Challenging History

"Much of the history we need is hidden in plain sight, but these essays open the research and results of the hard–working stewards of the raw material of history—archivists, archaeologists, architectural historians, and historic site administrators—who are creating the broader, more inclusive history our times need."—Carter L. Hudgins, Director Emeritus, Clemson University / College of Charleston Graduate Program in Historic Preservation

"Challenging History is a refreshing addition to conversations about Black history in the public history sphere. It challenges us to move beyond simply highlighting deficiencies and inspires solutions. It elevates significant stories, illustrates "real-world" improvements, and makes unflinching assessments—marking where we have been, have yet to go, and how we might get there."—Shawn Halifax, Public History Practitioner, McLeod Plantation Historic Site

"Challenging History is a book for our times. Creatively weaving together diverse case studies, it shows how southern public history is enriched by including the African American experience. In demonstrating how "imagined heritages" frequently distort historical understanding, it insightfully shows the challenges and opportunities public historians face reshaping our collective memory of the past."—Bernard Powers, Professor emeritus of history and founding director of the Center for the Study of Slavery at the College of Charleston

"[T]hese essays suggest the potential of public history to challenge restrictive narratives and preconceptions. All of the projects discussed here center marginalized histories. In learning about this work, the reader is reminded of the importance of a broader conceptualization and understanding of the African American experience within public history."—Journal of Southern History

"Historians, docents, professors, activists, or anyone looking for models on how to better do public histories of "lesser-known historical actors" (17) should read this interdisciplinary volume. Challenging History: Race, Equity, and the Practice of Public History manages to bind together conceptual analysis and practical application while detailing how the experience of African Americans has or has not been centered in public history."—Scott Hancock, Gettysburg College, American Historical Review

"Faber tells Stinney's story with passion and restraint. He worked on the book for a decade but died before he was able to complete it. Before he died, he asked the historian Carol Berkin, a friend since they were in graduate school together in the 1960s, to pick up where he left off. Berkin finished the last chapter, edited the manuscript, wrote a forward explaining all this, and saw the book through to publication. Her contribution is a lovely tribute to Faber, just as Faber's book is a fitting tribute to George Stinney and the wretched experience, past and present, of which his story is a part."—James Goodman, Rutgers University-Newark, American Historical Review

"Concurrently with the growth of the field, public historians have sought to highlight the stories of marginalized groups that have traditionally been excluded in museum exhibits, at historic sites, and in community-engaged scholarship. Challenging History: Race, Equity, and the Practice of Public History is a book that furthers this initiative of making the field more equitable and representative of the larger world."—Felicia Jamison, The Public Historian