White Cargo

The Forgotten History of Britain's White Slaves in America

De: Don Jordan, Michael Walsh

Narrado por: Roger Clark

White Cargo is the forgotten story of the thousands of Britons who lived and died in bondage in Britain's American colonies.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, more than 300,000 white people were shipped to America as slaves. Urchins were swept up from London's streets to labor in the tobacco fields, where life expectancy was no more than two years. Brothels were raided to provide "breeders" for Virginia. Hopeful migrants were duped into signing as indentured servants, unaware they would become personal property who could be bought, sold, and even gambled away. Transported convicts were paraded for sale like livestock.

Drawing on letters crying for help, diaries, and court and government archives, Don Jordan and Michael Walsh demonstrate that the brutalities usually associated with black slavery alone were perpetrated on whites throughout British rule. The trade ended with American independence, but the British still tried to sell convicts in their former colonies, which prompted one of the most audacious plots in Anglo-American history.

©2007 Don Jordan and Michael Walsh (P)2019 Tantor

Own the book, glad to find the Audio version

To me this is a story that needs to be told over and over again. Let us not forget the past. I would have preferred a different narrator. I understand the pic of the narration being the content of the book. But for me he was sometimes hard to understand.

fascinating history

fascinating history that I've never read/heard before and should be listed in the history classes taught in primary schools in the united states.
points deducted for introduction.
so America was also like Australia with England dumping its convicts?? who knew!!

I didn't like the narrator

Eye opener about how the Irish and young of Britain were sentenced to the "new land" (US), kidnapped and or sold as indentured slaves in the 17th and 18th century. This was before slaves were brought from Africa. Many were children and woman. Street urchins, homeless and criminals were all game to be sent on these slave ships. Sadly, many died on the voyage. Many died from just the hard work they did for their new masters. The people taking them on the ships were getting rich by not only money but by land!
I did not care for the narrator of this book. The voice was very boring to me.
I was bored in several sections but this on the whole was interesting.

Forgotten History that is Much Needed

As a descendant of an indentured servant I found this incredibly interesting. Nothing you’ll hear in a modern school and that is a shame.

a good book

this book is a good listen because it's filled with good information and insights. plus, the story kept moving forward without getting bogged down in overly details.

Very well done,

I'm a descendant from some white cargo folks and this was so informative and I just really enjoyed it and learned a lot so thank you for this book and I think anyone should read it of all races is if you're an American

An untold story that all should read.

This should be required reading, right next to the 1619 project. Neither should be given more weight. There is much more to the story of black & white slavery then most people know and, sadly, many will not acknowledge. Listen to this and become informed.

Indentured Servitude is a false term.

Schools do not do it justice. I recall it being skimmed over as teachers raced to spend a gracious amount of time on African Slavery. Therefore, for indentured servitude, I imagined a 9-5 job for a locked in set of years, decent living standards, proper clothes, decent food, etc... I could not have been more wrong.

There was mass kidnapping, law modification/abuse to create "convicts," land theft, forced vagrancy, forced labor, beatings/whippings, agreement abuse, high death rate, etc. Most indentured servants never lived long enough to see their freedom due to the harsh conditions; slaves were more expensive and considered a life investment, therefore treated better. Indentured servitude was even referred to as a "delayed death sentence." Even the recorded laws refer to them as chattel.

Besides, if you slept amongst the slaves, ate with the slaves, worked alongside the slaves, got beat just like the slaves, and your master could add years to your service on a whim... what makes you any different from the slaves?

"Indentured Servitude," the lie, has been told far too long and these poor souls deserve to have the truth told.

Wow learned a lot!

Well documented and well presented information and I like the narrator as well. A totally pleasurable experience and data everyone should have.

Blown away

As the decendant of an "endentured servant", I have a new appreciated for how horrific this life was. White slavery, no other word for it. Thank you for writing this book. I also bought the paper copy to peruse the reference list.