Gilbert Paul Carrasco, a legal history expert, Kate Masur, a historian of the Reconstruction era, and Kidada Williams, an African American history scholar, dive into the tumultuous legal landscape of Reconstruction. They discuss how laws both upheld racial hierarchies and fueled the Black freedom struggle. The trio explores landmark cases like Dred Scott, the promises and challenges of Reconstruction Amendments, and the ongoing fight for voting rights. This insightful conversation sheds light on the complex relationship between legislation and civil rights during a pivotal time in American history.