"Freedom Dominion: A Saga of White Resistance to Federal Power" by Jefferson Cowie has a ton of research and goes back 300 years. Shocking, he decided to focus only on Barbour County, Alabama before finding out that was the home of George Wallace.

Fear not, Conservative friends: neither Donald Trump nor January 6th come up before the conclusion. The emotion comes from The Trail of Tears and America's lynching phase. There is more than enough pathos there.

George Wallace plays a key role and, like any good historian, Cowie spends an equal time condemning him and trying to understand what made him so popular. Wallace's political method influenced many after him.

A casual observer would not have known how many elections carried the stink of skepticism and how people tried to suppress the vote after the fact. The freedom to dominate others and take away their freedom resonates.

Some people want us to avoid telling parts of history and others want us to tear down statues. Somehow, this book manages to serve both audiences and give their viewpoint a voice. There is so much to learn.