How is slavery represented at American tourist sites today?

That's the question ISSI faculty affiliate Stephen Small seeks to answer in his book, In the Shadows of the Big House. In this interview, Stephen Small shares his inspirations behind In the Shadows of the Big House, a compelling and deeply researched work that examines the representation of slavery in contemporary heritage tourism, while interrogating the intersections of race, tourism, and historical narrative. Small discusses his research process, the enduring legacies of slavery, and the role of plantation museums in shaping public understanding of the past, offering a thought-provoking exploration of how history is told—and who gets to tell it.