James C. Cobb

Recent Articles

History Shows We Can't Go Back to 'Normal' After Coronavirus

American habits and attitudes shifted—and those shifts stuck around, even after the economy recovered

By James C. Cobb

State Incentives for Attracting Business Were Controversial Long Before Amazon. Here's What That History Can Teach Us

The first institutionalized and continuous state system for providing such incentives grew out of a scheme to bring shirt-maker Reliance Manufacturing to a logged-out lumber town in the depths of the Great Depression

By James C. Cobb

What the State of the American South a Half-Century Ago Revealed About the Whole Country's Future

A focused look at the South in 1964 "offered a glimpse into a future marked by dramatic and unforeseen change"

By James C. Cobb

The Other Side of Confederate Memorial Day

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

By James C. Cobb

What We're Missing About Emmett Till's Impact on the World

It took decades to appreciate the full effect of his murder

By James C. Cobb

Cleansing American Culture of Ties to Slavery Will Be Harder Than You Think

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

By James C. Cobb

Confronting the Future of New Orleans' Confederate Past

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

By James C. Cobb

One of American History's Worst Laws Was Passed 165 Years Ago

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

By James C. Cobb

The Voting Rights Act at 50: How It Changed the World

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

By James C. Cobb

What We Can Learn From Coca-Cola's Biggest Blunder

On July 11, 1985, following the New Coke debacle, original-formula Coca-Cola returned

By James C. Cobb

How Appomattox Created the South

The de facto end of the Civil War—150 years ago, on April 9, 1865—was the beginning of the region's identity

By James C. Cobb

The Atlanta World of Dr. Martin Luther King

Growing up, King’s middle-class background offered some insulation from brutalities of the Jim Crow system — but there were no guarantees

By James C. Cobb
More from TIME
More From TIME