People

I am interested in the history of slavery and race in North America, American socio-legal history, the history of the Civil War and Reconstruction, and the development of American political institutions. I am especially interested in the multiple approaches to studying slavery, the ways in which concepts of race shaped American political and legal identities over time, and the ways in which courts have operated and intervened during times of crisis and radical transition.

My current work explores an unappreciated history of reparations. I am researching the wills of enslavers who bequeathed items of significant value to bonds people. The justification for the bequests, and the lives made possible by them, often share similarities with modern schemes for reparations. I consider the possibilities for using this archive to enhance and expand reparatory discourse, both historical and current.