1865. The Civil War is over. Slavery has been abolished. The country is “reconstructing” itself. This should have meant that the lives of African-Americans improved during this period. But it didn’t. 1865-1930 is often called the “nadir of African-American life.” Not only did they gain very little economic or social benefit from the end of slavery, but white Southerners also built up a system of racial oppression that still stains American consciousness. Listen as Professor Phil Nash explains it all! Encore episode!