Nonfiction

How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning With the History of Slavery Across America

How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning With the History of Slavery Across America

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  • Create Date：2021-05-28 18:31:26
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Clint Smith
  • ISBN：B08KQ4W18H
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Summary

Poet and contributor to The Atlantic Clint Smith’s revealing， contemporary portrait of America as a slave owning nation 

Beginning in his own hometown of New Orleans， Clint Smith leads the reader through an unforgettable tour of monuments and landmarks-those that are honest about the past and those that are not-that offer an intergenerational story of how slavery has been central in shaping our nation's collective history， and ourselves。

It is the story of the Monticello Plantation in Virginia， the estate where Thomas Jefferson wrote letters espousing the urgent need for liberty while enslaving over 400 people on the premises。 It is the story of the Whitney Plantation， one of the only former plantations devoted to preserving the experience of the enslaved people whose lives and work sustained it。 It is the story of Angola Prison in Louisiana， a former plantation named for the country from which most of its enslaved people arrived and which has since become one of the most gruesome maximum-security prisons in the world。 And it is the story of Blandford Cemetery， the final resting place of tens of thousands of Confederate soldiers。

In a deeply researched and transporting exploration of the legacy of slavery and its imprint on centuries of American history， How the Word Is Passed illustrates how some of our country's most essential stories are hidden in plain view-whether in places we might drive by on our way to work， holidays such as Juneteenth， or entire neighborhoods—like downtown Manhattan—on which the brutal history of the trade in enslaved men， women and children has been deeply imprinted。

Informed by scholarship and brought alive by the story of people living today， Clint Smith’s debut work of nonfiction is a landmark work of reflection and insight that offers a new understanding of the hopeful role that memory and history can play in understanding our country。

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Reviews

Flemingj ，

This was a great listen。 Not so much a history book， but a tour through sites related to our history。 Really enjoyed hearing from the author and the people who worked at the sites to get a different perspective。

Megan Parrott ，

I can’t say enough about this book。 Beautifully written and brilliantly researched and executed。 I just finished the audiobook but can’t wait to immediately read the book and experience it again。 We must face these hard truths as a country。

Veronica Foster ，

In the final pages of How the Word Is Passed， Clint Smith writes that "It was as a teacher that I first began to fully account for the way the history of this country shaped the landscape of my students' communities。。。I tried to write the sort of book that I would have wanted to teach them。" He has certainly written a book that I am excited to teach， and though I didn't know about Smith's prior life as an educator before reading it， I can't say that I'm surprised to hear that he spent time in th In the final pages of How the Word Is Passed， Clint Smith writes that "It was as a teacher that I first began to fully account for the way the history of this country shaped the landscape of my students' communities。。。I tried to write the sort of book that I would have wanted to teach them。" He has certainly written a book that I am excited to teach， and though I didn't know about Smith's prior life as an educator before reading it， I can't say that I'm surprised to hear that he spent time in the classroom。 How the Word Is Passed is as powerful and clear in its execution as any nonfiction I've read—the kind of illuminating， transformative experience that only the best teachers can pull off。Smith's project in the book is undeniably ambitious: in an effort to untangle the historical narratives about slavery that have shaped our current beliefs about race， he visits 8 sites that explicitly or implicitly relay this history。 In physical spaces ranging from Monticello to Angola Prison， New York City's sidewalks to a museum in Senegal， he takes tours， reads plaques， studies statues， and asks questions in an attempt to understand how so many Americans reached adulthood without a basic understanding of the role that slavery played in America's creation， development， and present day。 I first learned of Smith through his poetry， and his poetic sensibility is evident in the time he takes to orient the reader in space and time through detailed descriptions of his visits to these locations。 Part of his project seems to be to expose the way that learning about slavery is an embodied experience and not merely an academic one: horror， discomfort， and grief are inextricable to this history。 Smith's descriptions of reaching his arms to span a death row cell in Angola or imagining his son in a neglected plantation cemetery reveal that engaging with America's history of chattel slavery requires emotional as well as intellectual engagement， and his perspective as a black man descended from enslaved people clarifies the stakes of teaching this history poorly。 Many of the places he visits seem to assume a white gaze （a plantation museum offering flyers for a Memorial Day event hosted by the Sons of Confederate Veterans is perhaps the clearest example）， and the way his presence disrupts the placating， ahistorical narratives offered by employees is even more powerful than the information he shares to dispel the myths they propagate。 The result is a text that feels both historically and emotionally informative， powerful both in its research and in its language。How the Word Is Passed is beautiful and challenging， carefully researched and bracingly clear。 I hope everyone reads it （and then tells me， so we can talk about it！）。Thank you to NetGalley and Little， Brown and Company for the ARC。 。。。more

Heather Sobek ，

Absolutely fantastic

Nancy Shepherd ，

This book was an eye-opener for me。 While I knew about slavery， knew the basics， but I had no real idea what life was like for a slave。 For example， I thought Robert E。 Lee was one of the "good guys;" we were taught that he was a graduate of West Point， but because he was born and raised in Virginia， he chose to join the Confederacy。 I did not know that he was a brutal slave owner， ordering severe lashings for any infractions of his rules。 Not content with seeing skin torn and shredded by the w This book was an eye-opener for me。 While I knew about slavery， knew the basics， but I had no real idea what life was like for a slave。 For example， I thought Robert E。 Lee was one of the "good guys;" we were taught that he was a graduate of West Point， but because he was born and raised in Virginia， he chose to join the Confederacy。 I did not know that he was a brutal slave owner， ordering severe lashings for any infractions of his rules。 Not content with seeing skin torn and shredded by the whip， he ordered salt water be poured on the slaves' backs。 。。。more

Eric ，

In addition to being a great poet， Smith has done some really solid nonfiction writing here！

Courtney ，

This is the most powerful book I have ever read。 The way Smith writes is so fluid and beautiful even though the content of the book is disconcerting。 How the Word is Passed made me question everything I learned in school and to reflect on what I am going to teach my students。 If you only read one book this year， make it this one。

Erin ，

This book was phenomenal。 So thankful to Libro。fm for giving me book as part of their educators program！ I felt like this book did for me what 13th on Netflix did when I first watched it。 It sparked a want to learn。 Many of the things we are taught in school mute or negate the stories of the people who suffered。 They sugarcoat Presidents and prisons。 They make slavery seem like a mutual relationship。 They really don’t dive into the hurt that happened as a result of slavery。 And so the only way t This book was phenomenal。 So thankful to Libro。fm for giving me book as part of their educators program！ I felt like this book did for me what 13th on Netflix did when I first watched it。 It sparked a want to learn。 Many of the things we are taught in school mute or negate the stories of the people who suffered。 They sugarcoat Presidents and prisons。 They make slavery seem like a mutual relationship。 They really don’t dive into the hurt that happened as a result of slavery。 And so the only way to get this history is to ask。 And to hope your family isn’t too scarred to share。 We found out that our great-mother was part of the slave trade in the West Indies… no one wants to tell any more。 It leaves you feeling a little empty that you don’t know exactly where you began， but it definitely makes you want to learn more。 This book has lit that spark again！ Thank you so much Clint Smith for taking us on this journey！ 。。。more

SarahLaine Magaña ，

Love his poetry， and this is full of it within a powerful narrative of his travels and the story of slavery—all of which is the foundation upon which our society is built。 It’s a must read。

Never Without a Book ，

Trust me when I say just get this book。 You won't regret it。 Trust me when I say just get this book。 You won't regret it。 。。。more

Erin ，

Grateful for all the things I learned as these words were passed to me。

Amber ，

One of the most informative， incredible， and heartbreaking books I’ve ever read。 If you get the chance， listen to the audiobook version; it is like having a wonderfully in depth and personal conversation with Clint。

