100 Objects #12: "Negro Cloth"
Summary
Host Roman Mars interviews historian Seth Rockman about his book *Plantation Goods*, focusing on a rare scrap of "Negro cloth" found in archival letters. Rockman explains how Northern manufacturers like the Hazard brothers profited from slavery by producing durable textiles for enslaved people, rationalizing their complicity through economic benefits to their communities. The episode explores the complex interdependence between Northern industry and Southern slavery, drawing parallels to modern ethical dilemmas in global supply chains.
Topics discussed
Sponsors: Edward Jones and AT&T Business
The difficulty of finding enslaved people's clothing
Discovery of a fabric sample in archival letters
Rhode Island manufacturers and the rise of 'Negro cloth'
Enslaved people's influence on clothing choices
Economic interdependence between North and South
Moving beyond simple narratives of Northern complicity
Sponsors: Claude, Article, and Progressive
Hybrid factory and household production methods
Race, material culture, and New England workers' awareness
Manufacturers' moral justifications and community prosperity
Local prosperity tied to slavery and Civil War allegiances
Modern parallels: Global supply chains and ethical consumption
Understanding the historical processes behind commodities
Credits and contact information for 99% Invisible
Sponsor: Power Home Remodeling
Sponsor: SimpliSafe
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