A Word: Rebirth of a Nation
The first hopes for a post-racial America were raised during Reconstruction, the post-Civil War era when the country\u2019s leaders\xa0pledged to fulfill the promise of freedom for formerly enslaved Blacks. But after a decade of reforms, the brutal racial hierarchy was reestablished in the South, costing African Americans their rights, opportunities, and\u2014in many cases\u2014their lives. On today\u2019s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson discusses the legacy of Reconstruction with Vann Newkirk II. He\u2019s a senior editor for The Atlantic, which has devoted its latest issue to exploring that era of American history and what it can tell us about the current state of race in this country.\n\nGuest: Vann Newkirk II, senior editor of The Atlantic\n\nPodcast production by Ahyiana Angel\n\nYou can skip all the ads in A Word by joining Slate Plus. Sign up now at slate.com/awordplus for $15 for your first three months.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices