A review by albernikolauras
How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith

informative reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

An excellent nonfiction book very grounded in different locations across the US (with one exception). It's a history and discussion on the slave trade within the US and how the US twists itself up to avoid confronting it. Smith spends each chapter in the book at a different site and on a different tour discussing the slave trade in the United States, and interviews some of the individuals on the tour as well as the organizations conducting them.

I highly recommend for everyone to read this - although definitely look for some own voice reviews on this book. I found How the Word is Passed is approachable and without apology. Smith is an excellent writer and I loved the way he wove his own narrative throughout the story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Violence, and Torture

Moderate: Colonisation, Kidnapping, Confinement, Sexual violence, Racism, Physical abuse, and Rape