Slavery and Public History: The Tough Stuff of American Memory

by James Oliver Horton (Editor), Lois Horton (Editor)

America's slave past is being analyzed as never before, yet it remains one of the most contentious issues in U.S. memory. In recent years, the culture wars over the way that slavery is remembered and taught have reached a new crescendo. From the argument about the display of the Confederate flag over the state house in Columbia, South Carolina, to the dispute over Thomas Jefferson's relationship with his slave Sally Hemings and the ongoing debates about reparations, the questions grow ever more urgent and more difficult.

Edited by noted historians James Oliver Horton and Lois E. Horton, this collection explores current controversies and offers a bracing analysis of how people remember their past and how the lessons they draw influence American politics and culture today. Bringing together some of the nation's most respected historians, including Ira Berlin, David W. Blight, and Gary B. Nash, this is a major contribution to the unsettling but crucial debate about the significance of slavery and its meaning for racial reconciliation.

Contributors:
Ira Berlin, University of Maryland
David W. Blight, Yale University
James Oliver Horton, George Washington University
Lois E. Horton, George Mason University
Bruce Levine, University of Illinois
Edward T. Linenthal, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Joanne Melish, University of Kentucky
Gary B. Nash, University of California, Los Angeles
Dwight T. Pitcaithley, New Mexico State University
Marie Tyler-McGraw, Washington, D.C.
John Michael Vlach, George Washington University

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Grad School, American History, Race, American Civil War, Read For School

288 pages, Paperback

First published April 3, 2006

Reviews

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Through a collection of essays, this book examines how public historians approach the institution of slavery as part of American history. It is an uncomfortable and difficult part of the nation's past that stands out in sharp contrast with the founding principles of the United States (vii). It is a part of American history that many people would rather forget, but that is not an option, for slavery left a stain on the nation's fabric. It cannot be removed, nor should it be. Public historians should think carefully, therefore, when engaging audiences with this subject.

James Oliver Horton, one of the volume's editors, points out one of the principle problems historians run into when engaging with the public on the subject of slavery: "...the vast majority of Americans react strongly to the topic, but few know much about it" (pg. 37). It is the duty of historians to dispel myths associated with slavery, and educate the public on its history. However, it means that public historians must be willing to engage in an honest dialogue about slavery, even though it is an uncomfortable part of the American historical memory. Horton identifies this as "...the public historians most difficult assignment" (pg. 55).

One method historical sites employ to interpret slavery's place in American history is the use of living vignettes. Colonial Williamsburg used African Americans to portray slaves at their site with mixed results from visitors and actors alike; some of whom experienced powerful emotions while standing on the block during a mock sale at the slave market (pg. 52). However, when a historical site decides to use a living history model, those involved must be cautious of how they interpret slavery. One of the chief concerns is remaining conscious that the performances do not drift from educational presentation into spectacles of pure entertainment (pg. 51).

Slavery and race are tough issues for Americans to deal with in their history. Slavery is part of the collective memory of a nation that claims a foundation on liberty and equality. Public historians cannot shy away from the topic of slavery; they would be irresponsible as professionals, and would create an injustice to the memory of all who were affected by slavery. In this book, David Blight writes "people will develop a sense of the past by one means or another..." and historians should help guide the interpretation of slavery's role in the history of the United States (pg. 25). No matter how harsh the truth may be, as the title of Blight's essay suggests, "if you don't tell it like it was, it can never be as it ought to be" (pg. 19).

[Mary Bronson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to read this book for my Public History class and I actually thought it was an interesting book. It was made up of many different essays relating to slavery and how should it be presented in Public History. What is too much little information or way too much information that it could be insulting to people. I got a used copy for class and it was interesting to read the chapter about Thomas Jefferson and seeing highlighting sentences and underline sentences in pen and this person opinion and this essay. I am glad my professor had us read this book.

[Sallie Dunn · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️.75

There are ten essays in this book, and my complaint about this book is that it is now dated. It’s copyright 2005 and it seems to me the country is even more divided on the issues this book discusses.

The issue is how the topic of slavery is portrayed in public places where people congregate, largely areas of tourism. I was surprised to learn that some of the earlier slavery displays were not appreciated by the living heirs of victims - many of the children and grandchildren of slaves did not want to reminded of what they view as a legacy of shame.

One of the first places discussed in the book is the John Brown House in Providence, Rhode Island. Built in 1786, it is remarkably preserved. He was wealthy; he was a merchant, a patriot AND a slave trader. So an argument developed as to how important including his slave trader status to the public was: people largely go there to see the very old and impressive furnishings.

Each essay was from a different area of the country and in similar veins.

An important topic but I should have chosen a book that is more recent.

