Just an all-around fantastic book. As someone who majored in history in undergrad, I really appreciate Smith’s contemplation of the intersection of memory and history, and how places explore (or fail to explore) the dark and gruesome past when it comes to slavery and racism in the United States. Something we talked about a lot in one of my history courses years ago is while history itself is comprised of discrete, objective facts, that’s not necessarily true of the act of *telling* history—the question at the end of the day is how close the teller is to the truth of what happened. Smith leans into this idea with deftness and skill, urging his readers to think critically about how the darkest parts of US history are packaged and presented.

Smith’s book is not only a foray into history itself, but the role of collective and selective memory (and, as he mentions, nostalgia). It’s a searing indictment of the ways in which many historical sites in the United States have failed to educate visitors on, and purposely obfuscated, the role such places played in chattel slavery, and the role that chattel slavery played in the US more broadly. I also really appreciated the final chapter on Gorée, as the experiences of enslavement, exploitation, and colonization in West Africa are inextricably bound to the story of chattel slavery in the US. 

In my opinion, this should be required reading for all high school students, particularly at a time where many in the US seek to throw a veil over the legacy of slavery, genocide, and racism in this country. All the stars to this book—Clint Smith is just excellent.