How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America
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- Create Date：2021-07-10 08:51:19
- Update Date：2025-09-07
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- Author：Clint Smith
- ISBN：0349701180
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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。
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。
Reviews
Jackie Bromagin
，
I checked this audiobook out from the library but before I was even 50% of the way through， I knew it was going to be a favorite of the year， so I bought a physical copy。
Kevin Dood
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Sobering and illuminating。 Masterful rhetoric。
LaQuisha Hall
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I almost want to go back to the classroom just to teach this book。 The content made my heart heavy but what a weight lifted to know this book exists…
Zachary
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"This history is in our soil， it is in our policies， and it must， too， be in our memories。"The framing， the eloquence， and the strength of conviction that Clint Smith possesses to tell the truth in an age where truth is often scarce， makes this one of the best books I've read this year （maybe one of the best non-fiction books I've ever read）。 Reading his work feels like speaking with an old friend， even when it's about the uncomfortable subject of reckoning with our country's foundational role i "This history is in our soil， it is in our policies， and it must， too， be in our memories。"The framing， the eloquence， and the strength of conviction that Clint Smith possesses to tell the truth in an age where truth is often scarce， makes this one of the best books I've read this year （maybe one of the best non-fiction books I've ever read）。 Reading his work feels like speaking with an old friend， even when it's about the uncomfortable subject of reckoning with our country's foundational role in slavery。 It deserves every award out there， but more importantly， it deserves to be read by everyone that calls the United States of America their home。 。。。more
Sara
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Smith used historical documents， personal narratives， interviews， and tour guide dialogue to create a full， well-rounded perspective of the legacy of slavery in America。 I found the chapter on the Louisiana State Penitentiary， Angola Prison， a former plantation， to be the most potent as it showed how the legacy of slavery is very much alive today; “If in Germany today there were a prison built on top of a former concentration camp， and that prison disproportionately incarcerated Jewish people， i Smith used historical documents， personal narratives， interviews， and tour guide dialogue to create a full， well-rounded perspective of the legacy of slavery in America。 I found the chapter on the Louisiana State Penitentiary， Angola Prison， a former plantation， to be the most potent as it showed how the legacy of slavery is very much alive today; “If in Germany today there were a prison built on top of a former concentration camp， and that prison disproportionately incarcerated Jewish people， it would rightly provoke outrage throughout the world。 I image there would be international summits on closing such an egregious institution。 And yet， in the US， such collective outrage at this plantation-turned-prison is relatively muted。” （101）。 。。。more
Christopher Steussy
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Recommended by John Green （Fault in our stars） this book hit my summer reading list with a lot of anticipation。 A High School History teacher who identifies as white and middle class and who has taught in an inner city public HS majority students of color for 20+ years I am always on the lookout for ways to educate myself。 I think I was more than halfway through HTWIP when I looked up Clint Smith and realized he was for a time a HS teacher himself。 Underscored why this book resonated so deeply。 Recommended by John Green （Fault in our stars） this book hit my summer reading list with a lot of anticipation。 A High School History teacher who identifies as white and middle class and who has taught in an inner city public HS majority students of color for 20+ years I am always on the lookout for ways to educate myself。 I think I was more than halfway through HTWIP when I looked up Clint Smith and realized he was for a time a HS teacher himself。 Underscored why this book resonated so deeply。 Each chapter is its own story。 Its own place。 Very revealing。 Will be assigning a couple of chapters to my HS Juniors next year。 。。。more
Joe
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So well-written， great descriptions， honest， factual。 One of the best books I've read in a long time。 So well-written， great descriptions， honest， factual。 One of the best books I've read in a long time。 。。。more
Lynne
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American history as it can and should be taught。。。。
K。N。
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A very engaging and well-written book highlight different locations tied to slavery and their approaches to acknowledging and teaching this history， i。e。 passing the word。 I was woefully unaware of just about everything in the chapter on NYC and found that the most interesting， especially since it’s the location closest to myself。While most of the chapters were ultimately uplifting （most of these locations are doing great work addressing the previous gaps and white-washing of history）， the chapt A very engaging and well-written book highlight different locations tied to slavery and their approaches to acknowledging and teaching this history， i。e。 passing the word。 I was woefully unaware of just about everything in the chapter on NYC and found that the most interesting， especially since it’s the location closest to myself。While most of the chapters were ultimately uplifting （most of these locations are doing great work addressing the previous gaps and white-washing of history）， the chapter on Angola was extremely upsetting。 。。。more
Katherine
