Noire Histoir: Recent Episodes
Natasha McEachron
Noire Histoir features Black history facts, literature, and motivational stories from across the Black diaspora. Join Natasha McEachron as she celebrates Black pride, excellence, and power all 366 days of the year.
It's September, my birthday month. I just wanted to let you know that I'll be taking a break to relax but also to work on new content for the podcast. I'm currently planning to return the first week on October though I might return a week or two earlier. Until then, take care.
Interested in learning about the artist, educator, and arts organizer who helped establish the South Side Community Art Center, Lake Meadows Art Fair, and DuSable Museum of African American History? Then my Margaret Burroughs Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at https://medianoire.com/blog/margaret-burroughs.
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Interested in learning about the poet and politician who helped establish the Négritude Movement, a philosophy of letting go of colonial-imposed self-hatred to take pride in the cultural and physical aspects of African heritage? Then my Aimé Césaire Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://medianoire.com/blog/aime-cesaire.
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Interested in learning about the Black educator and activist who also worked to preserve buildings that are important to Black history? Then my Elizabeth Carter Brooks Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://medianoire.com/blog/elizabeth-carter-brooks.
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Interested in learning about the first Black American to win an Olympic gold medal? Then my John Baxter Taylor, Jr. Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://medianoire.com/blog/john-baxter-taylor-jr.
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Interested in learning about the athlete who used losses and criticism as motivation to be herself and train harder, ultimately setting 100m and 200m records that still stand as of July 2024, making her the world's fastest woman 30+ years later? Then my Florence “Flo Jo” Griffith-Joyner Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://medianoire.com/blog/florence-griffith-joyner.
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Interested in learning about the cowboy and amateur archaeologist who discovered the Folsom Archaeological site which contained extinct ice age bison fossils and spear points that showed Native Americans had been present in North America about 7,000 years earlier than previously believed? Then my George McJunkin Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at https://medianoire.com/blog/george-mcjunkin.
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Interested in learning about the activist who took on the New York City School system and was later branded a fugitive by the FBI and wrongfully convicted of kidnapping? Then my Mae Mallory Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://medianoire.com/blog/mae-mallory.
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Interested in learning about slavery in Lower Manhattan and its first slave market which was located on Wall Street? Then my New York City’s Slave Trading Past Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at https://medianoire.com/blog/new-york-city-slave-trading-past.
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I had a scheduling conflict and was unable to finish this week's episode on time. Combined with the holiday, I've decided to push back it's release to next week instead of delaying it a day. I'll be back next week (07/11/24) with a new episode. Until then, take care.
Interested in learning about "the Father of Rock and Roll" whose 1955 hit single “Maybellene” is regarded by many as being the first official rock ‘n’ roll song? Then my Chuck Berry Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://medianoire.com/blog/chuck-berry.
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Interested in learning about the blues artist who scored a hit with "Hound Dog" but only made $500 while it launched Elvis Presley into superstardom? Then my Big Mama Thornton Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://medianoire.com/blog/big-mama-thornton.
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Interested in learning about the musician and composer who wrote “Take My Hand, Precious Lord” among other classic gospel songs and is considered to be the "Father of Gospel Music"? Then my Thomas A. Dorsey Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://medianoire.com/blog/thomas-a-dorsey.
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Interested in learning about the female singer and guitarist who blended her blues guitar and jazz ensembles with gospel to help pioneer what would become Rock and Roll? Then my Sister Rosetta Tharpe Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://medianoire.com/blog/sister-rosetta-tharpe/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=bhf_sister_rosetta_tharpe&utm_content=general.
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Interested in learning about the minister and entrepreneur who established the Alabama Penny Savings company, Birmingham's first Black-owned bank? Then my William R. Pettiford Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://medianoire.com/blog/william-pettiford.
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Interested in learning about the first Black woman lawyer in Canada and the Alberta province's first Black lawyer? Then my Violet King Henry Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at https://medianoire.com/blog/violet-king-henry.
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Interested in learning about the explorer who participated in various Western expeditions and found the Beckwourth Pass and the Beckwourth Trail through the Sierra Nevada? Then my James Beckwourth Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://medianoire.com/blog/james-beckwourth.
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Interested in learning about the activist who sued the Treasury Department for $70 million in reparations tied to Texas slave labor only to be charged, convicted, and sentenced to a year and a day in prison based on weak evidence in retaliation? Then my Callie Guy House Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes are available at http://medianoire.com/blog/callie-guy-house.
