Slavery and Public History

“A chastening reminder that many are still missing the point [of black history in America], and even that the point may be more elusive than we thought. . . . Scattered throughout the book are many fascinating stories.” —Times Literary Supplement

“Americans seem perpetually surprised by slavery—its extent (North as well as South), its span (over half of our four centuries of Anglo settlement), and its continuing influence. Slavery and Public History will help us all to remember and understand, so we can remove the vestiges of slavery that still affect us.”—James W. Loewen, author of Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong

“An invigorating book, written by historians who have emerged from the archives to grapple with misleading and hurtful tales that have been part of our national tradition. In these vibrant accounts boring history becomes lively practice, and the American public shows that it can embrace new research, more complex understandings, and more honest interpretation. I'll never take the words on a historic marker for granted again.”—Linda K. Kerber, author of No Constitutional Right to Be Ladies: Women and the Obligations of Citizenship

“The history and the continuing resonance of slavery is one of the last great unmentionables in public discourse. This grand and groundbreaking volume does much to illuminate the challenges, ambiguities, and risks faced by those who dare to interpret the 'peculiar institution' outside of the academy. As this work clearly demonstrates, public history is not for the faint of heart.”—Lonnie G. Bunch, founding director, National Museum of African American History and Culture