Reckoning with America’s history of slavery
Summary
Clint Smith discusses his nonfiction book *How the Word Is Passed*, exploring how distorted narratives about slavery and the Confederacy shaped his upbringing in New Orleans. He examines sites like Monticello to reveal the complex, often hidden histories of enslavement. Smith also shares poems from his collection *Above Ground*, reflecting on fatherhood, fertility struggles, and the legacy of his grandparents who survived Jim Crow.
Topics discussed
Intro and Clint Smith's book 'How the Word Is Past'
Poem on Confederate statues and the Lost Cause myth
Monticello tour and Thomas Jefferson's complex legacy
Family history and the proximity of slavery
NPR Podcast promos: Politics and Code Switch
Poetry on fatherhood and the simultaneity of life
Book banning and school visit cancellations
Teaching children about ancestral survival
Fertility struggles and poem 'Counting Descent 2'
Poem 'Gold Stars' on Black fatherhood praise
NPR Podcast promos: Consider This and Sources
Review of HBO series 'Lanterns'
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