I learned a lot reading this book. The author has meticulously researched the little known history of whaling captains of color. This one of the few professions where your skill mattered more than your skin color. It is well written and the author does a wonderful job of bringing these characters to life. Enjoy

An incredibly necessary book; great for anyone interested in the subjects of whaling and historical POC representation.

i really enjoyed learning the history of whaling and how there were captains of color. It was a well researched and well written book.

***I was granted an ARC of this via Netgalley from the publisher.***

Not so long ago, many people of color in the United States did not have many options for employment. When they did find it, they faced an uphill battle in advancing up the ladder. However, in the book, Whaling Captains of Color: America's First Meritocracy, Skip Finley reveals that the whaling industry was one place where a man of color could move up through the ranks and become Master (captain) of a ship. Finley shows how Native Americans, American Blacks, and Cape Verdeans worked on this whaling vessels and became masters of them. Not only does he relate their individual stories but he mixes it with what the whaling industry was and life aboard a whaling vessel. These men did face racism but on a whaling vessel where life was hard and death always near, whether or not a man could do his job well overcame whatever racism the crew may have felt. This book does a good job of relating the accomplishments of these men. of color and their role in making whaling a successful endeavor. I recommend this book for anyone interested in whaling or the achievements of people of color.

Rating: 4/5 stars. Would recommend to a friend.

This book is a historical writer’s dream: lively and detailed, utterly unlike anything else available. Would give six stars if I could.

A valuable and much overdue account of the role black whalers played in one of the most important industries in 19th-century America.

As I am interested in everything naval and everything whale, I really wanted to read this book. This is a topic you never hear or read anything about! My interest in whaling began as I started to become a Sea Shepherd supporter and they have an extensive history with whalers.

This is a wonderfully well researched collection of stories about whaling captains of colour. As you can imagine I really don't support whaling of any kind but I do realise people earned their money and food with it for many years now. So I can respect these men for working hard and proving themselves to their bosses so they can move up in rank and become captains themselves.

The stories are accompanied with great photos or drawings. These are wonderful to give a face to the names and help set the mood more to understand the conditions these men worked in. This book has some wonderful details, for example there's a list that one doctor/captain took aboard a whaling ship that shows the items in a medicine chest for various ailments. I love reading little history-tidbits like that!

Do notice that this book is quite specific and in-depth. If you're just looking for a casual read - this is not for you. If you have interest in any of the things I named above, please pick up this book as it's a wonderful source of information.