57Recent Stories
Smoke Over Cahokia
A millennium ago, the greatest city north of what is now Mexico rose on the Mississippi. Then it emptied. Last week, smoke found it again.
As wildfire smoke from Canada darkened Midwestern skies, one writer looked to the ancient city of Cahokia for a sobering lesson about climate change, societal resilience and the consequences of division.
The Place Where the Rainbow Never Ends A brick, a beach, and a lesson that never stopped moving
Ben Jealous reflects on the enduring legacy of civil rights leader Norman Hill, whose courage at Chicago's Rainbow Beach and lifelong commitment to labor and racial justice helped shape generations of Black leaders.
A Nation That Forgets Its History Is Bound When we forget the first fights over voting rights, we forget who profits when the many are divided.
A renewed federal review of Georgia’s 2020 election records has reignited debate over voting rights, with one commentator arguing that today’s disputes echo a long history of efforts to restrict access to the ballot.
It Is Time to Redraw the Revolution, Again
This Fourth of July, historian and civil rights leader Ben Jealous urges Americans to reclaim the full story of the Revolution by restoring Black patriots, women, Native Americans, and working-class heroes to the nation's founding narrative.
Hey, Cousin - What I Saw on Juneteenth at Andre Jackson's Plantation – FINAL
On Juneteenth at The Hermitage, descendants of enslaved families gathered to honor Black history, confront the legacy of slavery, and explore the complex family ties that connect Americans across race and generations.
Turn a Wall on Its Side, and It Becomes a Table
A powerful argument for an America that welcomes newcomers, drawing on the words of Alec Baldwin, the vision of Frederick Douglass, and the enduring symbolism of the Statue of Liberty to show why inclusion makes the nation stronger.
Reconciling Jackson and Jackson
Former NAACP president Ben Jealous argues that Democrats should reject most of Andrew Jackson's legacy while reclaiming his commitment to fighting for working people and challenging concentrated economic power.
On Juneteenth, I’ll Celebrate Black Music at Andrew Jackson’s Plantation
As he prepares to celebrate Juneteenth at The Hermitage, Ben Jealous reflects on his family's ties to both enslaved people and enslavers, exploring the complicated legacy of freedom, memory, and American identity
The Shackles Our Founders Warned Us About
A journey through one family’s history reveals that America’s founding contradictions and unfinished fight over freedom still shape the nation today.
The Color of Trust By Ben Jealous
Fear made Willie Horton famous. Redemption made Chris Wilson unforgettable.