Kari ，

This is a powerful read。 When you hear that it’s “a reckoning with the history of slavery in America” it sounds impossibly overwhelming， but what Clint Smith has skillfully done here is to narrate the story of America’s history of slavery by visiting several places that are significant in that history and talking about his own experiences there， interspersing it with his history and research。 He visits places like Monticello， and talks about how they have tried to adjust their own story to inclu This is a powerful read。 When you hear that it’s “a reckoning with the history of slavery in America” it sounds impossibly overwhelming， but what Clint Smith has skillfully done here is to narrate the story of America’s history of slavery by visiting several places that are significant in that history and talking about his own experiences there， interspersing it with his history and research。 He visits places like Monticello， and talks about how they have tried to adjust their own story to include Sally Hemings， and what it was like to take a tour with people who did not know Jefferson’s history as a slaveholder。 He visits the Whitney Plantation and hears what it is like for a plantation to center the story of the enslaved rather than the slaveholders。 He visits Manhattan， and points out the history that Northern states also need to wrestle with。There is a chapter on a Confederate cemetery and a Sons of Confederate Veterans gathering that he attended that took my breath away。 When he spoke with some of the Sons of Confederate Veterans， he was a thoughtful listener and offered some personal pushback， but when he wrote about those interactions， he deftly took apart their arguments and defenses。 I was anxious for him in those interactions and I know it wouldn’t have done much good or been particularly safe for him to argue with a group of Confederate supporters in the middle of a Confederate cemetery。 I wonder， though， how we might get someone with those inclinations to read a book like this， or to be challenged with these facts。 The chapter set in Galveston， TX that talked about Juneteenth brought me to tears。 I have always thought the second verse of “Lift Ev’ry Voice” was difficult to sing without crying but hearing about him singing the words， “We have come over a way that with tears has been watered， we have come， treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered，” in the context of a Juneteenth prayer breakfast and all that it is commemorating was incredibly moving。Overall this was an incredibly strong read and Smith’s work both as a poet and a historian are present in the way he narrates his experiences， offers information， and notes details。 He talks about what is underneath so much of what we experience in this country， shining a light on things that are both hidden and available for those who have eyes to see。 I was able to access an early copy of the audiobook as an educator， and I recommend it highly。 I enjoyed listening to Clint Smith’s voice as he carefully walked me through this difficult reckoning。 We must be honest with ourselves about the role that slavery played in this country， and what its legacy is on our soil。 This book is a great way to think through some of that history and begin to think about what we must do about it。 I want to specifically note that there was nothing in this book that I felt my fourth grader could not hear and that he did in fact hear some of it while I was listening to it。 Certainly the descriptions of violence and brutality are difficult to listen to but I did not think it was too much for a ten-year-old。 The objectionable language that is in the book is quotes of racist slurs。 Therefore， this could be an excellent resource even for families， especially if you are able to visit any of the places he discusses。 。。。more

Traci at The Stacks ，

Clint Smith can write。 This is mostly history with a little personal perspective sprinkled in。 A really approachable way to interrogate history and the ways we （mostly focused on Americans） are taught and pass on the legacy of slavery。 This is a real look at living history。 Well done。

Mrs。 Suttle ，

This should be required reading for every American。

Pamela ，

An incredible， generous book。 This is not a contemporary anti-racist book。 It goes far behind history。 How the Word Is Passed is about the experience of place， memory， and legacy。 It's about picking up facts and stories about slavery like loose threads， and weaving them into a reality with no beginning， end， or border。 I know I'm making this sound so metaphysical， but I'll show myself some grace， because I've just finished Smith's devastating， beautiful book， and as he admits， "I do not yet have An incredible， generous book。 This is not a contemporary anti-racist book。 It goes far behind history。 How the Word Is Passed is about the experience of place， memory， and legacy。 It's about picking up facts and stories about slavery like loose threads， and weaving them into a reality with no beginning， end， or border。 I know I'm making this sound so metaphysical， but I'll show myself some grace， because I've just finished Smith's devastating， beautiful book， and as he admits， "I do not yet have all the words to discuss a crime that is still unfolding。" 。。。more

Jane Aldridge ，

Wow。 I will be rereading this for sure。。。well-written and researched， informative， interesting and powerful。 Highly recommend！！

