The Willie Lynch Letter and the Making of a Slave

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The book presents a controversial letter allegedly from a Caribbean slave owner, offering advice to ante-bellum slave masters on controlling their slaves. Despite its initial appearance in print in 1970 and later online circulation in the 1990s, historians have deemed it a hoax due to numerous inaccuracies. It explores the psychological aspects of slavery, drawing parallels between the "breaking" of slaves and horses. The narrative is complemented by contemporary engravings depicting slave life, providing a provocative yet flawed perspective on the institution of slavery.