This is a word, a podcast from Slate.

I'm your host, Jason Johnson.

The Reconstruction era, that period after the Civil War was intended to usher in a genuine

democracy in America that fully respected the rights of black folks.

But what's the true story of reconstruction?

How did it spark so much hope and progress but still ultimately fail?

And how did those failing still haunt us today.

People who want to uphold a certain status quo,

they know that this honest reckoning with history threatened that entire edit.

To reconstruct the nation coming up on a word with me Jason Johnson.

Stay with us. Welcome to a word, a podcast about race and politics and everything else. I'm your host,

Jason Johnson. One of the best ways

to understand this contentious moment in America is to look at the past.

Reconstruction was the An essential part of that mission was allowing African Americans to live fully in their newly recognized freedom

and helping white start treating black people as fellow citizens instead of property.

And, you know, for a while it almost worked. citizens instead of property.

And you know for a while it almost worked.

Black folks were building schools and businesses, voting and even getting elected to public

office.

But then reconstruction crashed and burned.

More to the point, Southern Whites refused to respect the new order and national leaders refused to challenge them.

Sounds familiar.

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