Gary Nash Red White

Throughout the text, Red, White, & Black: The Peoples of Early North America, the author, Gary Nash addresses not only the history of the United States, but also the history of North America as a whole. With his simple vocabulary and well-researched facts, Nash’s unbiased opinions reveal an accurate account of conflicts and cultural blending between multiple groups of people. As the title suggests the three groups of people are different races; it represents Native Americans, Europeans, and Africans. Although the title may not be considered politically correct due to the referral of Africans as blacks, Native Americans as red, and Europeans as white, it reveals the ignorance and also inability for the different races to communicate with each

Following the example of the French, Spanish, Dutch, and Portaguese, the English began shipping slaves from Africa to Virginia and Maryland in 1660. The English asserted their dominance over the Africans by capturing them in large numbers, "tight-packing" them onto ships, and forcing them to work until they died. Although they did not intentionally murder a large number of Africans like they did Native Americans, they did view the Africans as property and treated them without any regard for their lives. An example of this horrendous treatment is the selection process the Africans went through before even boarding the ship. When discussing the physical inspection the slaves had to endure Nash writes, "it was also part of the psychological assault meant to strip away self-respect and self-identity" (Nash 123) he reveals that every form of dehumanizing the Africans was planned out and executed. Each demeaning act was intentionally carried out to dehumanized and psychologically torture the Africans before their new lives as slaves began. Both the Native Americans and Africans were dominated both physically and psychologically by the English, resulting in North America being dominated by European

The Europeans who journeyed to North America brought their culture and languages with along with their sense of adventure. The Europeans also had to learn the land and how to live with another group of people. Native American and European relations were not always negative. In the 1640’s the Dutch who had settles in the Albany area were trading partners with the Mohawks while other European settlers were constantly at war with other tribes. When Nash states, “Every gun in Indian hands contributed to the profitable flow of beaver skins to Amsterdam” (Nash 68) he reveals the partnership that was created between the Mohawks and Dutch through the dependence on each other. The Mohawks benefitted from the Dutch by using their guns to defend themselves against other Native American tribes and in return they supplied the Dutch with beaver skins. Both groups benefitted, demonstrating that although conditions may not be ideal, one can make the best of it. Throughout the text, Nash references other texts separating his work from other history books. Red, White, and Black is not only about how The United States was formed, but also about the people who lay the foundation for the country today. Today America prides itself on the themes sprinkled throughout the text. Many American citizens pride themselves on belonging to one of the most powerful and dominant