Black Hands, White House

"Black Hands, White House" explores the vital contributions of enslaved women and men in building the United States’ physical and economic infrastructure. The book examines how enslaved labor fueled the production of key commodities, enriched early American and European economies, and contributed to the construction of iconic landmarks like Monticello, Mount Vernon, and the federal city of Washington, D.C. It also critically addresses the absence of memorials honoring enslaved Black individuals on the National Mall, advocating for monuments that acknowledge their central role in the nation's history.