New Books Network Robert D. Bland, "Requiem for Reconstruction: Black Countermemory and the Legacy of the Lowcountry's Lost Political Generation" (UNC Press, 2026)
Jan 5, 2026
Robert D. Bland, Assistant Professor of History and Africana Studies, delves into the transformative legacy of Reconstruction in his work. He discusses key Black figures like Robert Smalls and Benjamin Randolph, highlighting their significant contributions to postbellum America. Bland explores the concept of a 'Reconstruction Generation' and how their political efforts countered prevailing narratives. He also addresses the role of the Black press in shaping historical memory and reflects on the parallels between Reconstruction and modern political issues.
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Lowcountry As Reconstruction Crucible
- The Lowcountry served as a national crucible where Black leaders forged Reconstruction-era political identity and institutions.
- Robert D. Bland shows this place concentrated leadership, activism, and a sustained political generation born c.1840–1870.
Benjamin Randolph’s Martyrdom And Memory
- Benjamin Randolph, an Oberlin-educated chaplain, stayed in the Lowcountry after the war and became a leading Reconstruction politician.
- He was assassinated in 1868 and his funeral and memorialization helped form Black counter-memory practices.
Reconstruction Frames Present Politics
- Reconstruction's history repeatedly reframes present political struggles and shows how history can move backward as well as forward.
- Bland links Reconstruction memory to later movements calling for renewed national transformation.
