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Reiss uses P. T. Barnum's Joice Heth hoax to examine the contours of race relations in the antebellum North. Barnum's first exhibit as a showman, Heth was an elderly enslaved woman said to be the 161-year-old former nurse of the infant George Washington. Seizing upon the novelty, the newly emerging commercial press turned her act--and especially her death--into one of the first media spectacles in American history.

Popular culture --- Women slaves --- Freak shows --- Whites --- African Americans in popular culture --- Racism in popular culture --- Death in popular culture --- Afro-Americans in popular culture --- Sideshows --- History --- Social aspects --- Race identity --- Barnum, P. T. --- Heth, Joice, --- Barnum, Phineas Taylor, --- Parn̲am, P. T., --- Barnam, P. T., --- Northeastern States --- Northeast (U.S.) --- Northeastern United States --- United States, Northeastern --- Race relations. --- Race relations --- Barnum, Phineas Taylor --- United States --- Biography --- 19th century --- Heth, Joice --- White persons --- Ethnology --- Caucasian race --- White people --- Enslaved women --- Women, Enslaved --- Enslaved persons