Maria R. Montalvo

Maria R. Montalvo, an assistant professor of history at Emory University, dives into her groundbreaking book, 'Enslaved Archives.' She examines the intricate relationship between legal records and the historical narratives of enslaved individuals in antebellum America. Montalvo discusses how enslavers manipulated documentation to control information and shape perceptions. Her analysis of over 18,000 court records reveals the ethical challenges of historical representation and highlights the importance of archival research in uncovering the true stories of those affected by slavery.

Maria R. Montalvo, an Assistant Professor of History at Emory University and author of 'Enslaved Archives', discusses how legal records from antebellum America shaped the narratives of enslaved individuals. She reveals the challenges historians face in reconstructing these lives due to biased and fragmentary documentation. Through analysis of over 18,000 court records and five key lawsuits in Louisiana, Montalvo uncovers how enslavers manipulated legal scripts to exploit and commodify enslaved people, intertwining law, history, and personal stories.