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The relationship between capitalism, slavery, and democracy in the South is complex. Slavery was a form of unfree labor that prevented labor power and competition, which hindered the development of a capitalist system. The failure of Reconstruction after the Civil War and the subsequent rise of Jim Crow laws further entrenched the power of the ruling class in the South and suppressed the political and economic power of Black people and poor whites. To address the challenges in the South, a new reconstruction is needed, one that focuses on grassroots activism, community support, and addressing the systemic issues that have perpetuated inequality and underdevelopment.

Historian Keri Leigh Merritt (@KeriLeighMerrit) joins us to discuss her recent piece in Aeon Magazine on underdevelopment in the American South from plantation slavery to today. https://aeon.co/essays/capitalism-and-underdevelopment-in-the-american-south 00:00 Introduction and Overview 00:53 The Underdevelopment of the South 05:09 Capitalism, Slavery, and Democracy 09:13 The Failure of Reconstruction and the Rise of Jim Crow 15:01 The Impact of Federal Programs 25:53 The Fight over the New History of Capitalism 28:36 Conclusion and Call to Action