Once We Were Slaves: The Extraordinary Journey of a Multiracial Jewish Family (Oxford University Press, 2021)

Please join us on Thursday, August 12, at 5 p.m. Eastern, for a 2021 History Book Festival virtual event with Laura Arnold Leibman, author of Once We Were Slaves: The Extraordinary Journey of a Multiracial Jewish Family (Oxford University Press, 2021). This presentation is co-sponsored by the Seaside Jewish Community of Rehoboth Beach. This event is free but registration is required.

About the book
Blanche Moses, a descendent of one of this country’s most prominent Jewish families, was researching her family history when she made an astounding discovery: her grandmother and great-uncle were not Sephardic Jews but actually began their lives as poor Christian slaves in Barbados. Sarah and Isaac Brandon transformed themselves, becoming free, wealthy, Jewish, and — at times — white. Their story sheds new light on the fluidity of race, and the role of religion in racial shift, in the first half of the 19th century.

About the author
Laura Arnold Leibman is a Professor of English and Humanities at Reed College in Portland, Ore. She is the author of The Art of the Jewish Family: A History of Women in Early New York in Five Objects, and Messianism, Secrecy and Mysticism: A New Interpretation of Early American Jewish Life.

How to attend the online event
All registered attendees will receive a follow-up email from “LibCal” with Zoom log-in information. If you don’t receive this email after registering, please check your SPAM folder. If you still can’t locate the email, please contact info@historybookfestival.org.

Purchase the book
Please help support local independent bookstores by purchasing this book at Browseabout Books, official bookseller of the History Book Festival. Online sources and digital versions are tempting; however, supporting local brick and mortar shops helps to preserve our vibrant main streets. Drop by Browseabout, order books online, or call the store at 302-226-2665. You also may purchase a copy at biblion in Lewes. Each copy purchased comes with a signed archival bookplate.

About the Festival
With the help of our presenting sponsors—Delaware Humanities and The Lee Ann Wilkinson Group, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices I Gallo Realty—as well as our community partners and volunteers, the 2021 History Book Festival will, once again, be full of great discussions online with authors of newly published narrative nonfiction and historical fiction.

Our 2021 Festival will follow last year’s format: allowing you to bring history home—and stay safe! We are extremely grateful for the virtual venue and assistance in event promotion provided by the Lewes Public Library, in conjunction with the Delaware Division of Libraries and Sussex County Libraries. Thanks also to Browseabout Books, our official bookseller, and the Cape Gazette, our media partner.