Ronald Collins Journalist Profile

Articles

Ruby Bridges Goes to School

1 month ago | americanheritage.com | Edwin Grosvenor |Elisabeth Griffith |Dan Rather |Ronald Collins

Editor's Note: Elisabeth Griffith is the author of two acclaimed books on women's history, Formidable: American Women and the Fight for Equality: 1920–2020 and In Her Own Right: the Life of Elizabeth Cady Stanton. She has a PhD in history, and publishes a blog at Pink Threads on Substack. On November 14, 1960, six-year-old Ruby Bridges walked through an angry crowd into a school emptied of other students.
The Tragedy of Emmett Till

Nov 14, 2024 | americanheritage.com | Edwin Grosvenor |Ronald Collins |Dan Rather |Lonnie Bunch

The boy's vicious killing in Mississippi in 1955 helped to transform America's racial consciousness. Editor’s Note: Ronald K.L. Collins is a retired law professor, noted legal scholar, and the author or co-author of 13 books. He recently published Tragedy on Trial: The Story of the Infamous Emmett Till Murder Trial based on the discovery of long-lost transcripts of the trial proceedings.
Standing Up for Voting

Oct 8, 2024 | americanheritage.com | Edwin Grosvenor |Dan Rather |Ronald Collins |Lonnie Bunch

Editor’s Note: After a distinguished career in journalism spanning six decades, Dan Rather reflected on patriotism and what it means to be an American in his recent bestselling book, What Unites Us: Reflections on Patriotism, coauthored with Elliot Kirschner. This essay was adapted from portions of the book.
Comedy clubs as free speech zones

May 9, 2023 | pressofatlanticcity.com | Ronald Collins

On Nov. 24, 1964, the Illinois Supreme Court did what no other state high court had ever done - it vindicated Lenny Bruce's free speech right to perform provocative routines in comedy clubs. But the freewheeling comedian was not so lucky in New York; a state court thereafter convicted him of obscenity for his comedic bits. It was just one of such prosecutions, the others being in San Francisco and Los Angeles. The New York conviction stood since Bruce died before he could appeal.
Cancel culture should be bounced out of comedy clubs

Apr 28, 2023 | thederrick.com | Ronald Collins

On Nov. 24, 1964, the Illinois Supreme Court did what no other state high court had ever done - it vindicated Lenny Bruce's free speech right to perform provocative routines in comedy clubs. But the freewheeling comedian was not so lucky in New York, where a state court thereafter convicted him of obscenity for his comedic bits. It was just one of such prosecutions, the others being in San Francisco and Los Angeles. The New York conviction stood since Bruce died before he could appeal.
Comedy clubs, cancel culture antidote

Apr 24, 2023 | pantagraph.com | Ronald Collins

On Nov. 24, 1964, the Illinois Supreme Court did what no other state high court had ever done - it vindicated Lenny Bruce's free speech right to perform provocative routines in comedy clubs. But the freewheeling comedian was not so lucky in New York; a state court thereafter convicted him of obscenity for his comedic bits. It was just one of such prosecutions, the others being in San Francisco and Los Angeles. The New York conviction stood since Bruce died before he could appeal.
Commentary: Comedy clubs as free speech zones - and the antidote to cancel culture | Miami Herald

Apr 24, 2023 | miamiherald.com | Ronald Collins

On Nov. 24, 1964, the Illinois Supreme Court did what no other state high court had ever done — it vindicated Lenny Bruce’s free speech right to perform provocative routines in comedy clubs. But the freewheeling comedian was not so lucky in New York; a state court thereafter convicted him of obscenity for his comedic bits. It was just one of such prosecutions, the others being in San Francisco and Los Angeles. The New York conviction stood since Bruce died before he could appeal.