Beacon Broadside

Category: Mary Frances Berry

Watching Our Language: Recommended Reading on American Slavery History

October 30, 2015

George Orwell’s 1984 taught us that language—and who uses it—truly does matter. In the case of educating Texan youth about American history, language matters a great deal. McGraw-Hill Education’s current geography textbook, approved for Texas high schools, refers to African slaves as “workers” in a chapter on immigration patterns. Other linguistic sleights of hand include…
Let’s Get ID’d and Registered!: Ending Voter Suppression in Alabama

October 16, 2015

Lamentations and cries that the Republicans were at it again trying to suppress the black vote arose when the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency announced on September 30th that because of budget cuts it would close thirty-one part-time-county-owned satellite drivers’ license offices. Eight of these were in counties where seventy-five percent of the registered voters are…
Why the Preoccupation with LBJ’s Role in ‘Selma’ Misses the Point

January 5, 2015

Renowned historian and civil rights activist Dr. Mary Frances Berry explains why reactions to President Johnson’s role in the film ‘Selma’ miss the point.
Beacon Buzz: Helen Benedict on Book TV and much more

July 23, 2012

The latest media hits and mentions for Beacon books and authors.