A Thorough Debunking of the Black Confederate Myth

Below is the latest video from Atun-Shei Films. It is a highly entertaining video that thoroughly dismantles the Black Confederate myth. Those of you who have read Searching for Black Confederates will notice that a large chunk of the content comes from the book. I very much appreciate that the the book is referenced in the endnotes, which appear below the video on the YouTube page.

Enjoy.

A few of you have asked about when the book will be released in paperback. The good news is that, after over a year in publication, the book continues to sell at a brisk pace. Thanks to all of you for your continued support. However, that means that UNC Press doesn’t have any immediate plans to release a paperback version. The earliest could be Fall 2021, but it will likely not happen until early 2022. I will keep you updated.

Hope all of you are staying safe and enjoying the Holiday Season.

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7 comments… add one
  • Meg Groeling Dec 27, 2020 @ 15:50

    I put off watching this until I had some time to myself–I made a cup of coffee, then laughed as the soldiers did as well. What fun! If the war can be fun–even in videos. Happy New Year to all!

    • Kevin Levin Dec 28, 2020 @ 3:41

      Happy New Year to you as well. Stay safe.

  • Msb Dec 26, 2020 @ 2:22

    Thanks for sharing this! Both entertaining and informative.

    I’m glad to have the hardback of your excellent book. I prefer hard-cover copies of the “keepers”.

    Happy holidays to you and your family!

    • Kevin Levin Dec 26, 2020 @ 2:37

      I very much appreciate your support.

      Happy Holidays to you and your family as well.

  • Jim Simcoe Dec 25, 2020 @ 13:09

    Consider too the few photos of uniformed Black men after the war, in reunion marches. These guys lived in the middle of huge, army surplus stores for 2-4 years. There was nothing else to wear but cast offs, uniforms from deceased, etc. that the women cleaned and restored. If I had marched, froze, been up at first light to start the fires for the officers, cook food for the men, brew ‘coffee’, brought canteens to staff while under fire, I’d wear the uniform also. It meant, ‘I WAS THERE.’

    • Andy Hall Jan 14, 2021 @ 8:42

      White Confederate soldiers sometimes went to the trouble of outfitting their enslaved camp servants with quasi-military uniforms, whether from cast-offs or new purchase, The famous photo of Andrew Chandler and Silas Chandler is a good example of this; Silas wears a military-style jacket, but it’s not the same that Andrew wears as an enlisted soldier.

      It’s important to remember that the outfitting of personal servants, whether enslaved or free, was something that reflected well on the master, and showed HIS status, wealth, and generosity. It’s why some FFVs actually had liveried footmen for their carriages as late as the 1860s. They went out of their way to make their personal servants as sharp and martial-looking as they could, even if they and their jobs were fundamentally civilian in nature.

  • 65th NY Guy Dec 25, 2020 @ 5:23

    Thanks for sharing. His videos are always very good. Glad he referenced your excellent book as well. Happy Holidays!

    –Chris Barry

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