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I could not put this book down。 I think every American from every background would learn something and be surprised by parts of this book。 Essential reading for all of us。 Even if you think you have fatigue on this issue， I predict you will be interested in this book。
Kristin Stevens
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Excellent read。 Clint Smith has a very effective way of bringing the pathos of slavery into focus。 I highly recommend this book to help anyone get a fuller sense of what it is to live in America。
Amy Walsh
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My history teachers through high school were all bonehead coaches。 I really needed to fill in the gaps and this was just what I was looking for。 So many books in nonfiction read like a doctoral dissertation but this is so well written that it's easy to stay engaged。 I hope Clint Smith has more projects up his sleeve。 My history teachers through high school were all bonehead coaches。 I really needed to fill in the gaps and this was just what I was looking for。 So many books in nonfiction read like a doctoral dissertation but this is so well written that it's easy to stay engaged。 I hope Clint Smith has more projects up his sleeve。 。。。more
Angie
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Amazing。 Should be required reading for all Americans。
Elizabeth
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Oof this book was hard to read at times。 Clint Smith weaves a narrative tied to different geographical locations that explore different aspects of slavery in some way through history， like Monticello and Angola prison。 （That is an awkward sentence， probs should adjust。。。。 At some point。。。）While some of this information is not new to me， other topics expounded on topics I have only learned of recently。 Smith constantly returns to the importance of education as our relationship with slavery as a n Oof this book was hard to read at times。 Clint Smith weaves a narrative tied to different geographical locations that explore different aspects of slavery in some way through history， like Monticello and Angola prison。 （That is an awkward sentence， probs should adjust。。。。 At some point。。。）While some of this information is not new to me， other topics expounded on topics I have only learned of recently。 Smith constantly returns to the importance of education as our relationship with slavery as a nation is an （in my opinion） indispensable lens through which we view our present。 I honestly don't know if I was blessed with an above average education in Jr High or High School， or was just widely read enough to understand the realities of life for slaves on plantations for as long as I can remember。 However the realities of prison labor and Juneteenth are newer to me and I was very appreciative of Smith's explanations and explorations of these locations and topics。The hardest part for me was the section on Blandford Cemetary when Smith observed and interacted with the Sons of Confederate Veterans。 Smith showed a level of grace and composure in the moment that I could not match match in my own home。 It is incredibly hard for me to deal with people who have read dozens of books on the Civil War and continue to be willfully ignorant of the role slavery played in said conflict。 A brief perusal of the primary seccssion documents is enough proof for me on that point。 That being said， Smith does an honestly incredible job of presenting both sides of the argument before breaking down both the information we have and the holes in our knowledge base。 If I could make every person in this country read this book with an open mind and heart I believe we would be in a much better place to start to address the injustices that are still present today。 。。。more
Lucretia
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How the Word is Passed is one of the best nonfiction books that I have read in recent years。 Smith is an amazing writer。 His descriptions are like poetry （he is a poet） and his ability to take the reader to the places that he visits is transformative。 There is much to ponder about the role of slavery in our country after reading this book and I continue to reflect upon it。 I wish the United States could have a "community read" and discussion about this book。 Highly recommended。 How the Word is Passed is one of the best nonfiction books that I have read in recent years。 Smith is an amazing writer。 His descriptions are like poetry （he is a poet） and his ability to take the reader to the places that he visits is transformative。 There is much to ponder about the role of slavery in our country after reading this book and I continue to reflect upon it。 I wish the United States could have a "community read" and discussion about this book。 Highly recommended。 。。。more
Mike Day
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I knew the general gist of what this book covers， but the primary source material and the author’s engagement with 21st century arguments made this a book I had to finish。This was an uncomfortable read， and will be to anyone who has warm feelings about America and it’s place in the overall tapestry of human history。 Though I do see America as a city on a hill， we can and must be better collectively。
Kendra
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An absolute must read。
Stephanie
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Smith is a poet， and therefore has an incredible way with both the written and spoken word。 He has a way of phrasing things that makes you actually feel the words。 This book is about the narratives we tell ourselves about slavery and the Black experience， at the macro （national， world， educational） down to the micro （local community， within families） level。 How did an entire segment of the population come to believe the South fought the Civil War for just causes and that those soldiers were patr Smith is a poet， and therefore has an incredible way with both the written and spoken word。 He has a way of phrasing things that makes you actually feel the words。 This book is about the narratives we tell ourselves about slavery and the Black experience， at the macro （national， world， educational） down to the micro （local community， within families） level。 How did an entire segment of the population come to believe the South fought the Civil War for just causes and that those soldiers were patriots and not traitors？ How we changed the narrative to continue the practice of slavery by building a prison on plantation land and populating it with primarily black prisoners who are forced to work in fields。 How we grapple with Thomas Jefferson writing "All men are created equal" while owning slaves throughout his life and fathering children with one of them （children who were never acknowledged and also kept in slavery）。 I listened to this on audio， because I wanted to hear it in Smith's own voice， but I may read the text as well to better absorb the content。 。。。more
