Pinkster King and the King of Kongo

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Exploring the history of the Dutch slave community and free African Americans in New Amsterdam and beyond, this work offers a fresh perspective on the Pinkster celebration, traditionally seen as a carnival. Jeroen Dewulf argues it embodies mutual aid and slave brotherhood, linking it to royal election rituals in other slave societies and the ancient Kingdom of Kongo. By emphasizing the social capital of slaves and their interactions with Portuguese culture, the book reshapes our understanding of African American identity's development in the region. It has received several prestigious awards for its contributions to African studies.