Robert D. Bland

Robert D. Bland, an Assistant Professor of History and Africana Studies, discusses his book focused on the pivotal Reconstruction era in South Carolina’s Lowcountry. He highlights the resilience of Black leaders like Robert Smalls and William Whipper, who navigated a landscape filled with challenges. Bland explores the significance of Black newspapers in shaping counternarratives, the impact of the 1876 election, and the racial origins of gerrymandering. His insights prompt a reflection on how these historical echoes resonate in contemporary America.