As the guest editor of “Critical Inquiry,” Henry Louis Gates, Jr. covered the importance of Black writers and their contributions. Because there is no color blindness is the western world, explained Gates, pointing out that one is a Black writer or a Black doctor is important to society. Gates also covers the issue of race not being solely about Black and white people but rather it has to do with multi-ethnic and multi-cultural people.

Professors Adolph Baker, Jurgen Hinze, Richard Lewenton, and Father William Wallace discuss science and politics. The four professors explore question such as whether scientists be involved in political decisions. World War II and Vietnam War are used as examples by the scientists. An earlier interview with scientists Edward Teller and Albert Szent-Gyorgy is played.

Discussing the book "Blue highways: a journey into America" with William Least Heat Moon.

Discussing the book "Klaus Barbie: The Shocking Story of How the U.S. used this Nazi War Criminal as an Intelligence Agent: a First Hand Account" (published by Acropolis) with the author Erhard Dabringhaus.

Discussing the book "The American inquisition: justice and injustice in the cold war" with the author Stanley Kutler.

Discussing Chicago architect Daniel Burnham with Tom Hines, Bill Hasbrouck and Harry Weese.

On July 17, 1944, there was a huge explosion at Port Chicago in California. Of the 320 men on duty at the pier that died, 202 of them were Black. Robert Allen's book, "The Port Chicago Mutiny: The Story of the Largest Mass Mutiny Trial in U.S. Naval History," covers the story of poor working conditions, the explosion, work stoppage, the trial and the outcome. There is an excerpt of Joe Small, recalling what happened, when he was a sailor present there.