David Montero and Michael Eric Dyson, Ph.D., The Stolen Wealth of Slavery: A Case for Reparations

In this powerful and timely investigative story, "The Stolen Wealth of Slavery: A Case for Reparations," Emmy-nominated journalist David Montero follows the trail of the enormous wealth amassed by Northern societies throughout America's history of slavery. Many have long argued that the North was not complicit in the horrors of slavery. The truth, however, is that the big banks of the North – including well-known institutions like Citibank, the Bank of New York, and the Bank of America – played a vital role in financing slavery; that they saw their fortunes increase considerably through their involvement in the slavery trade; and that white business leaders and their surrounding communities created enormous wealth through slavery and the abuse of black bodies.

Most white slaveholders in the South were not wealthy—many barely made ends meet—and Northern businesses profited most from the profits made from servitude. And some of the Northerners who would be considered pro-Union during the Civil War were actually anti-abolition, seeing the institution of slavery as being in their best financial interest, and only supported the Union once that they realized it would be a good thing to do so. for business. It is a myth that the wealth generated by slavery disappeared after the war. On the contrary, it helped finance the country's industrialization and became one of the foundations of modern business growth, helping to transform America into a global economic giant.

In this remarkable book, Montero elegantly and meticulously details the North's endemic investments in slavery. It shows exactly what was stolen, who stole it, and who it is owed to, calling for reparations for corporations while detailing contemporary movements to hold corporations accountable for past atrocities.

Montero will speak with Michael Eric Dyson, Ph.D., professor emeritus of African American and Diaspora Studies at Vanderbilt University and author of 25 books, including 7 New York Times bestsellers, including " Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America."

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