A History of the United States in 100 Objects
A History of the United States in 100 Objects
100 Objects #5: Blue Back Speller
19 June 2026
Available for over a year
Why did an ordinary schoolbook become so treasured that enslaved people risked their lives to possess it?
In this episode, Roman and historian Imani Perry follow the Webster Blue Back Speller from the early days of the United States, to the heart of Black intellectual life. Through the lives of Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. Du Bois, Roman and Imani uncover how a single object became a gateway to literacy, self-determination, and an enduring debate about what education, citizenship, and freedom should mean in America.
Host: Roman Mars
Producers: Priscilla Alabi, Brenna Daldorph, Isaac Fisher, Ellie Lightfoot
EPs: Annie Brown, Courtney Harrell, Kathy Tu