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Interested in learning about the engineer who received his first of 57 patents for creating an automatic lubricator that reduced downtime for train engine maintenance? Then my Elijah McCoy Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes are available at http://medianoire.com/blog/elijah-mccoy.
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If you're interested in learning about the sculptor who created the portrait of President Franklin Roosevelt that inspired the U.S. dime's design, then my Selma Burke Black History Fact profile is for you.
Show notes are available at http://medianoire.com/blog/selma-burke.
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A profile of Nat Love, a famous Black cowboy from the days of the Wild West who wrote an autobiography about his days moving cattle and competing in rodeos.
Show notes are available at http://medianoire.com/blog/nat-love.
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A profile of Dr. Halle Tanner Dillon Johnson, Alabama's first female physician of any race and founder of the Tuskegee Institute's nursing program.
Show notes are available at http://medianoire.com/blog/halle-tanner-dillon-johnson.
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If you’re interested in learning about the scientist who pioneered the study of bioluminescence and earned 14 patents for his work in medicine, food science, and astrochemistry, then my Emmett Chappelle Black History Fact is for you.
Show notes are available at http://medianoire.com/blog/emmett-chappelle.
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I've decided to take some time off from podcast to relax and work on new content. I plan to be back with content in early January. Until then take care.
A review of "The Cutting Season" by Attica Locke, a murder mystery that takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana on the fictional Belle Vie plantation.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/cutting-season-book-review.
If you’re interested in learning about the Harlem Renaissance poet and playwright who created a literary salon for Black writers and intellectuals in Washington, D.C., then my Georgia Douglas Johnson Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/georgia-douglas-johnson
An expanded review of my visit to the "Tutankhamun His Tomb and His Treasures" exhibit at the Exhibition Hub Art Center in Atlanta which features replicas of artifacts from King Tut's tomb.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/tutankhamun-his-tomb-and-his-treasures.
If you’re interested in learning about the Harlem Renaissance poet and later playwright who became a key figure in the Harlem Renaissance while still just in his 20s, then my Countee Cullen Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/countee-cullen.
There won't be any new episodes of Noire Histoir this week due to Thanksgiving. The show will return on November 29th with a new Black History Facts profile. I hope you enjoy the holiday.
A review of “Worthy” by Jada Pinkett Smith, a relatively new release about the actress' early life growing up in Baltimore, her career as an actress in LA, and of course her marriage.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/worthy-book-review.
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If you’re interested in learning about the NASA scientist and inventor of the illusion transmitter an early form of 3D technology, then my Valerie Thomas Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/valerie-thomas.
Check out the Noire Histoir YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/noirehistoir
ON SOCIAL MEDIA
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Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/noirehistoir
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@noirehistoir
A review of "Black Boys", an insightful documentary about various facets of the Black male experience.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/black-boys-movie-review.
Check out the Noire Histoir YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/noirehistoir
ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noirehistoir
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/noirehistoir
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@noirehistoir
If you’re interested in learning about the the first Black deputy US Marshal west of the Mississippi and likely an inspiration for The Lone Ranger, then my Bass Reeves Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/bass-reeves.
A review of my visit to the National Museum of African American Music in Downtown Nashville, Tennessee which discusses the museum and the history of Black music in America.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/national-museum-of-african-american-music.
If you’re interested in learning about the long-time international editor of Ebony magazine, then my Era Bell Thompson Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/era-bell-thompson.
"Black Cake" by Charmaine Wilkerson is a book about family and identity. Eleanor Bennett was married with two children who despite being several years apart were very close as children but have become estranged as adults. The siblings are forced to deal with each other in the aftermath of their mother's passing. She has left some recordings for them to watch hoping to share some previously hidden aspects of herself and her life with her children.
Now a miniseries produced by Oprah coming to Hulu on Nov 1, 2023.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/black-cake-book-review.
If you’re interested in learning about a lawyer and activist who helped outlaw school segregation in Pennsylvania and later became the first Black judge appointed to the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, then my Raymond Pace Alexander Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/raymond-pace-alexander.
A review of “Beloved”, a 1998 film adapted from a Toni Morrison novel that was inspired by the story of an enslaved woman who attempted to kill her children after a failed escape rather than having them return to bondage.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/beloved-movie-review.
