---
title: "2 American slavery Quotes By Annette Gordon-Reed"
description: "2 American slavery quotes by Annette Gordon-Reed. Plus more from Annette Gordon-Reed and more American slavery sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec1/annette-gordon-reed-43396_quote_american-slavery-at-its-beginnings-obscu_1281740.jpg"
---

> [“American slavery at its beginnings—obscure, distant, and tragic—is probably for most people a less attractive point of focus than the story of the discovery and political founding of the American nation. If you like your history heroic—and many people seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-gordon-reed/american-slavery-at-its-beginnings-obscure-distant-and-tragic-is/)

[Annette Gordon-Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-gordon-reed/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec1/annette-gordon-reed-43396_quote_american-slavery-at-its-beginnings-obscu_1281740.jpg)

> [“American slavery at its beginnings—obscure, distant, and tragic—is probably for most people a less attractive point of focus than the story of the discovery and political founding of the American nation. If you like your history heroic—and many people seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-gordon-reed/american-slavery-at-its-beginnings-obscure-distant-and-tragic-is-2/)

[Annette Gordon-Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-gordon-reed/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52d/annette-gordon-reed-43396_quote_american-slavery-at-its-beginnings-obscu_2111953.jpg)

## Other authors on American slavery

- [Abraham Lincoln 19 quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-slavery/abraham-lincoln/)

## More by Annette Gordon-Reed

> [Contrary to popular belief, there are lots of actions on the part of Jefferson and Hemings that "speak" about the basic nature of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-gordon-reed/contrary-to-popular-belief-there-are-lots-of-actions-on-the-part-of/)

[Annette Gordon-Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-gordon-reed/)

> [I am enormously pleased to become a part of the Harvard community once again. I look forward to working with the students and faculty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-gordon-reed/i-am-enormously-pleased-to-become-a-part-of-the-harvard-community/)

[Annette Gordon-Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-gordon-reed/)

> [It's always easier to spot others' hypocrisies while missing our own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-gordon-reed/it-s-always-easier-to-spot-others-hypocrisies-while-missing-our-own/)

[Annette Gordon-Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-gordon-reed/)

> [I do believe that actions often speak louder than words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-gordon-reed/i-do-believe-that-actions-often-speak-louder-than-words/)

[Annette Gordon-Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-gordon-reed/)

> [“American slavery at its beginnings—obscure, distant, and tragic—is probably for most people a less attractive point of focus than the story of the discovery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-gordon-reed/american-slavery-at-its-beginnings-obscure-distant-and-tragic-is/)

[Annette Gordon-Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-gordon-reed/)

> [“American slavery at its beginnings—obscure, distant, and tragic—is probably for most people a less attractive point of focus than the story of the discovery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-gordon-reed/american-slavery-at-its-beginnings-obscure-distant-and-tragic-is-2/)

[Annette Gordon-Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-gordon-reed/)

> [“By the beginning of the eighteenth century, the Virginia elites had taken the best land for themselves, leaving the former indentured servants land poor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-gordon-reed/by-the-beginning-of-the-eighteenth-century-the-virginia-elites-had/)

[Annette Gordon-Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-gordon-reed/)

> [“Love has been many things throughout history: the simple comfort of the familiar, having a person to know and being known by that person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-gordon-reed/love-has-been-many-things-throughout-history-the-simple-comfort-of/)

[Annette Gordon-Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-gordon-reed/)

> [I find it more than a little disingenuous to act as if keeping slaves was something that set Thomas Jefferson apart from all mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-gordon-reed/i-find-it-more-than-a-little-disingenuous-to-act-as-if-keeping-slaves/)

[Annette Gordon-Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-gordon-reed/)

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