Maryellen Fricke ，

It was a good book to read from start to finish， I recommend it to anyone else。

Ash ，

*Goodreads Giveaway*You know， I wrote down notes while reading this book。 Paragraphs and paragraphs of how certain passages made me feel。 There was a full spectrum of emotions as I read each chapter。 It's part of why I was so slow in reading this book。 I really wanted to absorb it。 I also ended up doing a lot of research while reading this book。 Looking up places， pictures， and cities。 And I still don't really feel like I can adequately express myself in this review。 But I’ll do my best。 First， *Goodreads Giveaway*You know， I wrote down notes while reading this book。 Paragraphs and paragraphs of how certain passages made me feel。 There was a full spectrum of emotions as I read each chapter。 It's part of why I was so slow in reading this book。 I really wanted to absorb it。 I also ended up doing a lot of research while reading this book。 Looking up places， pictures， and cities。 And I still don't really feel like I can adequately express myself in this review。 But I’ll do my best。 First， Clint Smith’s writing is fantastic。 His writing style is vivid and poetic。 A lot of the time， I felt like I was standing next to him as he was describing the people or the scenery。 It was very easy to imagine what he had seen。 I really enjoy his style and look forward to reading more of his work。 I also think it was ingenious to set up each chapter by place。 It really allows the reader to have a deeper understanding of the place， the people， etc。 Also having each chapter based on various different places like Monticello， Angola prison， New York City， and even the Island of Goree in Dakar。 Smith was able to really encompass how multi-faceted slavery was to American history and how it affected other parts of the world too。 The theme of history being passed down through word of mouth was also a very important aspect to this book。 It is how history is passed but， as we can see， it can be stifled。 I really appreciated the focus on his grandparents in the epilogue and their firsthand accounts。 Often when we read about history， there can be a disconnect because what we learn feels like it happened ages ago。 Smith does a great job ending the book by saying， no。 It really wasn’t long ago。 We know people who were directly involved in these situations today。 Or we have family members who were directly affected。 There were also a lot of passages that frankly wrecked me。 Smith doesn’t shy away from the horrific history nor should he。 （view spoiler）[One example I can give is that the former owner of the Whitney Plantation， John Cummings， had a very interesting term he used。 ‘Discovered ignorance。’ Knowing about these things but at the same time realizing that you really don’t know the full depth until you discover just how unaware you are。 For example， a lot of the history I learned about slavery skimmed on just what was done to slaves。 Most of it focused on whipping and a lot of the pictures I saw were mostly of men。 While still horrific， it still seemed to tone down the torture。 Reading the chapter on how women were nothing more than ‘Good breeders’ just stopped me cold。 They were sold on their ability to have children and often they were raped by their owners and the owners would enslave their own biological children。 There were implications of women making hard decisions no person should ever have to make。 Do I want my child to live this life？ Or will I end their suffering？ That was just gut wrenching to read。 At that moment I had a better understanding of what John Cummings meant。 The punishments were vicious and logically I knew that。 But I was ignorant of some of the punishments and just how truly inhumane they were。 So I was shocked。 Shocked at what happened but I also thought， ‘How did I not know？ How could I be unaware of something this horrific happening in my own country？’。 （hide spoiler）] I agree with Smith that people may have a hard time reckoning with history but in order to move forward， to be better， to have a brighter future， we must reckon with it。 There is a lot more that I could say about this book but instead I’ll just say: Read it。 This is exactly the kind of book we need when it comes to understanding our past and coming to terms with it。 。。。more

Jen ，

Dr。 Smith is the best of the best， and this book is one of the finest explorations of racism in America and the enduring trauma of slavery in our times。

Pete ，

This book is so beautifully written。 The stories Smith is able to tell about the places he visits—wherein narratives about our collective history of enslavement are either grappled with or ignored—are important and compelling histories。 But Smith’s choice to place himself in the narrative is what really makes this book。 Rather than telling these stories as abstractions， we the readers get an empathetic and empirical telling of what these places are like。 Smith is a poet and an historian， and I’m This book is so beautifully written。 The stories Smith is able to tell about the places he visits—wherein narratives about our collective history of enslavement are either grappled with or ignored—are important and compelling histories。 But Smith’s choice to place himself in the narrative is what really makes this book。 Rather than telling these stories as abstractions， we the readers get an empathetic and empirical telling of what these places are like。 Smith is a poet and an historian， and I’m glad he wore both hats while writing this book， rather than departing the two。 。。。more

Anna ，

100% worth your time。 The structure makes it very digestible with each chapter dedicated to touring a specific historical site - painting the larger picture of enslaved people's roles in American history。 Asks lots of unanswered questions as it probes how we choose to tell the history of the US。 100% worth your time。 The structure makes it very digestible with each chapter dedicated to touring a specific historical site - painting the larger picture of enslaved people's roles in American history。 Asks lots of unanswered questions as it probes how we choose to tell the history of the US。 。。。more