If you’re interested in learning about the author of the Obie award-winning and Tony-nominated “for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf”, then my Ntozake Shange Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/ntozake-shange.
A review of "The Grim Sleeper: The Lost Women of South Central" by Christine Pelisek which details the investigation that led to the arrest of Lonnie Franklin, a serial killer dubbed the Grim Sleeper.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/grim-sleeper-lost-women-of-south-central-book-review.
If you’re interested in learning about the winner of the 1979 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences and creator of “The Lewis Model”, then my Sir W. Arthur Lewis Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/w-arthur-lewis.
A review of "Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America", a documentary by Jeffrey Robinson an attorney and ACLU representative who discusses the history and development of systemic racism.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/who-we-are-a-chronicle-of-racism-in-america-movie-review/.
If you’re interested in learning about the first Black woman from any country to win an Olympic Gold Medal and the first Black female athlete with an endorsement deal, then my Alice Coachman Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/alice-coachman.
Just a heads up, I'll be taking a two-week break to celebrate my birthday and work on upcoming content. Noire Histoir will be back with a new episode on Wednesday, October 10th.
A review of "The Revisioners" by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton which tells the story of two Black women dealing with racial tension during different time periods.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/revisioners-novel-book-review.
If you’re interested in learning about the Baptist preacher who planned the 1831 rebellion that contributed to the abolition of slavery in Jamaica, then my Samuel Sharpe Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/samuel-sharpe.
A review of "American Gangster", a 2007 crime drama set in the 1970s that tells the story of the Harlem kingpin, Frank Lucas and Richie Roberts, the police officer intent on bringing him down. But unlike many other films, "American Gangster" doesn't just focus on the glitz and glam of being a crime boss but also touches on the real-life consequences and drawbacks of the lifestyle.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/american-gangster-movie-review.
If you’re interested in learning about the founder of a private Chicago elementary school who developed methods to educate children who had been labeled unteachable, then my Marva Collins Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources at available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/marva-collins.
A review of "Island on Fire: The Revolt That Ended Slavery in the British Empire" by Tom Zoellner which recounts Samuel Sharpe's rebellion in Jamaica and how it led to the abolishment of slavery.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/island-on-fire-book-review.
If you’re interested in learning about the co-founder of a Black newspaper that spoke out against discrimination and Book T. Washington, then my William Monroe Trotter Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/william-monroe-trotter.
A review of “Booker's Place”, a documentary about Booker Wright, a waiter in Greenwood, Mississippi who participated in an NBC documentary about his experiences as a black man living in the South under Jim Crow.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/bookers-place-movie-review.
If you’re interested in learning about Denver’s first recorded Black woman who became an entrepreneur and helped other Black people move west and settle in Colorado, then my Clara Brown Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/clara-brown.
"Queenie" by Candice Carty-Williams is a novel about a young Black woman in her mid-20s who was born and raised in London. The story follows her through the ups and downs of a year of her life, much of it spurred on by her relationship drama and personal issues.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/queenie-book-review.
If you’re interested in learning about the Harlem Renaissance writer and poet who set himself apart from his contemporaries by focusing on both race relations and classism, then my Claude McKay Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/claude-mckay.
A review of “Higher Learning”, a 1995 film directed by John Singleton that provides a look into the social, racial, and gender politics of a college campus.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/higher-learning-movie-review.
If you’re interested in learning about the entrepreneur who built a hair care company that made her the first Black female millionaire, then my Madam C.J. Walker Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/madam-c-j-walker.
A review of "Finding Me: A Memoir" by Viola Davis, an account of the actress' personal and professional life.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/finding-me-a-memoir-book-review.
If you’re interested in learning about the enslaved man who worked for the Continental Army as a double agent, then my James Armistead Lafayette Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/bhf-james-armistead-lafayette.
A review of "3 ½ Minutes, Ten Bullets", a 2015 Sundance-winning documentary that tells the story of the shooting death of Jordan Davis in Jacksonville, Florida. To be more precise, the documentary dives into the events leading up to the murder of Jordan Davis and the resulting trial of Michael Dunn.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/3-12-minutes-ten-bullets-book-review.
If you’re interested in learning about the Los Angeles real estate investor and philanthropist who began as an enslaved woman petitioning for her freedom, then my Bridget "Biddy" Mason Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/bhf-bridget-biddy-mason.
A review of "When No One Is Watching" by Alyssa Cole, a thriller and romance about gentrification in a fictional neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/when-no-one-is-watching-book-review.
