Slavery is woven into the history of our region, and while some local figures are well-remembered (Frederick Douglass being the most prominent), many more are not. Their stories never made the history books, and the multitude of ways the region is associated with slavery have long gone unacknowledged.

Those stories are starting to be rediscovered and shared, though, like in a new book about Josiah Henson, who lived as a slave on a Montgomery County, Md. plantation for part of his life and inspired the novel “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” We will talk to the author of that book and a local historian, as well as hear from a woman who recently learned that she is a descendant of slaves sold by Jesuits associated with Georgetown University. We’ll also be joined by college student at American University who uncovered and publicized the history of slave ownership of the school’s founder.

We explore what’s behind the rediscoveries, and why so many of the region’s slave stories were erased or forgotten.