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Longlisted for the 2021 National Book Award for Nonfiction

Beginning in his hometown of New Orleans, Clint Smith leads the reader on 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 more than four hundred people. 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, a former plantation–turned–maximum-security prison in Louisiana that is filled with Black men who work across the 18,000-acre land for virtually no pay. And it is the story of Blandford Cemetery, the final resting place of tens of thousands of Confederate soldiers.

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, where the brutal history of the trade in enslaved men, women, and children has been deeply imprinted.

Informed by scholarship and brought to life by the story of people living today, Smith’s debut work of nonfiction is a landmark of reflection and insight that offers a new understanding of the hopeful role that memory and history can play in making sense of our country and how it has come to be.

**How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America** by Clint Smith is a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of the enduring legacy of slavery in the United States.

Through a series of deeply personal and moving essays, Smith takes readers on a journey through the nation's history of racial oppression, from the forced migration of Africans to the American South to the ongoing struggle for civil rights.

With eloquence and insight, Smith weaves together historical research, personal narrative, and cultural analysis to shed light on the ways in which slavery has shaped the nation's culture, politics, and economy.

He examines the lingering effects of slavery on education, housing, criminal justice, and healthcare, and he offers a compelling call for a more just and equitable society.

How the Word Is Passed is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the complex and painful history of slavery in the United States and its lasting impact on the nation's present.

Here are some of the key themes that Smith explores in the book:

• The enduring legacy of slavery: Smith argues that slavery is not simply a relic of the past, but a force that continues to shape the lives of African Americans today.
• The role of memory and history: Smith examines the ways in which the history of slavery has been suppressed and distorted, and he calls for a more honest and comprehensive reckoning with the past.
• The power of storytelling: Smith uses personal narratives and oral histories to give voice to the experiences of those who have been marginalized and silenced.
• The importance of empathy and understanding: Smith urges readers to cultivate empathy for the experiences of others, and he calls for a more just and equitable society.

How the Word Is Passed is a powerful and important book that sheds light on the enduring legacy of slavery in the United States. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the complex and painful history of the nation's past and its impact on the present.