Why America Chose White Supremacy Over Democracy - Jamelle Bouie & Carla Laroche

In a discussion held in New Orleans on February 3, 2026, New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie and Tulane law professor Carla Laroche explored the haunting parallels between the Reconstruction era and today's political climate. Carla framed Reconstruction as a period of profound promises—codified in the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments—that were ultimately betrayed by the rise of white supremacy and Jim Crow. Jamelle argued that the era remains vital because we are currently grappling with the same existential questions it raised: Who counts as an American, and what is the nature of our freedom?

Jamelle drew a sharp distinction between "freedom as domination"—the master’s freedom to control others—and "freedom as liberation," which centers on self-determination. He noted that modern political efforts to undermine birthright citizenship and equal protection are echoes of a centuries-old struggle to repudiate expansive, egalitarian ideals. Highlighting Louisiana as a historical "crucible" for these conflicts, the speakers discussed how landmark legal failures and massacres in the state paved the way for the "afterlife of slavery".

Ultimately, the conversation served as a stark reminder that institutions and the Constitution are merely "words on paper". Without the political will of ordinary citizens to wield power and demand accountability—a project Jamelle summarized with the post-war mantra "punish treason, reward loyalty"—the promises of democracy remain fragile and unfinished

Jamelle Bouie: A Charlottesville-based columnist for The New York Times and UVA graduate, Jamelle covers politics and history while co-hosting the Unclear and Present Danger podcast.

Carla Laroche: An associate professor of law at Tulane University and the Murphy Institute, Carla's work focuses on access to justice for systemically excluded communities at the intersections of criminal law and civil rights.

This episode is part of the ongoing conversations hosted by Baldwin & Co., a Black-owned bookstore, café, and cultural institution based in New Orleans. Baldwin & Co. exists at the intersection of literature, ideas, and community—creating space for rigorous dialogue, storytelling, and intellectual exchange.

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