jessereadsthings's review against another edition

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5.0

A really good nonfiction book on some of the landmarks of America's history as a slave owning nation. I highly recommend this book as well as the audiobook which is read by the author. 

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jrosegross's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0


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juliana18's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0


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bookedbymadeline's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

This is Smith’s first non-fiction, as he usually write poetry which comes through in the writing style of this work. He manages to place you in each of the locations as he describes the weather, the sounds, and the people around him. I learned and unlearned a lot of things from Smith’s book, continuing my education in the real history of the US (and in some cases Europe).

I know I say “this book is important” or “everyone should read this” quite often but if there’s only one book out of all my “should reads” that you grab, pick this one. It’s easily accessible in terms of language and content, not bogged down with information overload. Although it’s a heavy emotional read, it’s a fast read that had me staying awake late into the night.


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bgirl1214's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative reflective fast-paced

4.75


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madradstarchild's review against another edition

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challenging informative reflective sad medium-paced

3.75


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gem114's review against another edition

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informative reflective slow-paced

5.0

Clint Smith is a master with words. I learned a lot listening to this book. While most of the broader concepts weren't new to me, Smith's work of sharing the experiences of enslaved people through the context of the different places he visited was both unique and enlightening.

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caseythereader's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

 - I'm not sure if there's anything I can add to the discussion of HOW THE WORD IS PASSED, other than to concur with everyone that yes, this book is as vital and as good as everyone says it is.
- I learned a lot from this book: even if you're read a lot of history and antiracist literature, there's still more to excavate, and Smith brings it all up.
- Smith's inclusion of his personal experiences while visiting the sites in this book keep it from becoming a dry historical text. It does exactly what the sites are trying to do: bring the past into the present because it has never left us, as much as many of us try to pretend it has. 

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sarahaf712's review against another edition

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5.0


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cianarae's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative reflective medium-paced

3.75


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