Study Up For 'Think': When Slaves And Freedmen Picked Sides

Can we trace contemporary strains of racial conflict to the plight of African American combatants in the War of 1812? Gene Allen Smith, history professor and director of the Center for Texas Studies at TCU, talks to Think host Krys Boyd at 1 p.m. about his book The Slaves' Gamble: Choosing Sides in the War of 1812.

Smith introduces his research on the US History Files blog. The prospect of freedom endeared many African Americans to the battlefield at the dawn of the 19th century. But it was much more complicated than fighting their way out of slavery. Often, they found themselves pitted against each other in a complicated and emotionally charged web of loyalty.

Listen to Think from noon to 2 p.m., Monday through Thursday, on KERA 90.1 or stream the show at kera.org.