Freedom of Speech: A Peopleâ (Tm)S History of Democracyâ (Tm)S Most Essential Right

An essential look at how, throughout American history, the powerless have exercised their 1st Amendment right to free speech, informing how we can defend democracy today.

"Great storytelling about the history and importance of the 1st Amendment, from someone who has spent his life defending--and using--it." -- Mary Beth Tinker

From the beginning of American history, free speech has been crucial for the pursuit of justice and expansion of democracy. Yet today, we are seeing growing attempts to roll back free speech protections in America: cultural warriors are banning books from library shelves at a level not seen in decades, and elected officials are attacking free speech principles to undermine other rights and consolidate their own power.

Uncovering vivid and engaging stories about 1st Amendment pioneers throughout American history, historian and leading censorship expert Christopher Finan highlights how free speech has been used to advocate for change. In the 19th century, abolitionists, advocates for women's rights, and leaders of the labor movement had to fight for free speech. In the 20th century, the civil rights and anti-war movements expanded free speech, creating a shield for every protest movement that we have seen since.

With sharp insight and page-turning storytelling, Finan demonstrates that the most effective antidote for the growth of hate speech, misinformation, political violence, and anti-democratic efforts by government officials is support for and cultivation of a free and robust marketplace of ideas.

Author: Christopher Finan
Publisher: Steerforth Press
Published: 05/19/2026
Pages: 256
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.35lbs
Size: 6.30h x 4.40w x 0.80d
ISBN: 9781586424527

About the Author
Christopher M. Finan has been involved in the fight against censorship for over 40 years. He is the former executive director of the National Coalition Against Censorship and the former president of the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression. After working as a newspaper reporter, he received his Ph.D. in American History from Columbia University. He is the author of Drunks: The Story of Alcoholism and the Birth of Recovery, Alfred E. Smith: The Happy Warrior, and From the Palmer Raids to the PATRIOT Act: A History of the Fight for Free Speech in America, which won the American Library Association's Eli M. Oboler Award for the best work on intellectual freedom published in 2006 and 2007.

Randall Kennedy is the Michael R. Klein Professor at Harvard Law School. He is the author of Say It Loud!: On Race, Law, History, and Culture and six previous books.