If you’re interested in learning about the entrepreneur who founded the first Black record label and created a pathway for Black musicians to enter the record industry, then my Harry Pace Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/harry-pace.
A review of "Cooley High", a classic in the Black film canon that sets itself apart as one of the few true Black coming-of-age films.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/cooley-high-movie-review.
If you’re interested in learning about the writer and activist who penned the essay “The Master’s Tools Will Not Dismantle the Master’s House”, one of the first works to discuss the intersectional issues of race, gender, and sexual orientation, then my Audre Lorde Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/audre-lorde.
A review of “Will” by Will Smith an autobiography about the rapper and actor that charts his life from a childhood in West Philadelphia to being a Hollywood megastar. It's an unexpectedly candid account of the ups and downs in Smith's life that led to me finishing the book with a different perspective of the man and insightful questions for myself.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/will-book-review.
If you’re interested in learning about the Black pioneer in the field of marine biology who conducted important research into egg fertilization and embryo development, then my Ernest Everett Just Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/ernest-everett-just.
I've decided to take a break for at least the next week. I'll drop an update should the break extend beyond a week.
A review of "In Our Mothers' Gardens", is a 2021 film directed by Shantrelle P. Lewis about the relationships between Black grandmothers, mothers, and daughters.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/in-our-mothers-garden-movie-review.
If you’re interested in learning about the first Black woman in America to receive an M.D. and one of the first Black authors to write a medical guide, then my Rebecca Lee Crumpler Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/rebecca-lee-crumpler.
A review of "Memphis" by Tara Stringfellow which is at its core a book about family. The family we're born into but also our community.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/memphis-book-review.
If you’re interested in learning about the poet, novelist, and playwright who helped to originate the style of poetry referred to as jazz poetry, then my Langston Hughes Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/langston-hughes.
A review of "Crooklyn", a coming-of-age story about a girl, Troy, who is growing up in Brooklyn, the only girl in a family with four brothers.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/crooklyn-movie-review.
If you’re interested in learning about a teacher, artist, and activist who used her art to comment on social issues, then my Elizabeth Catlett Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/elizabeth-catlett.
A review of "Just Pursuit" by Laura Coates is a memoir about a black female prosecutor and her time at the Department of Justice.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/just-pursuit-book-review.
If you’re interested in learning about a thriving predominantly Black settlement that was destroyed to make way for the creation of Central Park, then my Seneca Village Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/seneca-village.
A review of "LA 92", a 2017 documentary about the racial tensions that erupted into riots in Los Angeles in 1992.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/la-92-movie-review.
If you’re interested in learning about an activist and entertainer who in addition to being one of the first Black movie stars was also the first person to have a platinum album, the first Black person to win an Emmy, and the first Black television producer, then my Harry Belafonte Black Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/harry-belafonte.
A review of "Yonder" by Jabari Asim, a fictional slave narrative that tells the story of a group of friends who seek love and share typical relationships that we might take for granted
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/yonder-book-review.
If you’re interested in learning about the first Black American prima donna to establish an international profile and perform in the Deep South, then my Leontyne Price Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/leontyne-price.
A review of "Respect", a 2021 film starring Jennifer Hudson as she portrays Aretha Franklin in a biopic about the life and career of the iconic singer and musician.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/respect-movie-review.
If you’re interested in learning about the first Black cowboy star and the creator of what would become steer wrestling, then my William "Bill" Pickett Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/william-bill-pickett.
Just a heads up, I'll be taking a two week break but will return with new content on April 12th. Until then, take care.
A review of "Just As I Am" a memoir about the long and storied life of legendary actress Cicely Tyson.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/just-as-i-am-book-review.
If you’re interested in learning about the first Black child to integrate an elementary school in the South, then my Ruby Bridges Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/ruby-bridges.
If you’re interested in learning about the first Black child to integrate an elementary school in the South, then my Ruby Bridges Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/ruby-bridges.
A review of Toni Morrison's "The Pieces I Am", a 2019 documentary about the life and literary career of Toni Morrison.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/pieces-i-am_movie_review.
If you’re interested in learning about a woman who headed West during the Gold Rush but sought to increase her wealth by providing resources and services that the miners would need, then my Mary Ellen Pleasant Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/mary-ellen-pleasant.
