Spell Freedom with Elaine Weiss

Elaine Weiss, an award-winning journalist and author, joins Frogmore Stew to discuss her latest book, Spell Freedom: The Underground Schools That Built the Civil Rights Movement. Weiss has built a career on uncovering untold stories of history, and her new book sheds light on the overlooked contributions of Septima Clark, Esau Jenkins, and Bernice Robinson—three Black activists from South Carolina who played pivotal roles in the fight for voting rights under Jim Crow. Through grassroots education efforts known as Citizenship Schools, these individuals empowered Black communities to overcome systemic barriers to voting. The conversation explores how Spell Freedom ties into current discussions on voting rights, racism, and corporate responsibility, drawing parallels between past and present struggles for civil rights. The episode delves into Weiss’s broader interest in history, particularly in narratives of ordinary citizens who shaped America’s democracy. She reflects on the economic and social retaliation activists faced, the role of corporations in perpetuating or challenging racial injustice, and how historical erasure continues today through policies limiting how race-related history is taught in schools. Weiss also discusses the critical role of education in the civil rights movement and how today’s challenges—such as voting restrictions and political resistance to diversity initiatives—mirror past injustices. With her book’s release coinciding with modern fights for democracy, Spell Freedom serves as both a historical account and a call to action, reminding listeners that the struggle for justice requires resilience and collective action.