Michelle ，

Wow。 What a powerful book！ I am so glad this was part of my monthly audio book subscription。 I was captivated by the words of Clint Smith from the opening prologue all the way to the final acknowledgments。This book is evidence the narrative we learned in school regarding slavery was slanted and biased。 Smith does an excellent job of peeling back the layers of slavery， including historical places of interest， philosophies， and the multigenerational impact。 This is an interesting collection of Smi Wow。 What a powerful book！ I am so glad this was part of my monthly audio book subscription。 I was captivated by the words of Clint Smith from the opening prologue all the way to the final acknowledgments。This book is evidence the narrative we learned in school regarding slavery was slanted and biased。 Smith does an excellent job of peeling back the layers of slavery， including historical places of interest， philosophies， and the multigenerational impact。 This is an interesting collection of Smith’s personal history and travelogue mixed with a dissection of 400 years of history。 Smith begins chapter one at Monticello and delves into Jefferson’s dichotomy of beliefs versus practice。 Chapter two brings us to the Whitney Plantation located in southern Louisiana。 Having read this account I now plan to travel there this summer。 I’ve been to several southern plantations but never one that flips the narrative and highlights the life and culture of the slaves。Chapter three brings the reader to Angola - home of the Louisiana state penitentiary， and once home of a large plantation。 This is one of the most stomach churning accounts I’ve ever read。 Essentially we’ve just changed bondage from slavery to incarceration。 Each of the remaining chapters are just as powerful， ending with a chapter in Dakar。 This chapter was fascinating and made me think of elements of slavery I’d never before considered。 I’m so glad this book found its way to me and brought me new perspectives。 As you can tell I read this book at a much slower rate than most。 I felt the need to take my time， offer reflection， and time was needed to unlearn things I had once learned。 Now， how do we get this book added to our school curriculum？ 。。。more

Arielfranchakyahoo。com ，

This book。 This book will change you。 Or challenge you。 Or both。 But either way， you will wind up a different person after having read it。 Thank you， Libro。fm for providing an Advance Listener Copy for educators。 Thank you， Clint Smith， for your research and your words that were honest， painful and often， at times， poetic。

Cynthia ，

Clint Smith is a poet and this book very much sounds like poetry。 He travels to different landmarks/places that have been significant in upholding slavery and details how it is something that is still prevalent in our society。 The parts that stuck out to me the most were the jail， which truly blows my mind， and the Confederate pride， which， again， truly blows my mind！

Smiley ，

This book was everything。 Meticulously researched and a beautiful narrative of the history of slavery and our country’s （lack of） reckoning with it。 I learned so much。 Plus， Clint Smith is an incredibly gifted writer。 Read this book。

Lynn Monaco ，

I listened to the audio version of this book （Thanks to Libro。fm for the free advance copy！）。 Clint Smith's skill as a poet reverberates throughout this book （bonus: he does the reading on the audio version！）: this is a book that rewards the reader for listening。 Part travelogue， part history book; personal while at the same time wide in scope: I highly recommend this book for all Americans。 I listened to the audio version of this book （Thanks to Libro。fm for the free advance copy！）。 Clint Smith's skill as a poet reverberates throughout this book （bonus: he does the reading on the audio version！）: this is a book that rewards the reader for listening。 Part travelogue， part history book; personal while at the same time wide in scope: I highly recommend this book for all Americans。 。。。more

Rebecca Graham ，

book is divided into an author’s note about memorializing slavery， a prologue distinguishing between history and nostalgia， chapter one on a plantation， chapter two in a prison， chapter three remembering the confederacy， chapter four on Juneteenth， chapter five on northeastern elites’ attempts to distance from slavery， chapter six on memorizing slavery in practice， and an epilogue entitled “I lived it” incorporating Smith’s own perspectives and reflections。 Smith explains: “I travel to eight pla book is divided into an author’s note about memorializing slavery， a prologue distinguishing between history and nostalgia， chapter one on a plantation， chapter two in a prison， chapter three remembering the confederacy， chapter four on Juneteenth， chapter five on northeastern elites’ attempts to distance from slavery， chapter six on memorizing slavery in practice， and an epilogue entitled “I lived it” incorporating Smith’s own perspectives and reflections。 Smith explains: “I travel to eight places in the United States as well as abroad to understand how each reckons with its relationship to the history of American slavery… a mix of plantations， prisons， cemeteries， museums， memorials， houses， historical landmarks， and cities。” Smith’s writing style is profound， and the book as a whole interrogates how and why America has a long road ahead grappling with legacies of enslavement。 extraordinary work of antiracism， history， memory， and public history 。。。more

Tanisha Felder ，

An absolute must read。 Reckoning with our history both known and unknown。

Carrie Honaker ，

Coming back for a full review because， wow！

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning With the History of Slavery Across America

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning With the History of Slavery Across America&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning With the History of Slavery Across America&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0