A review of "Take My Hand" by Dolen Perkins-Valdez which tells the story of a recently graduated nurse who learns about an unethical medical program and becomes a whistleblower.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/take-my-hand-book-review.
If you’re interested in learning about an obstetrician and activist who led initiatives to increase access to healthcare for underserved Black communities, then my Dorothy Celeste Boulding Ferebee Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/dorothy-celeste-boulding-ferebee/.
A review of "Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise", the first feature documentary about the life and legacy of Maya Angelou.
http://noirehistoir.com/blog/and-still-i-rise-movie-review
If you’re interested in learning about the sculptor of Black and Native American descent whose work was among the first to achieve international recognition. then my Edmonia Lewis Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/edmonia-lewis.
A review of "The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois" by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers, an epic saga that tells the story of several generations of a Black family from a small fictional town in Georgia.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/love-songs-of-web-du-bois-book-review.
If you’re interested in learning about the entrepreneur and activist who established America's first fine dining restaurant and helped launch the movement to desegregate New York City’s trolleys then my Thomas Downing Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/thomas-downing.
A review of “High on the Hog”, a 2021 Netflix documentary about how Black American food culture and styles of cooking developed and provided the foundation for much of America’s food culture.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/high-on-the-hog-movie-review.
If you’re interested in learning about the journalist who launched the Campaign Against Lynching and helped establish the NAACP, then my Ida B. Wells-Barnett Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/ida-b-wells.
I planned to release new episodes this week but had a family member suddenly become gravely ill. If possible, I'll try to get them out later this week but it might not be until next week.
A review of "Black Love Matters", an anthology of essays about Black readers, writers, characters, and stories as they relate to the romance genre of books.
Show notes and are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/black-love-matters-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about the violent overthrow of Wilmington, North Carolina's integrated government, then my Wilmington Coup Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/wilmington-coup.
A review of “Hotel Rwanda”, a 2004 film about a Hutu hotel manager who wheels and deals to hide 1000 Tutsi at a luxury hotel in the midst of the 1994 Rwandan conflict.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/hotel-rwanda-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about the painter who used art to tell the story of important figures and events from Black history and created "The Great Migration" series, then my Jacob Lawrence Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/jacob-lawrence.
A review of "They Can't Kill Us All" by Wesley Lowery which details incidents of police and White vigilante shootings of Black people in America. It also discusses the rise of the Movement in response to the killings of unarmed Black people.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/they-cant-kill-us-all-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about the folk musician who some referred to as "The Voice of the Civil Rights Movement", then my Odetta Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/odetta/
A review of "Descendant", a 2022 documentary about the past and present history of the Clotilda and Africatown.
http://noirehistoir.com/blog/descendant-movie-review
If you're interested in learning about the first recorded person to reach the North Pole, then my Matthew Henson Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/matthew-henson.
"Song Yet Sung" by James McBride is a story about the Underground Railroad but also much more. The story takes place in 1850 about a decade before the start of the Civil War and follows a young woman, Liz Spocott, who has escaped from the plantation where she grew up. What follows is a thrilling chase and scavenger hunt of sorts as Liz seeks to understand the code of the Underground Railroad in hopes of escaping the pursuing bounty hunters.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/song-yet-sung-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about the second Black woman to receive a doctorate, the first Black person to receive a doctorate in economics, and the first Black woman to enroll at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Law, be admitted to Pennsylvania's state bar, and obtain both a Ph.D. and J.D. My Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/sadie-tanner-mossell-alexander.
Just a heads up. I'll be taking a break from releasing new episodes to enjoy the holidays and work on new content. I hope your holidays are safe and happy.
A review of "Blood Diamond", a 2006 Edward Zwick-directed film set in war-torn 1990s Sierre Leone about a large and potentially life-changing diamond.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/black-titan-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about the anti-apartheid activist who won the 1984 Nobel Prize for Peace, then my Desmond Tutu Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/desmond-tutu.
A review of "Black Titan: A.G. Gaston and the Making of a Black American Millionaire" by Carol Jenkins and Elizabeth Gardner Hines tells the story of an entrepreneur who became the first or one of the first Black millionaires in America.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/black-titan-book-review.
A profile of Alice Allison Dunnigan, a journalist and educator who was the first Black woman to receive press credentials to cover the White House and Congress.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/alice-allison-dunnigan.
