NCC Revisited: Women and the American Idea

We the People

National Constitution Center

News, News Commentary, History

4.6 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 5 March 2026

⏱️ 66 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In celebration of Women’s History month, we revisit a conversation that explores the life and legacy of women who have inspired Constitutional change throughout American history. Joining the conversation are Tomiko Brown-Nagin, author of Civil Rights Queen: Constance Baker Motley and the Struggle for Equality, and Elizabeth Cobbs, author of Fearless Women: Feminist Patriots from Abigail Adams to Beyoncé. Jeffrey Rosen, CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center, moderates. This conversation was originally streamed live as part of the NCC’s America’s Town Hall program series on April 25, 2023. Resources Tomiko Brown-Nagin, Civil Rights Queen: Constance Baker Motley and the Struggle for Equality (2023) Tomiko Brown-Nagin, “Identity Matters: The Case of Judge Constance Baker Motley,” Columbia Law Review (2017) Tomiko Brown-Nagin, Courage to Dissent: Atlanta and the Long History of the Civil Rights Movement (2012) Elizabeth Cobbs, Fearless Women: Feminist Patriots from Abagail Adams to Beyoncé (2023) Q&A, “Elizabeth Cobbs,” C-SPAN (March 14, 2023) Muller v. Oregon (1908) National Constitution Center, “The Legality of Abortion Pills,” We the People podcast (April 13, 2023) Brandon Burnette, "Comstock Act of 1873 (1873)," First Amendment Encyclopedia National Constitution Center, “Women and the American Idea,” America’s Town Hall series (April 25, 2023) Stay Connected and Learn More Questions or comments about the show? Email us at ⁠⁠podcast@constitutioncenter.org⁠⁠⁠ Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr Explore the ⁠⁠⁠America at 250 Civic Toolkit⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Sign up⁠⁠⁠ to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen Join us for an upcoming ⁠⁠⁠live program⁠⁠⁠ or watch recordings on ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ Support our important work ⁠⁠⁠Donate

Transcript

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0:00.0	From the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, this is We the People.
0:07.7	I'm Bill Pollock.
0:09.9	The National Constitution Center is a nonpartisan nonprofit, chartered by Congress to increase awareness and understanding of the Constitution among the American people.
0:19.9	In celebration of Women's History Month, we revisit a conversation that explores the life
0:25.1	and legacy of women who have inspired constitutional change throughout American history.
0:30.9	Joining the conversation are Tomiko Brown Nagan, author of Civil Rights Queen Constance
0:36.6	Baker Motley, and The Struggle for Equality.
0:40.3	And Elizabeth Cobbs, author of Fearless Women, Feminist Patriots from Abigail Adams to Beyonce.
0:47.8	Jeffrey Rosen, CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center moderates.
0:53.3	This program was streamed live on April 25th,
0:57.0	2023. Here's Jeff to get the conversation started. Welcome to Miko Brown-Nagan and Elizabeth
1:06.1	Cobbs. Professor Brown-Nagan, let's begin with you. Why did you choose to write about Constance Baker-Montley?
1:14.5	And what would you like to tell us about her as we begin our discussion?
1:19.8	Sure. Thank you so much, Jeffrey, for inviting me to be a part of this conversation with Elizabeth today.
1:26.3	I'm thrilled to talk about Constance
1:28.3	Baker Motley, whom I encountered initially in the context of an earlier book called Courage
1:37.3	to Descent about Atlanta and the social and legal history of the civil rights movement.
1:42.7	Motley argued in one, the Atlanta's school desegregation. Motley argued and won the Atlanta's
1:45.8	school desegregation case. She argued it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. And a part of my
1:52.3	method in that book was including biographical sketches of all of the lawyers who were featured
1:59.3	in the book. And I quickly realized that there actually wasn't a lot
2:04.4	that had been written about Constance Baker Motley. And I thought that was a kind of historical
	...

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