| Slavery and Public History: The Tough Stuff of American Memory Contributor(s): Horton, James Oliver (Editor), Horton, Lois E. (Editor) |
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ISBN: 1565849604 ISBN-13: 9781565849600 Publisher: New Press OUR PRICE: $26.55 Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats Published: April 2006 Annotation: Preeminent historians explore how the most controversial aspects of the American past are documented. In recent years, the culture wars have included arguments about the way that slavery is taught and remembered in books, films, television programs, historical sites, and museums. In the first attempt to examine this phenomenon, "Slavery and Public History" looks at recent controversies surrounding the interpretation of slavery's history in the public arena, with contributions by such noted historians as Ira Berlin, David W. Blight, and Gary B. Nash. From the cancellation of the Library of Congress's "Back of the Big House" slavery exhibit at the request of the institution's African American employees, who found the visual images of slavery too distressing, to the public reaction to DNA findings confirming Thomas Jefferson's relationship with his slave Sally Hemings, "Slavery and Public History" takes on contemporary reactions to the fundamental contradiction of American history--the existence of slavery in a country dedicated to freedom--and offers a bracing analysis of how people remember their past and how the lessons they draw from it influence American politics and culture today. Including essays by: - Ira Berlin - David W. Blight - James Oliver Horton - Lois E. Horton - Bruce Levine - Edward T. Linenthal - Joanne Melish - Gary B. Nash - Dwight T. Pitcaithley - Marie Tyler-McGraw - John Michael Vlach |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Social Science | Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - Social Science | Slavery - History | Historiography |
| Dewey: 306.362 |
| LCCN: 2005052254 |
| Physical Information: 1.03" H x 6.32" W x 9.94" (1.29 lbs) 272 pages |
| Themes: - Ethnic Orientation - African American - Topical - Black History |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: "A fascinating collection of essays" by eminent historians exploring how we teach, remember, and confront the history and legacy of American slavery (Booklist Online). In recent years, the culture wars have called into question the way America's history of slavery is depicted in books, films, television programs, historical sites, and museums. In the first attempt to examine the historiography of slavery, this unique collection of essays looks at recent controversies that have played out in the public arena, with contributions by such noted historians as Ira Berlin, David W. Blight, and Gary B. Nash. From the cancellation of the Library of Congress's "Back of the Big House" slavery exhibit at the request of the institution's African American employees, who found the visual images of slavery too distressing, to the public reaction to DNA findings confirming Thomas Jefferson's relationship with his slave Sally Hemings, Slavery and Public History takes on contemporary reactions to the fundamental contradiction of American history--the existence of slavery in a country dedicated to freedom--and offers a bracing analysis of how Americans choose to remember the past, and how those choices influence our politics and culture. "Americans seem perpetually surprised by slavery--its extent (North as well as South), its span (over half of our four centuries of Anglo settlement), and its continuing influence. The wide-ranging yet connected essays in this book] will help us all to remember and understand." --James W. Loewen, author of Sundown Towns |