Alice L. Baumgartner joins guest host John McCaa to discuss the Civil War and how thousands of enslaved people found freedom in Mexico.
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The evolution of Zora Neale Hurston
Genevieve West joins guest host John McCaa to discuss her extensive compilation of work that features essays, criticism, and articles of the Harlem Renaissance author Zora Neale Hurston.
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The forgotten story of how Lincoln tried to bring together a divided nation
John Avlon discusses Lincoln as a peacemaker, his approach of reason over brute strength, and how that was derailed after his assassination.
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The descendants of an enslaved man insist his father was George Washington
Jill Abramson contemplates the parentage of West Ford, his possible connection to George Washington, and the fight to save Gum Springs.
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The larger story of the Atlanta spa shootings
May Jeong discusses the victims and survivors of the Atlanta spa shootings and paints a picture of how violence against Asian communities is part of a long history of racism in the U.S.
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The life of Madeleine Albright
We revisit our 2017 conversation with Madeleine Albright, who passed away this week. Albright made history as the first woman to serve as the U.S. secretary of state.
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What does God look like?
Francesca Stavrakopoulou, professor of Hebrew Bible and ancient religion, discusses her research of the Bible to arrive at a portrait of a complex god whose appearance was shaped by early worshipers.
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What the South has to say about America
Imani Perry discusses her return to her Southern home in Alabama with fresh eyes, weaving in the stories of the good-tempered with a darker history.
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How the first Americans really got here
Anthropologist Jennifer Raff discusses new research into early migration patterns and what it may say about human history.
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Who we build monuments to and why it matters
Paul M. Farber of the National Monument Audit joins us to discuss a recent study of 50,000 monuments across the U.S. and what the research shows about who we memorialize and who we leave out.
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The ugly history of fast fashion
Sofi Thanhauser of the Pratt Institute discusses her research into linen, cotton, silk, synthetics, and wool, how they shaped civilization and why, today, fashion has become a leading producer of pollution on the planet.
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How jeans became an American wardrobe staple
Michael Bicks talks about the history of jeans, how they’ve swept the globe as a fashion staple, and why they are a touchstone for major moments in our nation’s history.
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