Interview with Robin Bernstein – Freeman's Challenge and the Evolution of Racial History.

This Friday, 8pm UK time.

We are thrilled to announce our upcoming interview with Robin Bernstein, a distinguished cultural historian and professor at Harvard University. Robin’s work has significantly shaped our understanding of U.S. racial formation, history, and cultural studies. This Friday, she joins us on The Writing Community Chat Show to discuss her groundbreaking research and her new book, Freeman's Challenge: The Murder that Shook America's Original Prison for Profit.

In this insightful conversation, Robin will delve into the real story behind her book, which won the prestigious 2025 PROSE Award for North American/U.S. History, along with the Montaigne Medal and longlisted for the Massachusetts Book Award. We'll explore the social and historical significance of America's first prison-for-profit, the challenges faced by historical research, and the intersections of race, justice, and performance in American culture.

But that’s not all! Robin’s previous works, including Racial Innocence: Performing American Childhood from Slavery to Civil Rights, have earned multiple awards, including the Grace Abbott Best Book Award. Her deep engagement with race, performance, and childhood is truly illuminating, and her recent op-eds and academic advice have captured widespread attention for their thought-provoking insights.

In this episode, you can expect a fascinating discussion on Robin’s distinguished career, the intersection of history and performance, and the relevance of her work in today’s conversations on racial justice. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a student of American culture, or just someone curious about how history shapes the present, this interview is a must-watch!

Tune in for an inspiring conversation this Friday and get a glimpse of Robin’s incredible contributions to the academic world and beyond. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from one of the leading scholars in American history today.

Watch the interview below this payline. It is exclusive to Substack members for the next two weeks. Paid members can tune in live, ask their own questions, and will be supporting our show/new business!