Following emancipation, the number of people arrested in the Deep South rose significantly as the substance and enforcement of certain laws changed considerably. In stark contrast to the antebellum period, the vast majority of those now arrested were black. To keep up with the rapid pace of arrests, cities and towns that did not have police forces before the Civil War quickly established professional, uniformed forces during early Reconstruction. Atlanta, Augusta, Nashville, Memphis, and Richmond all created formal police departments. The undeniable proportion of race-based arrests caused concern, even during the initial years of freedom. In one petition to the Georgia’s Freedmen’s Bureau, the blatant racism of a particular judge was called into question after he punished several African Americans for speaking “disrespectfully” to whites. Indeed, the petitioners lamented, “the condition of the freed people is worse than slavery.”

In the first episode of the 2020 Election season, I interview Dr. Walter D. Greason, Historian, Educator, and Associate Professor at Monmouth University. We talk about his childhood in a rural, impoverished area, and how he overcame a bad stutter by rhyming along with hip-hop artists. Dr. Greason explains how we should not become solely focused on the upcoming election, but instead see the broader picture and honor the successes of the MOVEMENT. He discusses his experiences as a multi-cultural organizer and lays out a brilliant plan to help save higher education, all while improving the quality of teaching and lowering the cost. I ask him about the importance of art, comics, and Afrofuturism, and he shares his wisdom on the importance of friendship, camaraderie, and community.

***If you enjoyed learning from Dr. Greason please visit his favorite charity, the T. Thomas Fortune Foundation! https://www.tthomasfortuneculturalcenter.org/

In the second episode of the 2020 Election season, I interview Dr. Lisa D. Cook, Professor of Economics and International Relations at Michigan State University. She talks about her family’s amazing role in the Civil Rights Movement (her mother was the first African American Professor at Georgia College and State University, and her grandfather worked with MLK, Sr.!). We discuss the field of economics, the need for more Black women to become economists, and the wonderful work being done by groups like the Sadie Collective. I ask Dr. Cook about her role as a White House aide to President Obama and she talks about her experiences living in Russia and post-genocide Rwanda. Dr. Cook provides solutions about how to rebuild a post-Trump America, from fighting COVID to economic recovery to the restoration of democratic institutions.

In the third episode of the 2020 Election season, I interview Heather Cox Richardson, Professor of History at Boston College. She talks about how she sees herself as a “translator,” discusses the advantages of being an older woman, and explains how being a parent has made her a better scholar. I ask her about politics and violence, and she talks about the importance of language and the power of hope. Dr. Richardson discusses her wildly popular “Letters from an American,” and offers wisdom for the coming months and years. 

In the fourth episode of the 2020 Election season, I interview Dr. Brad De Long, Professor of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley. He talks about his wonderful teachers and mentors, and why he ultimately chose to go into economics instead of history. I ask him about his time in the Clinton Administration, and why he is now urging Liberals to align with – or become – Leftists. Describing the US as “increasingly approaching failed-state status,” Dr. De Long offers several brilliant solutions for how to move forward as a nation – including court-packing. Don’t miss this incredible conversation!

In the fifth episode of the 2020 Election season, I interview Dr. Carol Anderson, Charles Howard Candler Professor of African American Studies at Emory University. She talks about growing up as a “military brat,” and what initially drew her to history. Dr. Anderson says we must view Trump as an abuser, and that the closer we get to leaving him the more he will lose control – we can “expect every trick in the book.” We discuss the state of American democracy, and she points out several areas of focus that need attention and work. Aptly describing white supremacy as “the most powerful drug in America,” Dr. Anderson ends our interview by offering sage advice about a path forward for all Americans.

In the final episode of the 2020 Election season, I interview Dr. Kevin Kruse, Professor of History at Princeton University. He talks about what first drew him to history, and how the Civil Rights Movement had fascinated him since childhood. I ask Dr. Kruse about his predictions on what we can expect during this election, and how we can achieve some sort of justice following a Trump Administration. We talk about the importance of a fair and impartial Department of Justice, and Dr. Kruse points out four important political goals that we should focus on in the future. I inquire about improving various parts of both our electoral and educational system, and Dr. Kruse answers in his trademark fashion: brilliantly, succinctly, and passionately. You don’t want to miss this conversation!