Blogging has been indispensable to my research and writing. It has functioned as something akin to peer review. This was true in regard to my first book on the battle of the Crater and it is even more the case this time around.
I wrote my first blog post about the black Confederate back in 2008 in response to an essay by historian Bruce Levine. Since then the subject, the idea of writing a book, and the actual research and writing has occupied a good part of my life. The publication of this book means that I can finally leave this subject behind.
That’s not to say that I believe this book is the last word on the subject. Far from it. I hope that it spurs additional interest in the subject—both in terms of the history and memory of black Confederates—among historians. There are a number of places in my book that deserve additional attention and I plan on writing up a blog post soon to point out a few.
For now I just want to thank each and everyone of you in this community. I hope you see the publication of this book as a small token of my appreciation.
Congratulations. Very exciting. Will your new book be added to Audible?
Yes. It’s in the works.
congratulations, what a great feeling it must be.
Where are you appearing in NE Massachusetts?
Hi Matt,
Thanks for the kind words. Here is my speaking schedule so far. I am happy to come up to your neck of the woods if you want to take the lead in organizing an event.
Mine arrived via Kindle last night. Looks great.
Great to hear. Hope you enjoy it, Pat.
So far, so good. I am halfway through.
Glad to hear it.
Pre-ordered mine ages ago. Looking forward to reading it.
Congratulations—like everyone else, I’m looking forward to having my own copy to read! See you in June!
Congratulations. We will definitely be selling copies at Carter House and Carnton. Btw, I cannot wait to share a copy with the occasional visitor who wants to talk about the subject.
Thanks, Eric. Glad to know that I am making your job just a little bit easier. 🙂
Congratulations Kevin! Looking forward to reading this. I have followed your blog over the years. I also read your Crater book. Hopefully you will make back to Batavia NY with this book.
Thanks, Terrance. I would love to return to Batavia. I spoke at the local community college a few years back.
Still sitting on pinzen needullz in anticipation of finally receiving my very own personal copy!!!
To tell you the honest truth, I’m still majorly shocked with disbelief that it even took this long for anybody to dedicate a proper bound volume publication on this most important and contentious topic from a perspective of objective and VERIFIABLE factual evidences, especially considering how for the past two decades SCV/UDC-influenced “Lost Cause” propagandists have been rabidly pushing the “Black Confederate Soldier” narrative (always with severely conflicting and contradictory numbers from one proponent to the next) in their extremely desperate attempts to downplay not only the historical reality of institutionalized slavery and the bitter divisiveness it had fomented in this Nation for decades, but also utilizing this laughable myth in a decisive effort to “excuse themselves” from the fact that many of their family members may quite likely have benefitted in some direct or indirect way from such a blatantly inequitable system.
So again, thank you so very much for taking the time and putting in the effort to conduct & compile your research into this subject matter to produce in a convenient form something that was in all fact long overdue.
Better late than never. I hope people find the book helpful.
Having read your blog for many years, I feel almost like I’ve read your book already. But I know there will be a lot of new information.
Thanks for taking on this subject to help yourself and others come to a better understanding of it. And glad you can now move on to other things as well.
Hopefully you will find a few new tidbits to chew on. Thanks for all the support over the years.
Look forward to meeting you when you speak in Baltimore on September 30th.
Same here, Bryan. At least I now know there will be at least one person in the audience. 🙂
I sent you a message through your “contact us” on your website. Hope you got it.
I did. Thanks.
Baltimore? Will you be in DC too???
Yes, I will be speaking at the National Archives on September 24 at noon. Thanks for pre-ordering the book.
Congratulations. Just pre-ordered it from Amazon.
Much appreciated, Terry.
Kevin,
Congratulations. I will do all I can to bring your book to our customer’s attention. I know of at least two regulars that I’m sure will snap it up. As for me, I’ll wait for the movie to come out. Seriously, I will be the first to purchase it.
Best
Rob
Thanks a bunch, Rob. I really do appreciate the support.
Kevin,
Just curious. For those of us who won’t be near any of your speaking engagements, will there be any possibilities for getting an autographed copy?
Best
Rob
Hi Rob,
Thanks for the question. Yes, I will be offering signed copies in the very near future. I will post something here when they are available. Thanks for the support.
Congrats. I look forward to reading the book. I have been reading your blog for nine years and I enjoyed your Crater book, so I have a lot of confidence in your newest work.
Thanks for all the comments over the years. I hope our paths cross again soon.
Congratulaitions, Kevin. I look forward to reading it.
Congratulations, Kevin! I’ve enjoyed reading your research journey for several years and I’m confident your published work will open the eyes of many, in a positive way. I look forward to reading my copy, and one day, have you sign it. Well done!
Thanks, Rachael. I appreciate the kind words and I look forward to signing your copy.
I recently learned my great great grandfather served with the Confederacy. He was the mulatto son, named Thomas Cooper of a slave owner, George Cooper from Winston County, MS. I look forward to reading this history.
Thanks for the kind words, but we need to be very careful when we use the words “served the Confederacy” in this context. Best of luck with your research.
Congratulations. I hope to catch you at a promotional lecture. I hope you consider the wilds of southeastern Michigan.
Thanks, Yulanda. Looks like right now the closest I will come is the Ann Arbor Civil War Round Table in June 2020.
Ahh….. But Ann Arbor is just a suburb of Detroit. Will see you there!
Great. Looking forward to finally meeting you.
Definite co-sign of the sentiments of my USCT bud Yulanda. Good work Kevin. Grateful for the ammunition to shoot down this notorious mythology.
Thanks. I appreciate the kind words.
Congratulations. Looking forward to reading it.
Thanks, Robert.
Congratulations, and I look forward to reading it! Terrific blurbs too. But you must know that you will not be leaving this topic behind, as in coming years you will be asked to speak and comment on this topic. And to respond to neo-Confederate critics!
Absolutely, but finally completing this project has been a huge weight lifted off my shoulder that has allowed me for the first time in years to really focus on other things. Thanks.