How the Word Is Passed

Ever wonder why the story of American slavery feels so incomplete? Uncover the hidden truths and silenced histories that shape our nation today. This journey reveals how the legacy of slavery is not just in the past—it’s etched into the very ground beneath your feet. Join author Clint Smith on a tour of monuments and landmarks, from a Virginia plantation to a Louisiana prison. You'll hear the powerful, often-overlooked stories of the people who lived, worked, and resisted at these sites, and understand how their voices are finally being passed on.

Clint Smith is a staff writer at The Atlantic and the 1 New York Times bestselling author of How the Word Is Passed. A descendant of enslaved people, Smith grew up in New Orleans, a city awash in historical memory and mythology. This upbringing inspired his journey across the country, where he visited monuments and landmarks to understand how slavery has been remembered and Reckoned with—and how it has been forgotten—shaping America's collective story today.