The idea of Confederate Memorial Day is on its way out, but the events it commemorates are deserving of recognition in their own right

It took decades to appreciate the full effect of his murder

Few historic American institutions are free of the touch of slavery's history

The urge to hide the most painful reminders of the past is understandable, but what are the effects of doing so?

The Fugitive Slave Act was passed on Sept. 18, 1850

The landmark civil rights legislation was signed on Aug. 6, 1965—but that's just the beginning of the story