Ep. #550: Michael Eric Dyson, Alex Wagner

This book by Jon Meacham provides an elegant and moving portrait of John Lewis, one of the most prominent leaders of the civil rights movement. It chronicles his life from his early days as a sharecropper's son to his pivotal role in historic events like the Selma to Montgomery Marches. Meacham explores Lewis's commitment to nonviolent protest and his vision for a unified America, drawing on conversations with Lewis and his autobiography.

In this seminal work, Richard Hofstadter explores the concept of the 'paranoid style' in American politics, which he defines as a way of seeing and doing politics characterized by heated exaggeration, suspiciousness, and conspiratorial fantasy. The book, which includes the titular essay first published in Harper's Magazine in 1964, delves into historical examples such as the Anti-Masonic Movement, Father Coughlin's antisemitic conspiracies, and the post-McCarthy Right. Hofstadter argues that this style is not exclusive to any one side of the political spectrum and has been a recurring theme throughout American history, influencing political discourse and the behavior of individuals and groups. The book also includes other essays on topics like 'Free Silver and the Mind of 'Coin' Harvey' and 'What Happened to the Antitrust Movement?'[2][4][5]

In *Long Time Coming: Reckoning with Race in America*, Michael Eric Dyson addresses systemic racism through letters to victims of racial violence, including George Floyd and Emmett Till. The book explores the historical and contemporary contexts of anti-blackness in America, offering a hopeful path towards social redemption. Dyson discusses topics like police reform, cancel culture, and the need for genuine transformation in American society.