This July Fourth marks 250 years of America as an independent nation. We’re a nation founded on principles centered around democracy, equality, separation of powers, plus checks and balances. On the eve of the country’s semiquincentennial, scholars and activists warn democratic norms are eroding due to the Trump administration’s rapid changes to existing voting rights legislation, the expansion of executive powers and more. But does this moment feel like a pivot because of President Donald Trump’s actions or an extension of the country’s overlooked history?
In today’s special on WABE, we examine what is to be celebrated, especially at this moment of our nation’s history. In this episode, “Closer Look” presents “Spacious Skies: Sentiment and Reflection On America’s Birthday.” We welcome guests back from our 2024 special, Georgia State University historians, Dr. Jody Noll and professor John McMillian. We’ll hear their assessment as America turns 250. They frame how sentiment and patriotic pride might be measured in 2026 depending on what the nation was experiencing under a second Trump term. They assess their predictions for the semiquincentennial and the state of democracy.
Plus, a conversation with a prominent civil rights activist who represents one of the three lifetimes that make up the age of the country. We spoke with former Atlanta Student Movement leader Charles Black from the former WERD radio Studios inside Prince Hall Masonic Grand Lodge in Atlanta’s historic Sweet Auburn Avenue neighborhood. At 85 years old, he has lived through roughly one-third of America’s 250-year story, from the Jim Crow era through today.