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Slavery and Public History" is a series of papers concerned with the issue of slavery and how different regions of America struggle to remember. The text lays out the history of the topic and concludes with the fact that, even today, we still have not reached a consensus on how the issue of slavery should be handled publicly.

At one time the Library of Congress put up an exhibit on plantation life, and quickly removed it when employees balked. Southern heritage groups such as the United Sons of Confederate Veterans, United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Southern Heritage Coalition worked to block the National Park Service's effort to make its expositions more inclusive of slavery’s role.

All to say, the issue of slavery remains contested ground in that parts of the South retain their beliefs in the "Lost Cause," while parts of the North hold the position that they were the “Saviors of the South.” We have yet to find the middle ground.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a collection of essays by public historians on how museums, historic sites, memorials and other landmarks are dealing with the issue of slavery. For many years, if you went on a tour of Thomas Jefferson's Monticello or George Washington's Mount Vernon, you might never hear the word "slave." Euphemisms like "servant" would most often be used. For the most part, that has changed. Most sites and museums have embraced the concept of telling it like it really was, but it hasn't been easy, and there are still some holdouts. But for the general public to get a full picture of American history, slavery can't be minimized. Some of these essays show how much of a struggle it was to be allowed to tell the story, some show a struggle still ongoing. Still, there are many success stories in this book.

[Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5*

The history [of slavery] can be traced like that of a wounded man through a crowd by the blood.”
-Frederick Douglass

I read this book back in October 2018, but given the timeliness of the subjects explored, I thought I would finally write a review of sorts. Slavery and Public History: The Tough Stuff of American Memory consists of an introduction and eleven essays, two of which are authored by the editors, Oliver Horton and Lois E. Horton. Exploring the conflict between memory’s ownership and history’s interpretation, each essay emphasizes the role of public historians in educating and engaging the public through museums, universities, and state/national parks. Considering all of the books I read throughout my graduate studies in history, Slavery and Public History easily makes the top ten. I can’t recommend this collection highly enough.

Since the 1990s, the public’s fascination with American slavery has been on the rise; and yet, Americans often reject historical narratives that challenge their previously held beliefs. Historians are essential to public education and the interpretation of historical contradictions — like the existence of slavery in a land founded on freedom. This is not just a matter of the past or reciting the nation’s history; slavery is “ground zero of race relations.” Horton and Horton argue that this direct connection between the past and present demonstrates the importance of society’s reeducation on the topic of American slavery. Scholars of black history need to work toward the goal of “exposure, disclosure, and reinterpretation.”

"For most of the nation’s history, American society was one of slaveholders and slaves.”
-Ira Berlin

Slavery was “oddly left out or marginalized” in many historic sites at the turn of the twenty-first century. This is, in part, because reactions to slavery in public history are ambivalent and often confrontational. People are uncomfortable with narratives that challenge their previously held beliefs. Compounding the issue, many historians of slavery struggle with the line between emphasizing the agency of enslaved people and encouraging whites’ misinterpretation of the horrors of slavery.

There is an inherent conflict between commemorative voice and historical voice. Is the goal of historic sites and museums “make people feel good but not to think? Or should curators leave visitors “intellectually unsettled?”

For example, Thomas Jefferson’s famous Monticello plantation faced the question of how to incorporate slavery into its house and plantation tours. Should curators entertain celebratory narratives of Jefferson; those that feature him as benevolent master, the anti-slavery crusader who was unable to dismantle the institution? Or should they emphasize Jefferson’s role as a slaveowner and challenge the inaccurate tales of valor? Visitors may come expecting a celebrator narrative but leave uncomfortably aware of America’s ideological contradictions.

American history cannot be understood without reexamining the significance of slavery. The institution played a leading role in shaping the nation, and its ripple effects continue to order society and race relations today. Slavery is at the “core of American identity and conscience;” avoiding it does negate its impact on power relations today.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading the book...some of the topic matter was difficult and thought-provoking. Sometimes I think about how far we as Americans have come...and yet, we still have so much prejudice, bigotry, and insensitivity to others and their feelings. Slavery is a hard topic. Many people believe that slavery no longer exists. I hope someday the world will no longer tolerate the horrid treatment of others. For us in the United States...we need to take our blinders off and realize there are people who are still mistreated...and we need to do something about it.

