Frederick Douglass’s 19th Century Frederick Douglass’s 19th Century
A new biography gives an account of both Douglass’s political and personal life that will likely remain the standard for years to come.
Oct 25, 2018 / Books & the Arts / Eric Foner
We Should Embrace the Ambiguity of the 14th Amendment We Should Embrace the Ambiguity of the 14th Amendment
A hundred and fifty years after its ratification, some of its promises remain unfulfilled—but one day it may still be interpreted anew.
Jul 9, 2018 / Eric Foner
Ira Berlin, 1941–2018 Ira Berlin, 1941–2018
Remembering a man who transformed scholarship on slavery and African-American culture.
Jun 8, 2018 / Eric Foner
The Frontiers of American Capitalism The Frontiers of American Capitalism
Noam Maggor’s new book captures how it took both sides of the American continent to revitalize the economy after the Civil War.
Jun 1, 2017 / Books & the Arts / Eric Foner
What the Fugitive Slave Act Teaches Us About How States Can Resist Oppressive Federal Power What the Fugitive Slave Act Teaches Us About How States Can Resist Oppressive Federal Power
The actions of attorneys general in California and other states have their antecedents in the fight against that draconian law.
Feb 8, 2017 / Eric Foner
American Radicals and the Change We Could Believe In American Radicals and the Change We Could Believe In
The Obama era reminded us all that popular movements play an essential role as catalysts for political action.
Dec 14, 2016 / Feature / Eric Foner
African-American Voters Have an Understandable Reason to Support Hillary Clinton African-American Voters Have an Understandable Reason to Support Hillary Clinton
Bernie Sanders has propelled economic inequality to center stage. But older African Americans have known about inequality for a long time.
Apr 25, 2016 / Eric Foner
Voting Rights and the Second Redemption Voting Rights and the Second Redemption
Ari Berman’s Give Us the Ballot argues that democratic rights can never be taken for granted.
Dec 3, 2015 / Books & the Arts / Eric Foner
How Bernie Sanders Should Talk About Democratic Socialism How Bernie Sanders Should Talk About Democratic Socialism
Instead of looking to Europe, Sanders could evoke the rich heritage of American radicalism.
Oct 21, 2015 / Eric Foner
Birthright Citizenship Is the Good Kind of American Exceptionalism Birthright Citizenship Is the Good Kind of American Exceptionalism
So why are the GOP candidates now fighting it?
Aug 27, 2015 / Eric Foner