Professor Diana Schaub compares and contrasts the writings and views of a number of civil rights and race relations writers and activists, including Stokely Carmichael (1941–1998), Charles V. Hamilton, Bell Hooks (1952–), Shelby Steele (1946–), and Ralph Ellison (1913–1994).

Professor Diana Schaub reviews the life and views of W.E.B. Du Bois, looking particularly at Du Bois's views on education and his debate and disagreements with Booker T. Washington. This lecture continues from the lecture "W.E.B. Du Bois, Part One."

Professor Lucas E. Morel reviews the life and views of W.E.B. Du Bois, looking at the solutions he proposed to the problem of race relations in the U.S. and the implications of those solutions. Morel also looks at Du Bois's debate and disagreements with Booker T. Washington.

Professor David Tucker looks at the views of religion, government, and the ideal American citizen and way of life presented in early 20th-century writing and contrasts them with the views on the same subjects held by the Founding Fathers. He uses writing by the authors Flannery O'Connor (1925–1964), Herbert Croly (1869–1930), and Howard W. Kellog.

Professor Christopher Flannery looks at the autobiography of novelist, journalist, historian, and academic Henry Adams (1838–1918). Flannery focuses on what it says about the "American character" and how Adams saw it changing at the turn of the century.

Professor David Foster analyzes Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, looking at what the novel, its characters, and the life of its author reveal about the "American character" and views of American ideals and life at the time of its writing. This lecture continues from the lecture "Mark Twain and the American Character, Part One."

Professor David Foster analyzes Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, looking at what the novel, its characters, and the life of its author reveal about the "American character" and views of American ideals and life at the time of its writing.

Using stories from her prize-winning book, Doris Kearns Goodwin examines the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln. Goodwin argues that Lincoln's voracious intellect, his kind and generous demeanor, his empathy, and his appreciation for the talents of others led him to assemble what she calls "the most unusual cabinet in history." Goodwin also provides an insider's look into her research methods, as she recounts combing through thousands of pages of letters and diaries.

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