[Selena Long · Rating 3 out of 5]

The paperback cover photo of Slavery and Public History, The Tough Stuff of American Memory depicts a reenactment of the auction of a female slave at Colonial Williamsburg; an image certain to give the observant passerby in a bookshop pause to reflect for a few seconds and process just exactly what it is they have now become a party to witnessing. Historical representation of slavery in public spaces fights for that place in the collective American mind that aspires to ideals of freedom and democracy and in actuality knows the opposite. The essays collected and edited by James Oliver Horton and Lois E. Horton address how that schism in the American psyche manifests itself and the role public history plays in reconciling that contradiction. They shed light on enduring debates surrounding the depiction of slavery in museums, monuments, and other public spaces, and the importance of acknowledging and addressing the legacy of slavery in American society. The themes discussed here are slavery’s memory and representation, the power and politics that shape public history, and questions raised about the ethics tied to accurate and respectful portrayals of slavery in public spaces.
The presented essays address how public memory and representation of slavery have changed over time, and these changes reflect larger shifts in American culture and society. The role of museums, historic sites, and other forms of public history in shaping memory and representation, highlights the challenges of accurately representing the experiences and contributions of enslaved people. In the early 20th century, the memory of slavery was largely absent from public discourse, and when it was discussed, it was often portrayed in a romanticized and distorted way. This book shows how the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s fought to challenge the literal “whitewashing” of American history when African American activists began to demand a more accurate and honest portrayal of slavery in public spaces.
The essays discuss the debates over slavery and its legacy, how they have been shaped by political ideologies and cultural norms, and how different groups have sought to use public history to advance their agendas. Public history institutions, colleges, museums, historic sites, and monuments, have an authoritative role in presenting an accurate and meaningful representation of slavery and the enslaved. These institutions have a responsibility to engage with the public and facilitate meaningful conversations about slavery and its legacy, and to avoid perpetuating myths and stereotypes that downplay the role of slavery in American history. Political and social pressures can influence the representation of slavery. The authors argue that public history is not a neutral space, but rather a site of contested memory and power. They show how different groups, such as politicians, activists, students, and museum professionals, have sought to use public history to advance their agendas and promote their interests. For example, they discuss how politicians have used public history to promote national unity and patriotism, while activists have used it to challenge dominant narratives and promote social justice.
The authors also raise important questions about the ethics of representing slavery in public history, and the responsibility that public historians have to accurately and respectfully portray this history. They discuss issues such as the use of sensitive language and imagery, the need to include diverse perspectives, the importance of engaging with descendant communities, and also the challenges of balancing the need for accuracy with the desire to promote healing and reconciliation. Because of the nature of slavery - which involved the forced labor and exploitation of millions of people - it can be difficult to represent the experiences of enslaved people in a way that is accurate, respectful, and meaningful. The authors examine the use of language and imagery in public history and discuss how museums and historic sites have tried to incorporate the perspectives and voices of enslaved people into their exhibits and programs. The authors show that while progress has been made, there is still much work to be done to fully and accurately represent the experiences of enslaved people in public spaces.
Compiled almost twenty years ago, readers can look up the ‘current events’ described in the essays and in so doing, discover that much of what lay at the heart of the political and social conflict over the public history of American slavery in the late 20th and early 21st centuries is still present in 2023, standing as firm as the mossy stone foundation of a long-departed antebellum edifice. However, on top of these old foundations, and since this book’s first publishing, renewed scholarship on American slavery can now be experienced by a visit to The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, which opened in 2016; The Whitney Plantation in Louisiana opened in 2014; or The Fort Monroe National Monument in Virginia, opened in 2011. Ongoing efforts incorporating the history of slavery into America’s public spaces serve to advance and expand our collective understanding of US history and ourselves. To paraphrase Essay 2 author David W. Blight, much like the newly emancipated enslaved of the 1860s and ’70s, modern Americans must demand America’s public history live up to its ideals and decide how to look backward and live forward.

[Cami Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Slavery and Public History: The Tough Stuff of American Memory,” a collection of academic essays edited by James Oliver Horton and Louise E. Horton, definitely tackles some “tough stuff.”

The essays focus on how public historians should interpret slavery to visitors of historic sites and museums. They also focus on how interpretation evolved over the decades.

While “Slavery and Public History” does not give any answers on how the topic should always be handled, it gives the reader a lot to think about.

[Valerie Brett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book but reads not quite as fun as other history books I’ve read, such those by Sarah Vowell. The themes and issues covered are thorough yet broad and all the contributors and editors did an excellent job describing the challenges, opportunities and imperatives of accurately engaging with America’s past (slavery, in particular).

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Collection of articles discussing historical displays of history and how they are impacted by political ideologies and emotional connections people hold on to monuments and historical sites. Fascinating perspectives and points on what has been done and maybe what we should do.

[Aurora Dimitre · Rating 3 out of 5]

|Read for Historiography & the Historical Profession|

[Sarah Shepherd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read. Since it was published in 2006, it serves as a history of the first such pushes in public history rather than a guide to current controversies.

[Matthew Lystad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed it, not too deep. The many authors make it a little challenging to get hooked but it makes for a perfect book to pick up and leave multiple times

[Adina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still holds up amazingly well almost 20 years later!

