150 Years Later, Some Still Celebrate South Carolina's Secession

Today is the 150th anniversary of the day in 1860, when South Carolina seceded from the union.  Some South Carolina residents will be marking the day at a so-called "Secession Ball," sponsored by the Confederate Heritage Trust and Sons of Confederate Veterans.  The NAACP is criticizing the event and plans to protest, arguing that the gala glorifies slavery. But a spokesman for the Sons of Confederate Veterans says that's not the intention.

We speak with Adam Goodheart, who writes about the day's history as part of the New York Times series “Disunion,” which tracks the events leading up to the Civil War. His upcoming book is “1861: The Civil War Awakening.”