The Price for Their Pound of Flesh

"The Price for Their Pound of Flesh" examines the economic valuation of enslaved people throughout every stage of their lives in early America, from birth to death and beyond. Drawing on extensive research and historical records, historian Daina Ramey Berry uncovers the ways enslavers maximized profits and engaged in illicit trades, shedding light on the troubling commodification of human life. The book provides a nuanced and humane perspective on the enslaved experience, challenging readers to reconsider the legacy and economics of slavery.