Antoine of Oak Alley: The Unlikely Origin of Southern Pecans and the Enslaved Man Who Cultivated Them

The story of Antoine is emblematic of countless enslaved people whose lives and contributions have been overlooked. Antoine, the enslaved gardener of Oak Alley Plantation, was the first person to successfully propagate the pecan tree yet he exists only as a footnote in the bigger story of Oak Alley Plantation. His pioneering work enabled large groves of trees to be planted creating a lucrative commercial crop and though his horticultural achievement has long been legend, virtually nothing is known about his life. Historian Katy Morales Shannon utilizes extensive research and period documents to expose his story and explore the lives of the enslaved community in which he lived. The life of this truly revolutionary enslaved man is revealed through the lives of his family and friends, the community they built, and the bonds they forged during their enslavement and their life as free people.

Author: Katy Morlas Shannon
Publisher: Pelican Publishing Company
Published: 11/29/2021
Pages: 272
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.28lbs
Size: 9.83h x 5.07w x 0.63d
ISBN13: 9781455625758
ISBN10: 1455625752
BISAC Categories:
- History | United States | State & Local | South (AL,AR,FL,GA,KY,LA,MS,
- Social Science | Ethnic Studies | American | African American & Black Studies
- History | United States | Civil War Period (1850-1877)