Lindsey Graham

McCord steps forward and slaps Howard across the face. He stumbles, nearly losing his balance. You steady him and then turn back to McCord, clenching your fists. You feel the heat of the squad's stares.

McCord reaches into the pocket where he stashed his knife.

McCord reaches into the pocket where he stashed his knife.

McCord reaches into the pocket where he stashed his knife.

You're about to respond when Howard grabs you by the elbow and steers you away from a cord and out of the shop.

You're about to respond when Howard grabs you by the elbow and steers you away from a cord and out of the shop.

You're about to respond when Howard grabs you by the elbow and steers you away from a cord and out of the shop.

Howard drags you away, and you reluctantly fall into step behind him. But you're already making plans to appeal to your superiors. You feel that if you don't take steps to stand up to bigotry now, your classmates will make the next four years a living nightmare.

Howard drags you away, and you reluctantly fall into step behind him. But you're already making plans to appeal to your superiors. You feel that if you don't take steps to stand up to bigotry now, your classmates will make the next four years a living nightmare.

Howard drags you away, and you reluctantly fall into step behind him. But you're already making plans to appeal to your superiors. You feel that if you don't take steps to stand up to bigotry now, your classmates will make the next four years a living nightmare.

Hi, I'm Lindsey Graham, the host of Wondery's American Scandal. In our latest series, a social worker in Tennessee becomes rich and powerful by selling babies on the black market. By the time her crimes are exposed, she's made a fortune and destroyed hundreds of families along the way. Follow American Scandal on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hi, I'm Lindsey Graham, the host of Wondery's American Scandal. In our latest series, a social worker in Tennessee becomes rich and powerful by selling babies on the black market. By the time her crimes are exposed, she's made a fortune and destroyed hundreds of families along the way. Follow American Scandal on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hi, I'm Lindsey Graham, the host of Wondery's American Scandal. In our latest series, a social worker in Tennessee becomes rich and powerful by selling babies on the black market. By the time her crimes are exposed, she's made a fortune and destroyed hundreds of families along the way. Follow American Scandal on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts.

From Wondery, I'm Lindsey Graham, and this is American History Tellers, our history, your story. In the spring of 1870, James Webster Smith and Michael Howard arrived at West Point, New York with the hopes of becoming the first black cadets in the history of the U.S. military academy. They quickly became targets of harassment.

From Wondery, I'm Lindsey Graham, and this is American History Tellers, our history, your story. In the spring of 1870, James Webster Smith and Michael Howard arrived at West Point, New York with the hopes of becoming the first black cadets in the history of the U.S. military academy. They quickly became targets of harassment.

From Wondery, I'm Lindsey Graham, and this is American History Tellers, our history, your story. In the spring of 1870, James Webster Smith and Michael Howard arrived at West Point, New York with the hopes of becoming the first black cadets in the history of the U.S. military academy. They quickly became targets of harassment.

In June, a white candidate named Robert McCord struck Howard for not moving out of his way as he entered a boot black shop. Howard and Smith reported the incident up the chain of command, but West Point officials concluded that they had exaggerated their claims in an effort to cause trouble.

In June, a white candidate named Robert McCord struck Howard for not moving out of his way as he entered a boot black shop. Howard and Smith reported the incident up the chain of command, but West Point officials concluded that they had exaggerated their claims in an effort to cause trouble.

In June, a white candidate named Robert McCord struck Howard for not moving out of his way as he entered a boot black shop. Howard and Smith reported the incident up the chain of command, but West Point officials concluded that they had exaggerated their claims in an effort to cause trouble.

After this and several other incidents, Howard failed his entrance exam and returned home, leaving Smith to enter the academy alone. His time there was marked by isolation, abuse, and injustice.