The Invisibles

The Untold Story of African American Slaves in the White House

By: Jesse Holland

Narrated by: JD Jackson

Length: 8 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's Summary

Jesse J. Holland's The Invisibles is the first book to tell the story of the executive mansion's most unexpected residents: the African American slaves who lived with the US presidents who owned them.

Interest in African Americans and the White House are at an all-time high due to the historic presidency of Barack Obama and the soon-to-be-opened Smithsonian National Museum of African American Culture and History. The Invisibles chronicles the African American presence inside the White House from its beginnings in 1782 until 1862, when President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which granted slaves their freedom. During these years, slaves were the only African Americans to whom the most powerful men in the United States were exposed on a daily and familiar basis. By hearing about these often-intimate relationships, listeners will better understand some of the views that various presidents held about class and race in American society and how these slaves contributed not only to the lives and comforts of the presidents they served but to America as a whole.

©2016 Jesse J. Holland (P)2016 Tantor

Critic Reviews

"A quick, informative history of a lamentable chapter in America's past." ( Kirkus)

Riveting Book

Each February in honor of the National Black History Month, I read a book by or about African Americans. “The Invisibles” is my choice for 2016. Holland tells the stories of the slaves who worked inside the White House from President Washington until President Lincoln’s 1862 Emancipation Proclamation. The slaves worked as cooks, butlers, maids, body servants, doormen and footmen. Holland provides in-depth stories of some slaves, primarily those that had documented history, such as, George Washington’s William Lee, Thomas Jefferson’s Sally Heming and James Madison’s Paul Jennings. President John Adams and President John Q. Adams did not have slaves. I noted an error in the book, Holland stated that the Adams were Quakers; that is incorrect they were Unitarians. Holland also provided an over view of the history of slavery in American including race mixing.

Holland is a journalist who wrote the book “Black Men Built the Capitol”. The book is well research, documented and well written. Holland provides analysis and insight into the period of American slavery. Overall the book provides a look at the White House from the viewpoint of slavery. J. D. Jackson did a good job narrating the book.

A history that all Americans should know.

Would you listen to The Invisibles again? Why?

This is a fascinating, all too short history of the enslaved African-Americans who were the support staff of the great majority of our early presidents.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

The great variety of human stories - from the young woman who escaped George Washington's Philadelphia Executive Mansion to P. Jennings who showed charity to his former mistress (Dolly Madison) even though she had broken every promise made to him and his fellow slaves she had made. And the last slave of a US President lived until 1943!

What about JD Jackson’s performance did you like?

Mr. Jackson had an easy to listen to clear voice and showed flexibility in both expressing the author's and the quoted slaves emotions and ideas while keeping the listener's interest.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The Real Backstairs of the White House.

Any additional comments?

I only regret that Mr. Holland did not have more to share with us ( which he bemoans himself) and thank him for educating me on a subject that was never mentioned in my time in school.

Finally Visible

This is a captivating story of people who have been ignored by history. Holland uses his impressive research abilities to finally bring some of their tales to light. It is a masterful effort.

The author's voice is clear and eloquent.

reading and Listening to this book takes you back to the time the author speaks of

Disappointed

This book had no storyline. Rather than tell a story it simply retold event after event, drawing.

Loved it. Bought the actual book after listening.

I really enjoyed the audio version and even purchased the actual book after I listened to it. Will re-read and share.

interesting srubject

The subject matter was interesting. However, the writing remindd me of a research paper. I struggled to read through it as it did not hold my attemtion. I also tried the audio version in order to complete. However, it still diid not grab my attention.

Well documented

A well planned guideline through America's darkest years. Good insight from the enslaved. All the laws passed to deny slaves freedom is shocking.

Good info poorly written

The information in this book is useful and I'm glad to have expanded my general understanding of the subject of slavery and the history of the White House

However - it seems disjointed and often out of sequence. If I hadn't known the presidents in order I'd have Ben turned upside down.

Sometimes facts are repeated several times in a section - with exact same wording each time. It seemed at times previously stated facts were forgotten in the narrative. For example, Martha Washington's personal maid ran away because she was about to be given as a wedding present to a harsh mistress - later the maid is asked why she ran away and could give no answer why she'd left such a kind mistress. Eventually she said she wanted to be free. Any of the story may be correct or accurate, but it didn't make much sense listening to it. At the same time, the point is valid and presumably accurate that freedom is one of mankind's most basic needs and desires.

It may be some of my frustrations with the chronology would have been clarified by reading the book itself rather than listening to it.

Fascinating

Very informative and to the point history that we otherwise would not have known. Well done!