Americans have faced, unfortunately, a number of movements and moments in our history where free speech - especially of a political nature - has been challenged and even quashed. Power-wielding opponents of free expression and debate have often sought to prevent debates and discussions from happening, in order to protect their interests. In this week's episode we explore a lesser-known example of this, in how slaveholders before the Civil War deliberately worked to deny free speech to both whites and African-Americans, enslaved and free.

Dr. Cara Rogers Stevens, our host this week, is joined by Dr. Jonathan W. White to discuss his recent article on the topic. You can reach Jonathan and find his books at the links below.

#slavery #freespeech #freepress #abolition

Article: https://tinyurl.com/5n6s22b7

Jon's website: http://www.jonathanwhite.org/

Jon's Amazon page: https://tinyurl.com/4zn7kpej

Host: Cara Rogers Stevens

Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea