NCC Revisited: Women and the American Idea

NCC Revisited: Women and the American Idea

March 5, 2026 · 1h 6m

About this episode

The episode revisits a conversation about the impact of women on Constitutional change in American history.

In celebration of Women’s History month, we revisit a conversation that explores the life and legacy of women who have inspired Constitutional change throughout American history. Joining the conversation are Tomiko Brown-Nagin, author of Civil Rights Queen: Constance Baker Motley and the Struggle for Equality, and Elizabeth Cobbs, author of Fearless Women: Feminist Patriots from Abigail Adams to Beyoncé. Jeffrey Rosen, CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center, moderates. This conversation was originally streamed live as part of the NCC’s America’s Town Hall program series on April 25, 2023. Resources Tomiko Brown-Nagin, Civil Rights Queen: Constance Baker Motley and the Struggle for Equality (2023) Tomiko Brown-Nagin, “Identity Matters: The Case of Judge Constance Baker Motley,” Columbia Law Review (2017) Tomiko Brown-Nagin, Courage to Dissent: Atlanta and the Long History of the Civil Rights Movement (2012) Elizabeth Cobbs, Fearless Women: Feminist Patriots from Abagail Adams to Beyoncé (2023) Q&A, “Elizabeth Cobbs,” C-SPAN (March 14, 2023) Muller v. Oregon (1908) National Constitution Center, “The Legality of Abortion Pills,” We the People podcast (April 13, 2023)…

People in this episode

Host: Jeffrey Rosen

Guests: Tomiko Brown-Nagin, Elizabeth Cobbs

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Civil Rights Queen: Constance Baker Motley and the Struggle for Equality, Fearless Women: Feminist Patriots from Abigail Adams to Beyoncé, Courage to Dissent: Atlanta and the Long History of the Civil Rights Movement, Identity Matters: The Case of Judge Constance Baker Motley, The Legality of Abortion Pills, Comstock Act of 1873

Places: Oregon, United States

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