In this colorful conversation, Daniel Aldridge shares his journey from a civil rights-focused upbringing to life as a public defender and professor. He talks about the importance of self-education in black history, personal responsibility, and pushing past a victim mindset. Dan challenges romanticized views of crime, critiques how history is taught, and urges individuals to take charge of their own growth—regardless of background.

Show notes:

• Dan’s Becoming American: The African American Quest for Civil Rights, 1861 - 1976
• Dan on X