Episode 14: Researcher Spotlight

In this episode, Laura Gillespie shares her insights into the topic that has been the focus of her research: ‘Contraband Camps.’ Contraband’ camps represent a contested and often neglected aspect of the American Civil War. Established behind Union army lines, they comprised African American former slaves who sought refuge from their owners and joined the forces against them. As such, they are a unique aspect of the history of racial discrimination, displaying not only the dire conditions to which African Americans were exposed due to racism, but also their own active agency and contribution in the fight for their liberation. Together with Chrysi, Laura discusses the challenges of doing research into a topic interwoven with racial discrimination and social inequalities traceable still to this day. Laura explains the responsibility of the researcher in having empathy and representing appropriately the humans under study. She highlights the value of Public History, and explains why a researcher’s work is always collective. Finally, Laura highlights that ‘you do you!’