Amianne Bailey
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A must-read。
Rachel Wall
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The perfect mix of historical fact and personal reflection completely void of any focus on current politics。 In my opinion， this is one of the most educational and accessible writings to increase perspective on how our past is still haunting us as a country。 If you have friends or family that may be stuck on why this is， you could hand them this book and watch it work。 It’s simply facts with perspective， it’s perfect。 Audio read by the author was great。
Adrian Nester
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I took so long to finish this for several reasons 1） I had a great group of educators to discuss this with chapter by chapter 2） I didn’t want my “digesting” of this book to end。 I’m a huge fan of Smith’s poetry collection Counting Descent; he brings a poet’s language to this nonfiction writing。 The first chapter on Monticello and the Blanford Cemetery chapter were particularly thought provoking for me （VA born and raised）。 I recommend both the print and audio versions…Smith reads his book himse I took so long to finish this for several reasons 1） I had a great group of educators to discuss this with chapter by chapter 2） I didn’t want my “digesting” of this book to end。 I’m a huge fan of Smith’s poetry collection Counting Descent; he brings a poet’s language to this nonfiction writing。 The first chapter on Monticello and the Blanford Cemetery chapter were particularly thought provoking for me （VA born and raised）。 I recommend both the print and audio versions…Smith reads his book himself。 。。。more
Sally
，
A really important book that's clear and readable。 It's an honest appraisal and explanation of how we refuse to accept the damage that slavery continues to wreak upon our country。 A really important book that's clear and readable。 It's an honest appraisal and explanation of how we refuse to accept the damage that slavery continues to wreak upon our country。 。。。more
Tracy Guth Spangler
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A must。 For everyone。
Valerie
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Stunning and essential。
Janee Gerding
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This is such a well written book， weaving together the history that most of us were never taught about in school。
Lindsay McBride
，
This is one of the best books I’ve ever read。 I loved the way he framed the book around historic sites that connect to slavery and evaluated how they approach the subject。 He talks about places that get it right and places that don’t， but through immense research and primary sources he brings to life the history that is often not taught。 It was not just factual though because he asks you to think about the way we teach history and the decisions we make in preservation。 This book profoundly impac This is one of the best books I’ve ever read。 I loved the way he framed the book around historic sites that connect to slavery and evaluated how they approach the subject。 He talks about places that get it right and places that don’t， but through immense research and primary sources he brings to life the history that is often not taught。 It was not just factual though because he asks you to think about the way we teach history and the decisions we make in preservation。 This book profoundly impacted me。 。。。more
Raz
，
It’s clear Clint Smith had some difficult conversations to create this book， and I respect him for it。 There’s a good balance between his lived experiences talking to tour guides and passersby， and his juxtaposition of history and truth over the narrative of his ventures。Clint Smith has a beautiful writing style; in fact， that’s my only criticism of this book。 Sometimes his descriptions are unnecessarily poetic， or he takes time to set scenes and backdrops that I don’t view as necessary。 It inte It’s clear Clint Smith had some difficult conversations to create this book， and I respect him for it。 There’s a good balance between his lived experiences talking to tour guides and passersby， and his juxtaposition of history and truth over the narrative of his ventures。Clint Smith has a beautiful writing style; in fact， that’s my only criticism of this book。 Sometimes his descriptions are unnecessarily poetic， or he takes time to set scenes and backdrops that I don’t view as necessary。 It interrupts the pace just a bit。Overall， it’s thought-provoking and comprehensive in its exploration of differing understandings and commemorations of the evils of slavery and all those who fought to protect it。 It’s important to understand history， even when it makes us uncomfortable。 Ibram X。 Kendi said， “we need this book。” I agree。 。。。more
Melanie
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One of the best books I've ever read。 Highly recommend。 One of the best books I've ever read。 Highly recommend。 。。。more
Gina Enk
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Such an interesting book。 Clint Smith shares his own family stories and experiences along with the history of slavery in ways that remind us that these stories and histories are inextricable from our own lives。 Highly recommend！ I both read and listened to this book！ Smith is an amazing poet as well--Counting Descent is brilliant！
Kate Welsh
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