Super Short Summary

In How the Word Is Passed, Clint Smith examines the legacy of slavery by visiting historical sites across the American South, New York City, and Dakar, Senegal. Through personal reflections, interviews, and scholarly research, Smith explores how these sites confront or evade the history of slavery and its enduring impact on American society. By blending descriptive experiences and dialogical elements, he underscores the importance of reckoning with slavery as a foundational element of the United States. Sensitive topics related to the trauma and brutality of slavery are discussed throughout the book.