What is the thesis of The slave community by John W Blassingame?

The thesis of John Blassingame's The Slave Community is that slaves created their own communities while experiencing the constraints and challenges of slavery. The book emphasizes the active participation of slaves in forming their own society and culture, rather than being passive recipients of exploitation. Blassingame argues that slaves developed strong social networks, family structures, religious practices, and resistance strategies that gave them a sense of identity and belonging. By examining the slave community, Blassingame presents a nuanced and multifaceted understanding of slavery, highlighting both the brutality and oppression of the institution as well as the resilience and agency of the enslaved individuals.