Hey, it's NPR's Book of the Day. I'm Andrew Limbong. I deeply empathize with people who say they don't

vote because they don't feel represented and don't think the process matters all that much in the

grand scheme of things. Because in my early 20s, I would have been right there with them, feeling

disengaged from the political machine. But there's a new book

out by Mark Favreau and Michael Eric Dyson titled, Represent the Unfinished Fight for the Vote,

about the history of voting rights in this country. And for a lot of people, that history is

littered with roadblocks and obstacles, some of which still exist today. The two authors spoke with

NPR's Aisha Roscoe about what this history means for people today who choose not to vote.

That's ahead. A new book challenges young adults to view recent political events in the U.S.

through the lens of voting rights. It's called Represent the Unfinished Fight for the Vote.

Mark Favro is a co-author.

When we see men and women on the Capitol steps on January 6, 2021, waving Confederate flags,

that's really a message.

It's like a historical reference.

You know, we've seen this before.

We've seen what white supremacy is capable of in American politics, and we've seen it succeed.

Flash back to South Carolina in 1876 during the Reconstruction era.

There's an election for governor.

Black men can now vote in 1876.

And, of course, white Southerners fought it tooth and nail. They helped organize this

organization called the Red Shirts, which were also known as rifle clubs. These were malicious,

men with guns, planning to overthrow legitimately elected government. The book lays out how

...