Linford Fisher, "Stealing America: The Hidden Story of Indigenous Slavery in U.S. History" (Liveright, 2026)

Indigenous slavery in North America functioned as a fundamental mechanism for land dispossession and colonial expansion, rather than a peripheral or isolated practice. This history reveals a persistent "double theft" where the enslavement of Native people—particularly women and children—simultaneously provided forced labor and destabilized Indigenous nations, facilitating territorial acquisition. Spanning from the early colonial period through the 20th century, these practices evolved from initial maritime abductions to institutionalized systems in the antebellum South and later boarding school programs. Professor Linford Fisher, a specialist in colonial and Indigenous history at Brown University, argues that this hidden history remains deeply embedded in the American narrative. By bridging archival gaps and incorporating oral histories, this research challenges the traditional view that Indigenous bondage ended in the mid-18th century, demonstrating its continuity and integral role in the formation of the United States.