Slavery and Public History

Slavery and Public History: The Tough Stuff of American Memory, edited by James Oliver Horton and Lois E. Horton with contributions from historians and museum professionals, examines how museums, historic sites, monuments, and communities confront and interpret the legacy of slavery. Through essays and case studies it addresses interpretive strategies, controversies over exhibits and commemoration, the politics of public memory, and the role of descendant communities and activism in shaping narratives. The book offers practical guidance for curators, educators, and public historians while urging honest, inclusive engagement with difficult pasts to promote fuller civic understanding and meaningful racial reckoning.