In today’s episode, Sharon’s guest is Dylan Penningroth, whose new book, Before the Movement: The Hidden History of Black Civil Rights, brings to light a new narrative of Black life in America. It’s a fascinating history of how African American communities used law, talked about law, and thought about law for almost two centuries, in ways that enabled the Civil Rights Movement before it even began. Pulling back the curtain, it explores how race actually works in American law, and does so by looking at local court cases that are not directly about race. When we zoom out, a new more complex story emerges of how law impacted Black Americans in ways that stretched far beyond segregation and race relations. 

Special thanks to our guest, Dylan Penningroth, for joining us today. 

Host/Executive Producer: Sharon McMahon

Guest: Dylan Penningroth

Audio Producer: Jenny Snyder

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