The Free Word - The Exiles of Florida

I occasionally deviate from my posts on state and local government issues to use this space to talk about select Librivox audio book projects that I am part of. One of my most recent recordings, which is now available for download and streaming, is Joshua Giddings’ classic history entitled “The Exiles of Florida.” Giddings wrote about the enslaved men and women who fled from the oppressive states of the Deep South into the then-Spanish held land of Florida to live in the freedom that Spanish law once allowed. The escaped slaves, known as “The Exiles,” lived for about thirty years in relative harmony with the native peoples of Florida, before their lives were turned upside down by the slave-owners who wanted their so-called “property” returned to them.

Working in concert with my frequent recording partner Maria Kasper (“The Exiles of Florida” is our sixth full-length collaborative effort) we bring to life the lives and struggles of the “Exiles” over the course of 11 ½ hours. The once peaceful lives of these individuals were impacted by the United States Army, which was dispatched to “repatriate” the slaves to their owners. The Seminole Wars of the 1800’s play a key role in this history, as does the forced resettlement of not only the “Exiles” but the native peoples of Florida, to reservations in the mid-West. The leaders on both sides of the conflict, both the good and the not-so-good, are brought to vivid life. Giddings does an excellent job illustrating that there were well-meaning people on both sides of the conflict, as well as brutal individuals who also participated in this often heartbreaking true-life accounts told in this historical drama.

Floridians will recognize many sites and locations mentioned in this history. St. Augustine and Tampa Bay play key roles in the story that Giddings unfolds over the years- long struggle to bring peace and discipline to a group of people who were living quite well on their own and without the interference of the federal government. Familiar locales such as the Withlacoochee River, Fort King and the Suwannee River are prominent landmarks that the struggle between the exiles, the native peoples and the military play out. The attempt to tame the wild country of 19th century Florida is vividly painted by Giddings.

Many Librivox recordings tackle the tough social issues that helped shape our nation. Maria and I were both contributors to the five volume collection of William Still’s “The Underground Railroad,” which told the story of the enslaved men and women who traveled the dangerous road to freedom before the outbreak of the Civil War. As far as social commentary goes, “The Exiles of Florida” is no exception. Maria and I rotate the coordination of our projects and this was her book to guide and direct. Our good friend and technical genius Ann Boulais does all the digital and computer work that makes our recordings available for download and streaming from a variety of devices.

There is never a charge to download or listen to any Librivox recording. If you would like to listen to “The Exiles of Florida” please follow this link and begin streaming or downloading today:

https://librivox.org/the-exiles-of-florida-by-joshua-giddings/