Professor Winter studies the history of African Americans in 18th and 19th century America. Her research has uncovered the stories of individuals, like Jeffrey Brace, as a way to better understand the interactions between the racial, religious, economic, and gendered social structures of the time. 

Professor Winter was mentioned in a recent Vermont Public Radio story with author Jared Ross Hardesty who has published Black Lives, Native Lands, White Worlds: A History of Slavery in New England. Kari Winter rediscovered and republished Jeffrey Brace's memoir, The Blind African Slave, which has helped further research of slavery in the region and has even led to connections with Brace's present-day ancestors, including a six-times great-granddaughter, Rhonda Brace.

Winter and Rhonda Brace have since collaborated and shared their stories through the 2017 Humanities Institute conference, "Reclaiming our Ancestors II" to advance the discussion around racial justice and history. Also during that event, representatives from Big Beach, which recently produced "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood," and "The Farewell," consulted with participants for an upcoming adaptation of the memoir Running A Thousand Miles for Freedom.

Kari Winter also has plans to continue telling the stories of African Americans in New England by researching the social history with specific individuals, including Jeffrey Brace. This ongoing work has been supported by the University at Buffalo's Humanities Institute and Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development.