Stealing America: The Hidden Story of Indigenous Slavery in U.S. History

by Linford D. Fisher

Indigenous enslavement was a colossal phenomenon of almost unimaginable consequences that ensnared nearly 600,000 Native Americans in North America. In a saga that predates 1619, this double-stealing of Indigenous people and their lands upends virtually every known narrative of American history.

Captured Natives, often deliberately misidentified as Black slaves, were used not only on southern plantations, but on small northern farms, and were routinely shipped overseas. While the American Revolution pealed the bells of freedom for colonists, it paved a larcenous trail of westward expansion that decimated tribes and plundered Indigenous lands. Even after Congress outlawed Native slavery in 1867, Americans forced Indigenous children into boarding schools and white homes, where they labored under forced assimilation. This practice was not outlawed until the latter twentieth century, when Indian nations finally secured increasing rights and self-determination. The most comprehensive work of its kind, Stealing America presents a five-century genocidal history, more commonly known as the "American dream."

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Native American, American History, Audiobook, Indigenous

560 pages, Hardcover

First published April 28, 2026

About the author

Professor Fisher grew up in the rolling hills of southeastern Pennsylvania. He received his doctorate from Harvard University in 2008 and joined the Department of History at Brown in the summer of 2009. Professor Fisher's research and teaching relate primarily to the cultural and religious history of colonial America and the Atlantic world, including Native Americans, religion, material culture, and Indian and African slavery and servitude. He is the author of The Indian Great Awakening: Religion and the Shaping of Native Cultures in Early America and co-author of Decoding Roger Williams: The Lost Essay of Rhode Island's Founding Father. Additionally, he has authored over a dozen articles and book chapters. He is currently finishing a history of Native American enslavement in the English colonies and the United States between Columbus and the American Civil War, tentatively titled America Enslaved: The Rise and Fall of Indian Slavery in the English Atlantic and the United States. He is also the principal investigator of the Database of Indigenous Slavery in the Americas project, which seeks to create a public, centralized database of Native slavery throughout the Americas and across time.

Reviews

[Jamilah | Apothecary Tales Press · Rating 4 out of 5]

Linford Fisher’s Stealing America is a deeply researched and essential work of history. The level of detail is extraordinary, and Fisher brings long‑obscured truths to the surface with clarity and care. He exposes the violence, enslavement, and land theft that shaped the early American colonies and the United States, reminding readers that “the financial strength and geographical spread of the American colonies and the United States emerged from stolen land and enslaved labor. Native Americans were forced to provide both.”

What could have felt like a dense academic text instead becomes personal and grounded through Fisher’s conversations, ceremonies, and interviews with present‑day descendants of enslaved Indigenous peoples. These voices keep the narrative human and emotionally resonant.

One of the most impactful aspects of the book is Fisher’s insistence on rejecting a zero‑sum approach to historical trauma. He emphasizes that acknowledging Native enslavement does not diminish the enormity of Black enslavement; instead, these histories are intertwined within a “broader, layered, and multidirectional trauma” that touches Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, Mexican Americans, refugees, immigrants, and other marginalized communities.

My one gentle critique is the length. This is a substantial, immersive read, and readers should be prepared to commit time and focus to fully absorb it. The depth is valuable, but it does make the book feel long in places.

Still, I learned so much, and I appreciate Fisher’s insistence that the resilience of communities harmed by colonialism deserves to be told and understood. Anyone interested in American history, Indigenous studies, or understanding the roots of today’s social tensions will find this work indispensable.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC for my honest review.

[Robert Alexander Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐ A Valuable but Heavy Read on Native American History

I received an advance copy of Stealing America by Linford D. Fisher from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This book immediately stood out to me because it focuses on a part of American history that is often overlooked, particularly the issue of Native American slavery and land dispossession. As someone who enjoys history, I was interested in learning more about this subject, and the book makes it clear from the beginning that it is grounded in serious research. The author draws on a wide range of historical evidence to build the argument, which gives the work both credibility and depth.

The strength of the book lies in its scope and the level of detail provided. It covers a long period of time and offers a thorough examination of how systems of power and control developed and were maintained. The themes are clearly presented and consistently reinforced throughout. The conclusion is especially strong, as the author reflects on the material and provides practical suggestions for how readers can continue learning and support Native communities. That final section adds an important dimension to the book and helps connect the history to the present.

At the same time, the book is a demanding read. The level of detail, combined with the long time span it covers, makes it quite dense. There are sections where the pacing slows, and it can be difficult to stay engaged over extended periods. The writing leans toward an academic style, which may not be accessible for all readers. Even with these challenges, this remains a valuable and informative work. It is best suited for readers who are comfortable with dense historical writing and who want to gain a deeper understanding of Native American history, though others may find it harder to read consistently.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Linford D. Fisher, W. W. Norton Company, and rb Media for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#StealingAmerica #NetGalley

[Jon Bender · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another tough subject that truth and details are criminally ignored in the education system.

It’s important to know as much truth and information possible for the birth of a country, no matter how horrible or devastating it is. Most nations have very very rough spots in their beginnings and borders. America is not innocent of it.

