Sorry this is late, folks! I’ve had limited time to do
anything this week other than go to work! But, here it is!
Kierner does an excellent job at writing this microhistory,
if we are going by the definition that Kendra and Leigh Ann provided us (which
I super appreciate). Kierner focuses on the Randolph family and the rumors that
surround three particular individuals: the husband and wife, Richard and Judith
Randolph, and the sister-in-law, Nancy. With these three individuals, Kierner
is applying the most agency because on these actors. Through focusing on these actors, Kierner is
able to explore certain aspects of culture around that time such as morality,
race, economics, class differences, and more. Kierner uses the rumor that
Richard fathered a child with Nancy that he then killed and the surrounding
consequences of it to accomplish this. This rumor took off and was a pervasive
force in their lives at this time. Using the trial as an example, Kierner
showcases not only how the legal systems functioned at that time, but also the indicates
beliefs concerning race and gender. After all, Richard’s case was let go
because of a lack of evidence. Slave testimonies against a white male would not
be taken seriously and neither could his wife testify against him. This is why Scandal
at Bizarre is a good example of what
one should look for in a microhistory.
As for the great
historical question aspect of the prompt, I think I would like to join Katie’s
camp (if we’re forming camps again) that Kierner is interested in communication,
especially concerning what information is being conveyed, by who, how, and how
this performance can change social spaces that people live in.
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