Book Review - Capital Days: Michael Shiner's Journal

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Michael Shiner was a black slave in Washington DC.  The small book that he kept detailing the events in and around his life began in 1812.  He described the invasion of Washington by the British - and ends with his death, in 1870.  He lived through the building of Washington, DC (and the rebuilding), the Civil War, and finally, he saw the day when all black slaves were admitted as citizens of the United States.

If you know anything about the history of slavery.Michael was outstanding in so many ways.  As a black man, he was able to read and write at a time when it was against the law to be able to do so.  He kept a book where he detailed small happenings in and around the place where he worked - the Washington Naval Yard.  He met people who have since become staples of United States History.

The book itself is a gem beyond words.  The author, Tonya Bolden, found this tiny little journal in the Library of Congress while researching for another project.  The book haunted her, and she put in time to find out more about Michael Shiner, who he was, and the times in which he lived.

The result of all this work is this amazing book that not only highlights the ups and downs of Michael's life but ties in the times that he is living in with the events in the wider world around him. Slave rebellions, kidnappings of black families to sell south into slavery, DC Riots, are all detailed in this wonderful step back in time.

One of my favorite highlights of the book was the timeline in the back of each chapter that tied together the events discussed in Michael Shiner's journal with events in United States History.  It really helped to bring his story to life.

If you are looking for a journey back in time, this is the book for you!