South Carolina’s warped public display of its white-supremacist history confronts South Carolinians, white and black, with a stark message about who rules the state.

Was the Co-Founder of Charleston's Emanuel Church a Victim of Racist Paranoia, Too?

Some have speculated that Roof chose the historic black church—and even the date of his horrific deed—because it was co-founded by Denmark Vesey, a former slave who was hanged for planning to lead a slave revolt in Charleston on June 16, 1822.

Terrorism in Charleston

Beneath this philological fracas lay a truth evident to political speechwriters, eulogists, and news anchors: in times of tragedy, language matters.

This Is How They Teach South Carolina Students About Slavery

Although some of the lesson plans on the website mentioned the horrible circumstances in which slaves lived, the way slavery and slaves were described uses a lot of passive voice.

Washington in Wonderland

Down the Iraqi Rabbit Hole (Again)

On Gay Marriage, Will the Supreme Court Favor Equal Rights or States' Rights?

Should we allow each state to decide whether black Americans can marry white Americans? Today, that idea seems absurd.

Dylann Roof and the white fear of a black takeover

For much of the South's history, the fear of a black takeover has permeated mainstream political culture

Holy Ignorance

If Catholic conservatives like Rick Santorum deny climate change in the name of holiness, can Pope Francis persuade them with his own appeal to holy values in creation? I doubt it.

How people convince themselves that the Confederate flag represents freedom, not slavery

Historian John M. Coski examines the fights over the symbol's meaning in "The Confederate Battle Flag: America's Most Embattled Emblem."

Has the United States ever had a weirder president than Richard Nixon?

The fact that his only close competitors in this regard are his predecessor, Lyndon Johnson, and his indirect successor, Jimmy Carter, could help to explain why the ’60s and ’70s were such troubled times.

The Deadly History of “They’re Raping Our Women”

Racists have long used rape to defend their worst racist violence.