[Pat Carson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth the read

[Jessica (JT) Thelen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed these essays!

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection of essays is not one that I would have stumbled across on my own - but it was part of the required reading list for my archives and collective memory class. It is certainly interesting - though a topic that I wouldn't necessarily have considered in connection with a special exhibit or collection. It definitely opened my eyes to controversy that I was completely unaware of! Some of the essays are more interesting than others - and few made me wonder altogether why they were included at all! The least professional of the essays is the Vlachs article. He created an exhibit including many hardly-ever-seen photographs on plantation life. When he set it up in the Library of Congress, some of the employees complained and the exhibit was removed before it was even opened to the public. Vlachs tone was so defensive and accusatory (stating that his exhibit was used as a scapegoat for poor working conditions in the Library of Congress). He stressed that when he had shown the exhibit elsewhere, it was to great acclaim - making it very much it was a "them" issue. I wish that someone who hadn't created the exhibit had covered this topic - because I think an outside perspective would have added a lot! The National Parks service came up a lot, too, here - and not always in a positive light. One articles tone about changing the way battlefield sites handle and present slavery was quite interesting. And another author comes off pretty petty in his selection of direct quotes from the dissenters. The spelling and grammatical errors that were included along with this smarmy attitude really detracted from the quality of the essay. I wish that our class had gotten a chance to actually discuss this book and I hope that it continues to spark discussion in other classrooms!

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a very polarizing effect on me. I either wholly agreed or disagreed with the opinions it expressed; there was no middle ground. The book is meant to be a platform for how to discuss slavery in public history institutions, but the essays within incite strong feelings, and not always in the best way. I will admit I read this for a class, and unless it had been assigned I probably would not have picked it up.

Some of the essays had excellent points to contribute to the discussion of slavery and public history like, "If You Don't Tell It Like It Was, It Can Never Be as It Ought to Be." Balancing public memory with recorded history can be tough. Other essays were nothing more than an outlet to express frustration over something that should have never been an issue in the first place like, "For Whom Will the Liberty Bell Toll? From Controversy to Cooperation." Not only was this essay the least contributing to the overall book, it was the most boring.

If you are interested in this topic, then by all means pick it up. A word of caution though: this book is not meant to be a light read for an afternoon, but rather to be taken chapter by chapter to be thought about and discussed. If you are wanting something fun and imaginative, I would try something else.

[Michael VanZandt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely in-depth look at the ongoing debate about slavery and the Civil War. This books consists of eleven essays by academic and public historians. Of particular note were the essays by David Blight ("If You Don't Like It Like IT Was"), Bruce Levine ("A Usable Past") and Dwight T. Pitcaithley ("A Cosmic Threat"). It follows the effect on our public memory in the south, but also in a place like Rhode Island, treating the myriad of "memories" that we have, from White Southern, Neo-Confederate, White Northern, and African-American.

[Starbubbles · Rating 4 out of 5]

it's actually by both her and her husband. anyway, great collection of articles on remembering slavery and present outlook on race. her own article could have included what tour guides were saying to guests for her evidence on their reactions of jefferson to be more conclusive. but, i won't get into each article...
if you want a decent book about how remembering slavery has transformed since it's ended, this book is the way to go.

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one had excellent essays about how slavery has been treated in public history. I agreed with many of their points especially the overarching theme that having a better education system will provide for a more open dialogue of these issues, including racism. I recommend it to those interested. Bonus is that you don't have to read it all in one sitting, it can be done over time since it is a collection of essays!

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It is actually a collection of essays from different perspectives in or pertaining to the field of Public History. While I did not necessarily agree with all of the opinions expressed in each essay, I still felt as though I learned through these people's experiences. I also appreciate the book's theme as a whole, which expressed concern for the state of public education and how it teaches students about slavery.

[Kb · Rating 5 out of 5]

If there was any question to begin with regarding why we study slavery, this book provides the answers. Not only must we consider how we remember such dark chapters of American history but why we remember them as such. This work also raises the question of who the true revisionists are.

[Denali · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some essays in this collection were excellent some less so hence 3 stars. This was an excellent idea for a book. Public history is a fascinating thing and the resources used by the scholars here reveal so much about the friction points between the past & the present.

[Audra Slaymaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for class. Eye-opening about representation of slavery in American historical sites and museums.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

For my purposes, this book was too surface; series of essays, rather than historical facts.

[Jenny.p · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. There are a few strong articles--specifically the David Blight piece--but as as whole, it isn't as great as I had hoped it would be. Mostly I felt guilty for making my students buy it.

[Erik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Potent. Historians, public or no, go read this. Now.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for my intro to museum studies course--so glad I was able to read this classic!