[Reflection] Burn Down Master's House by Clay Cane, Introduction

When Cane begins his introduction by talking about misinformation, I knew immediately that Burn Down Master's House is the type of book that's important to read.

Cane explains how misinformation is a war on truth and is a modern form of oppression. When the truth or reality is altered, it colors how people and facts are seen. Referencing different examples of "perspectives" on slavery that attempt to downplay or put a positive spin on the history of slavery in the US, Cane pushes back with raw truth.

He warns up that this book will make us uncomfortable, but it is the price we pay to learn the truth and to be inspired to act, taking charge of our collective futures. "Remembering is an act of opposition," Cane reminds us.

Inspired by real life people, Burn Down Master's House will teach us that there's more to stories of slavery than brutality; there's also resistance and opposition. In 2026, we are still fighting against the systems built on the subjugation of Black and Brown people. It's not about admitting that slavery existed, but about the refusal to see the humanity of the people who survived it.

So while we might think "another slavery story" like Cane's friend when told that he was writing another book, but we're in a place where there are increasing refusals to accept the truth of chattel slavery and initiatives to sanitize it all across our country. So, yes another slavery story, but one where we see diverse ways of resistance, teaching us to remember and to hope.

Steel your heart, brace your soul, maybe get some tissues ready and dive into chapter one, "Luke and Henri," which begins with "The cabin was beaten down with humiliation and despair, infesting every corner of the caged space." 🫠 ❓ Are you adding this to your TBR or you don't think you're in the right mindspace for it?