Look, If you guys at the American YAWP headquarters are going to add a segment for rock music, then add a segment for Rap music, because it’s arguably more impactful, especially on black culture.

Name mispelled, Bernard should be Bernhard

Choosing to focus on the Eaton Affair –  a political scandal without mentioning the Indian Removal act seems like it undermines the efficacy of your book.

Besides being a deeply significant event in American history, the Indian Removal act is critically important in the discussion of Jacksonian politics.

– Jackson established the power of both the executive branch over Congress with The Bank War, and the power of the exec. over the Judicial Branch with the veto of John Marshall’s ruling in Georgia vs the Cherokee Nation and the subsequent Indian Removal act – passed in 1830.

If nothing else, to round out your chapter on Jackson – who is mentioned by name 137 times in the “Democracy in America” chapter, you need to add information on the court case – Georgia vs The Cherokee Nation, John Marshall, Jackson’s rebuttal – “Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it!”, the Indian Removal act and the Trial of Tears.

Perhaps add Fred Hampton and the Rainbow Coalition.

The claim near the end of this paragraph is misleading and should be reworded or qualified.  The passage reads as follows: “…most white Americans were content to compromise over the issue of slavery, but the constant agitation of black Americans…kept the issue alive.”

This claim is misleading for several reasons.  First, it marginalizes actors who were central in the nineteenth century anti-slavery movement.  These include such figures as William Lloyd Garrison, Elijah Lovejoy (who was murdered for the cause of abolition), Sarah and Angelina Grimke, and Harriet Beecher Stowe, among others.  Garrison’s newspaper, The Liberator, featured thousands of articles, features, cartoons, and editorials; for 35 years, it served as a critical outlet for anti-slavery agitation in America.

Second, the claim referenced above ignores the fact that thousands of whites served in and donated to such abolitionist organizations as the American Antislavery Society.

A more honest and accurate rendering could read as follows:

For nearly a century, free Black Americans (including those who had once been enslaved, such as Solomon Northup and Frederick Douglass) agitated for the abolition of slavery and worked alongside white abolitionists in forming antislavery organizations, publishing antislavery literature, and sponsoring public events.

[The more the hosts gave away, the more prestige and power they had within the group. Some men saved for decades to host an extravagant potlatch that would in turn give him greater respect and power within the community.]

Sounding familiar…

[One or more sachems governed Lenape communities by the consent of their people. Lenape sachems acquired their authority by demonstrating wisdom and experience]

Much different than the 13 year old kings of say, Egypt, for example.

They mention it in this book too.

It’s good that Obergefell is here. What about Dobbs?

There is no proof that Olaudah Equiano was not honest about his account of his experience. the suggestion that he may have made it up is baseless and harmful.