Opportunity for the nation to imagine itself otherwise. Where the country had an opportunity to leave behind the realitycynd how to organize our society and that each of those moments the country double down. And we saw was some call a backlash. We saw instead was an ongoing betrayal. What we think about the post reconstruction. And a lost cause and that anglosaxon and what it meant for the United States and the world as a betrayal. Think the mid 20th century the black freedom movement, law and order and the tax revolt in california, we need double down on our ugliness and here we are facing a chance to we imagine ourselves. If our history is any indicatio indication. Has there been an arc of progress . Of course. My life is not what my fathers life was and his life is not his fatherss. So what does it mean to suggest we live in the afterlife of jim crow is to suggest there has been and indication of change and i think one way is look at American History ofan democracy in the believe t
She was an elderly retired schoolteacher and she was the family historian in my mothers family. Who were all in new orleans and she was a keeper of the lore of among others, our klansman. She had some papers and house and she had a way of speaking about her Family History that was like this. The one to remember is our klansman, my grandfather, because he was a redeemer. The redemption returned white people to authority in new orleans after they had been dislodged by the negroes. And if he if you have not actee battle of Liberty Place we would not be here today. Anyway, so when she dyed died r papers went to my mother, and when my mother died, this is now decades later, her files into me, Family History files, and this is how i rediscovered the story of our klansman and wrote about it. Host you remember your aunt maud here you have emulated her well. It sounds like she spoke of and say his name [inaudible] host guest spelled constant. He was a French Carpenter raised and spoke french. H
Reading your book. Its so intimate. I want to thank you for writing it. I am going to dive in. You received an emotional inheritance from your aunt. Tell our audience what it was, the physical inheritance and the family. When i was a boy in new orleans in the late 1960s, marx was a horn wasnt elderly retired schoolteacher and was an historian. We were all in new orleans and she was the keeper among others, of our klansmen. She had papers and files in had a way of speaking about our family, another one to remember is our klansmen, my grandfather he was a redeemer. The redemption returned like people after theyve been dislodged. If he had not there, who would not be here today. Anyway, when she died, her papers went to my mother and when my other died, decades later, her files came to me. This is how i rediscovered the story of our klansmen. You remember your aunt, youve emulated her well. Sounds like she spoke of, say the name constant was a french carpenter. Is there to say, he was her
House. Tonight is one of the annual National Heritage lectures that we do in partnership with the u. S. Capitol Historical Society and the u. S. Supreme court Historical Society. We have our wonderful colleagues from both here tonight and Jane Campbell is the new president of the capitol Historical Society. On june 4, 1919, the 19th amend was passed and sent to the states for ratification. The suffragists used the white house to bring attention to their cause. Tonight we look forward to hearing more about their successful efforts to secure womens right to vote. Before i introduce our speaker, i have a couple other introductions and things to share. First of all we have guests from Smith College here tonight, the Washington Club of Smith College. Stand up. Stand up for the Smith College. [ applause ] theyre our special guests tonight. Were honored to have them. I would also like to tell you a little bit about the White House Historical association and for those of you who have been with
There are two words right at the outset want and is participation and the other, before i get anyone else to tell people you can submit your questions and comments. One is through email at brookings. Edu or on twitter with the. But all of you who have joined this call today, we are deeply grateful and hardened by those who wanted to join this conversation and lift every voice the urgency of civic duty voting. Thank you to all members one of the best groups i have ever worked with. Its an Extraordinary Group of people that contributed so much. And to the center for democratic governance for their support. Thank you to my dear cochair who is an absolute dynamo and a blessing to work with and then the Vice President of workings release these governance programs. He has been extraordinary also. Things to everyone. I should say nobody can do that better than john lewis and so for us to talk about voting at a moment the whole nation is rightly honoring his life encourage and achievement on b