In this first episode of our series, “Democracy, Under Construction,” Sherrilyn Ifill joins host Alex Lovit to discuss the Second Founding, when the Reconstruction Amendments—and in particular the 14th Amendment—fundamentally changed American rights and who was defined as American. Birthright citizenship, protections from abuses by state governments, and equality before the law all entered the Constitution following the ratification of the 14th Amendment in 1868.
The “Democracy, Under Construction” series commemorates America’s 250th anniversary by focusing on the moments when our country became a more inclusive democracy and celebrating the historical figures who pushed the country to live up to its ideals.
Sherrilyn Ifill is among the most accomplished civil rights lawyers in the United States. She is the Vernon Jordan Distinguished Professor in Civil Rights at Howard University School of Law and the founding director of the 14th Amendment Center for Law and Democracy. She previously served as the president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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