In this episode of History You Didn't Know But Should, Chris and Ray sit down with historian and author Dr. John Garrison Marks.

George Washington is remembered as the "Father of His Country," but his relationship with slavery remains one of the most debated aspects of his life. In this conversation, Dr. Marks discusses how Washington's views evolved, the decision to free those he enslaved in his will, and the centuries long debate over how Americans have remembered his legacy.

Drawing from his new book, Thy Will Be Done: George Washington's Legacy of Slavery and the Fight for American Memory, Dr. Marks takes us beyond the myths and into the historical evidence surrounding one of the most complex figures in American history.

Guest: Dr. John Garrison Marks
Book: Thy Will Be Done: George Washington's Legacy of Slavery and the Fight for American Memory

Built atop the ruins of colonial Brunswick Town, Fort Anderson was one of the Confederacy's most important defenses of Wilmington, North Carolina. In this episode of History You Didn't Know But Should, Chris and Ray explore the fort's strategic role, the February 1865 battle that led to its evacuation, and how its fall helped open the way for the Union capture of Wilmington during the final months of the Civil War.

In this episode of History You Didn't Know But Should, Chris and Ray begin a two-part series exploring Brunswick Town, one of colonial North Carolina's most important yet often overlooked communities. Located along the Cape Fear River, Brunswick Town served as a major center of trade, politics, and culture during the colonial era.

Join us as we examine the origins of Brunswick Town, its connections to Native American history, the colonial economy, and the influential people who helped shape early southeastern North Carolina. Discover the story of a community whose legacy extended far beyond the colonial period, eventually becoming the site of Fort Anderson and playing a role in both the American Revolution and the Civil War.

Whether you're a longtime history enthusiast or just discovering North Carolina's past, Brunswick Town is a story you won't want to miss.