Bass and Beyond
The Third Reconstruction

Sustaining Democracy

2020–Present

Discover how Black journalists are leading the coverage of the Third Reconstruction, with a focus on voting rights, women’s rights, and racial equality. Learn how their reporting is shaping the national conversation on democracy and civil rights today.

In his landmark work on race and democracy, historian Peniel Joseph introduces the concept of “The Third Reconstruction,” a term used to describe the current era of racial justice movements in the United States. According to Joseph, the First Reconstruction (1865-1877) followed the Civil War, when newly emancipated Black Americans fought for civil rights and political inclusion. The Second Reconstruction (1954-1968) came during the Civil Rights Movement, a time when activists and Black communities dismantled Jim Crow laws and secured landmark legislative victories. Now, in the 21st century, Joseph argues that we have entered a Third Reconstruction, marked by the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, renewed demands for racial equity, and the systemic pushback against these efforts.

A woman holds a sign as she attends a rally honoring Trayvon Martin organized by the National Action Network outside One Police Plaza in Manhattan on July 20, 2013 in New York City. Demonstrators have gathered in various cities across the country to protest the acquittal of neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman and press for his federal prosecution in the shooting death of teenager Trayvon Martin. (Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images)

When Did We Enter the Third Reconstruction?

Joseph situates the beginning of the Third Reconstruction around the early 2010s, with the convergence of several factors. The killing of Trayvon Martin in 2012 and the subsequent acquittal of his murderer, George Zimmerman, ignited widespread outrage and laid the groundwork for what would become the BLM movement. In 2014, the police killings of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and Eric Garner in New York City further galvanized protests against police brutality, state violence, and the systemic marginalization of Black people.

Joseph also emphasizes the significance of the 2016 election of Donald Trump, a moment when many Americans became acutely aware of how much racial progress was at stake. Trump’s rhetoric of law and order and his administration’s policies targeting voting rights, immigration, and civil rights were seen as part of a backlash to the racial progress made during the Obama era. The Third Reconstruction gained momentum in response to these rollbacks, with movements advocating not only for reforms in policing but for broader systemic change across education, housing, health care, and political representation.

The Core American Tenets Being Challenged

At the heart of the Third Reconstruction is the ongoing challenge to foundational American values—namely, the ideals of democracy, equality, and freedom. Historically, the United States has celebrated itself as a beacon of democracy, but Black Americans have long pointed out the contradictions in that narrative. The denial of voting rights, economic inequality, and racial violence have persistently undermined the country’s democratic ideals, particularly for marginalized communities.

Today, these tensions are at the forefront again, as movements like BLM call into question whether American democracy can truly be inclusive. Voting rights, for instance, are under significant attack. The 2013 Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder gutted the Voting Rights Act of 1965, leading to the passage of voter suppression laws across the country that disproportionately affect Black and Brown voters. In states like Georgia and Texas, new legislation has imposed stricter voter ID requirements, purged voter rolls, and limited access to mail-in ballots—measures that critics say are designed to disenfranchise Black voters.

Additionally, the core tenet of equality is being reexamined in the context of systemic racism. The racial wealth gap, health disparities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the disproportionate impact of climate change on Black communities are stark reminders that equality remains an unfulfilled promise for many. Black Americans and their allies are now pushing for structural changes to address these inequities, including calls for reparations and housing reform.

Black Resistance Against Legislative Harassment

In response to these challenges, Black Americans have continued to organize and resist, much as they did during the first two Reconstructions. Legislative harassment—policies that restrict voting rights, curtail protest activities, or disproportionately criminalize Black communities—has not gone unchallenged. Black-led organizations like NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Color of Change, and Movement for Black Lives have launched legal battles and mobilized grassroots campaigns to fight back.

One of the most visible forms of resistance has been the sustained protests against police violence. In 2020, following the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers, protests erupted across the country and the world. These protests, though initially focused on police reform, expanded into a broader critique of institutional racism and inequality. Demands for defunding the police, which initially seemed radical, became part of the national conversation as Black communities called for reallocating resources toward mental health services, education, and housing.

Black resistance also takes the form of political advocacy. Black women, in particular, have been at the forefront of defending democracy. Figures like Stacey Abrams in Georgia have led voter mobilization efforts that played a critical role in the 2020 presidential election and the Georgia Senate runoff elections, which flipped the Senate to Democratic control. Grassroots organizers across the country continue to register voters, fight voter suppression, and ensure that Black voices are heard at the ballot box.

The Role of the Black Press and Black Citizen Journalists

Amid this resistance, the Black Press and Black citizen journalists have emerged as essential defenders of American democracy, using their platforms to expose injustice and hold politicians accountable. Historically, the Black Press has been a vital tool in the fight for civil rights. Newspapers like The Chicago Defender, The Pittsburgh Courier, and The Los Angeles Sentinel have long reported on issues ignored by mainstream media, such as lynching, segregation, and police brutality. Today, Black journalists continue this tradition by amplifying the voices of marginalized communities and covering stories often overlooked by their white counterparts.

Citizen journalism has also played a crucial role in this era of activism. With the rise of social media, ordinary people with smartphones have been able to document incidents of police violence and racial injustice in real-time. The video of George Floyd’s murder, recorded by a bystander, was a turning point in the movement, as it brought global attention to the issue of police brutality. These videos, shared widely on platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, have fueled protests and helped hold law enforcement accountable.

Dr. Allissa V. Richardson, a scholar of mobile journalism, has argued that Black citizen journalists are performing a new kind of activism by documenting these events. As they capture footage of protests, police encounters, and community events, they create an archive that challenges mainstream narratives and preserves the truth. This form of journalism is particularly important in an era when misinformation and disinformation are rampant.

Members of the New Black Panther Party rally next to a memorial to Trayvon Martin outside The Retreat at Twin Lakes community where Trayvon was shot and killed by George Michael Zimmerman while on neighborhood watch patrol March 24, 2012 in Sanford, Florida.

Black communities Keeping Pressure on Politicians

Both the Black Press and citizen journalists serve as watchdogs, keeping pressure on politicians to enact reforms and protect democracy. In the wake of George Floyd’s murder, many politicians voiced support for police reform, but activists and journalists have been instrumental in holding them accountable to their promises. Black media outlets continue to report on police violence and systemic racism, ensuring that these issues remain in the public consciousness and that elected officials are pressed to act.

In conclusion, the Third Reconstruction is a defining moment in American history. It is a time when the country’s core values—democracy, equality, and freedom—are being tested, and when Black Americans are once again at the forefront of the struggle for justice. Through protests, legal advocacy, and relentless journalism, they are challenging legislative harassment and fighting to protect the fragile gains of the past while pushing for a more inclusive future.