This and African slavery should be taught in a little more detail rather than it happened. People were sold. People were whipped. There’s a lot more to it. This book breaks it down with plenty of cited references. Great research.

In my opinion this should be mandatory in college. My kids will absolutely be reading this once in high school.

This book is 100% worth every penny it costs. I’ve already reached out to a few friends who are avid history readers and explained that this is a must have and must read.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely fantastic, definitely one of my top history books so far this year. It was expansive, well-researched and completely riveting, as well as deeply harrowing. I found myself regularly pausing the audiobook to jot down facts in my ‘notes’ app, to make sure I wouldn’t forget key facts.

Using extensive documentary evidence, Fisher shows that trafficking and enslaving Indigenous Americans was commonplace throughout the now-US, and served a dual purpose: enslavers extracted labour for profit, while simultaneously destabilising and displacing local communities which freed up yet more land to exploit for profit. In this way, the enslavement of indigenous Americans was inextricably linked with colonisation - stealing land and stealing people were two sides of the same coin.

Using extensive documentary evidence, Fisher shows that trafficking and enslaving Indigenous Americans was commonplace throughout the now-US, and served a dual purpose: enslavers extracted labour for profit, while simultaneously destabilising and displacing local communities which freed up yet more land to exploit for profit. In this way, the enslavement of indigenous Americans was inextricably linked with colonisation - stealing land and stealing people were two sides of the same coin.

This slavery existed before it was legally permissible, and continued long after the enslavement of Indigenous Americans was banned. With the flick of a pen, enslavers would commit ‘documentary genocide’, falsifying records to list indigenous Americans as being a different ethnicity (commonly Black or Mixed Race). This practice has obscured the extent of the trafficking of Indigenous people.

In addition, the book examines how this slavery shifted over time and in different places: Indigenous Americans faced chattel slavery, being trafficked into chattel slavery after agreeing to an ostensibly fixed-term indenture contract, forcing tribes to stay and work on specific land following ethnic cleansing, debt peonage, and forcibly adopting indigenous people to perform unpaid household and other labour.

This book is incredibly important in uncovering another aspect of the slavery underpinning the modern US.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Kimberley Weaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! This is top tier historical research/overview, so well written! If you’re not familiar with the history of the indigenous experience in the Americas, this is a must read. If you’re familiar with indigenous history, there’s still lots of novel info and provoking perspective to keep you hooked.
I hope this book is adopted widely in educational classes. I equally recommend this for individuals seeking to educate themselves. You’ll get a broad based survey from the onset of colonial times to later 20th century. It’s largely expansive in scope but hefty enough to have plenty of clicked in descriptions so you get the bigger and smaller pictures of what was happening at key points in American history.
The author did a wonderful job of making the info accessible for all levels. I particularly appreciated the author’s note at the end which gave us suggestions on how to further educate ourselves and get involved as allies.
The narrator also did a wonderful job. I definitely recommend listening to this book. Go at your own pace and enjoy!
*Thanks to Dreamscape/RB media & Netgalley for the free advance copy

[Chrystal Mahan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very detailed and informative read that covers a part of history that is not often talked about. Stealing America really opens your eyes to the scale and impact of Indigenous enslavement, and it is clear a lot of research went into it.

I learned a lot from this book, and I appreciate the effort to bring attention to such an important topic. It definitely makes you think differently about early American history and the systems that shaped it.

That said, I listened to the audiobook version, and the narration felt a bit too monotone for me. With nonfiction especially, the pacing and tone can really affect how engaging it is, and I found myself struggling to stay focused at times.

Overall, it is a worthwhile read for the information alone, but I think it might be better experienced in print if you prefer something a bit more engaging in delivery.

[Kelli Wilhite · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Linford D. Fisher and NetGalley for letting me read an ARC copy of Stealing America. When I read the synopsis of this book, I knew that I wanted to read it as soon as possible, and I was not let down. In my opinion this is a must read for everyone. It is full of research and information regarding the enslavement of Native Americans from the arrival of the first European to modern day. While it is full of research, Fisher makes it an accessible read that is easy to follow and process. I find myself continuing to think on what I learned and know that this is one that will stick with me for a long time. When this is released on April 28, I highly recommend that you go out and get a copy!

[Anniee Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the gifted copy.
Stealing America is a thought-provoking and eye-opening read that explores the complexities of early American history, particularly through the lens of Indigenous experiences and colonial encounters. Linford D. Fisher presents a well-researched narrative that challenges familiar perspectives and encourages deeper reflection. It’s informative, engaging, and an important contribution to understanding the past more fully.

[Bill Philibin · Rating 5 out of 5]

(5.0 stars)

Meticulously researched and detailed. This book is informative. The subject matter is disturbing, it should be shocking, but if your eyes are open, you can see that America wasn't built on the perseverance and grit of innovators and hard working entrepreneurs, but instead it was built on the back of stolen labor, on stolen land, and with stolen knowledge.

[JXR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well researched and heartbreaking book about one of the most underacknowledged areas of U.S. history. 5 stars. tysm for the E-ARC.