Interpreting Slavery with Children and Teens at Museums and Historic Sites

Kristin L. Gallas has worked in museums for nearly 30 years. She facilitates workshops for museums and historic sites on developing comprehensive and conscientious interpretation of slavery and speaks regularly at public history and museum conferences. Gallas is the coeditor of Interpreting Slavery at Museums and Historic Sites (Rowman & Littlefield, 2015), among other publications on best practices in the interpretation of slavery. Kristin holds a master’s degree in museum education from George Washington University. She led the education departments at the Montana Historical Society and the USS Constitution Museum and is currently the project manager for education development at the Tsongas Industrial History Center.

• DedicationTable of ContentsForewordAcknowledgementsPrefaceChapter 1 – Race, Identity, and Historical TraumaChapter 2 – (Re)Defining a Successful ExperienceChapter 3 – Creating a Brave Space Chapter 4 – What is Age-Appropriate?Chapter 5 – Fostering EmpathyChapter 6 – Engagement TechniquesChapter 7 – Dialogue TechniquesChapter 8 – Staff Training and SupportChapter 9 – Teacher EngagementConclusionIndex About the Author

Museum educators should sharpen their pencils and stock up on highlighters and sticky notes before opening the pages of this book. It invites reflection, guides preparation, and offers practical ways to approach the hard history of American slavery. Kristen L. Gallas challenges museums and historical sites to move beyond the building and collections, to embrace their role in our national reckoning over our history of racial oppression, and to champion public history as a means of reconciliation and healing. Programming that confronts race and slavery truthfully, intentionally and with compassion, will teach students visiting historic sites a lasting lesson.