A review of "Teddy Pendergrass: If You Don't Know Me", an inspirational 2018 documentary directed by Olivia Lichtenstein about the life and career of the legendary R&B singer.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/teddy-pendergrass-if-you-dont-know-me-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about an enslaved young man who became one of the first Black Harvard Law School grads and went on to become a lawyer, activist, and diplomat, then my Archibald Henry Grimké Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/archibald-henry-grimke.
A review of "The Darkest Child" by Delores Phillips, a novel about a preteen coming of age in a dysfunctional home and community with dreams of escaping both by obtaining an education.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/darkest-child-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about the first Black woman and likely the first Black person to be a principal in America, then my Fanny Jackson Coppin Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/fanny-jackson-coppin.
If you're interested in learning about the first Black woman and likely the first Black person to be a principal in America, then my Fanny Jackson Coppin Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/fanny-jackson-coppin.
A review of "Hollywood Shuffle", a 1987 satirical film directed by Robert Townsend that uses comedy to provide commentary on the stereotypical roles and portrayals of Black people in film and television.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/hollywood-shuffle-movie-review.
A review of "Hollywood Shuffle", a 1987 satirical film directed by Robert Townsend that uses comedy to provide commentary on the stereotypical roles and portrayals of Black people in film and television.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/hollywood-shuffle-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about the fourth Black cadet to graduate from West Point who went on to become the commander of the Tuskegee Airmen and the first Black general in the US Air Force, then my Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/benjamin-o-davis-jr.
If you're interested in learning about the fourth Black cadet to graduate from West Point who went on to become the commander of the Tuskegee Airmen and the first Black general in the US Air Force, then my Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/benjamin-o-davis-jr.
A review of "The Lynching: The Epic Courtroom Battle That Brought Down the Klan" by Laurence Leamer which details the murder of Michael Donald and the criminal and civil trials that followed.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/the-lynching-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about the deadliest riot in American history which was caused in part by a military draft and fears of job competition from emancipated slaves, then my New York Draft Riots Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/new-york-draft-riots/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=bhf_new_york_draft_riots.
During the month of November, I'm going to be experimenting with a few minor tweaks to the show. One of the first changes is putting out the Black History Facts episode on Wednesday rather than Tuesday. So while there is no new episode today it will be out tomorrow. I'll wait to see how things go to determine if the change will be permanent or temporary.
A review of "Till", a 2022 new release directed by Chinonye Chukwu about the lynching of Emmett Till and his mother's fight to get justice for his murder.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/till-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about the psychologist who helped design "The Doll Test" and co-founded the Northside Center for Child Development in Harlem, then my Mamie Phipps Clark Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/mamie-phipps-clark/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=bhf_mamie_phipps_clark.
A review of "Black Hollywood: They've Gotta Have Us", a three-part television miniseries about the history of Black actors and filmmakers in Hollywood.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/black-hollywood-theyve-gotta-have-us-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about the original architect of Howard University Law School's curriculum and the NAACP's strategy to fight education segregation in the courts, then my Charles Hamilton Houston Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/charles-hamilton-houston.
A review of "Kindred", a 1979 novel by Octavia Butler that blends science fiction with historical fiction by combining time travel with slave narratives.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/kindred-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about the Ghanaian writer who was the first African woman dramatist to be published, then my Ama Ata Aidoo Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/ama-ata-aidoo.
A review of "One Night in Miami", directed by Regina King which depicts a fictional meeting of Cassius Clay, Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/one-night-in-miami-movie-review/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=one_night_in_miami_movie_review.
If you're interested in learning about the UN Secretary-General who shared a Nobel Peace Prize with the organization, then my Kofi Annan Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/kofi-annan
I'll be taking the week of 09/25 off while I work on content for the upcoming quarter. I'm also working on launching a second podcast so stay tuned. New episodes of Noire Histoir will resume on 10/04/2022.
A review of "The True History of Paradise" by Margaret Cezair-Thompson which tells the history of Jamaica through the lives and experiences of a fictional character and her family.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/true-history-of-paradise-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about the artist who painted First Lady Michelle Obama's official portrait, then my Amy Sherald Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/amy-sherald/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=amy_sherald.
A review of "Through a Lens Darkly", a 2014 documentary directed by Thomas Allen Harris about the history of Black people in America both in front and behind the lens.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/through-a-lens-darkly-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about the civil rights attorney who represented Rosa Parks and Claudette Colvin as well as the victims of the Tuskegee experiment, then my Fred Gray Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/fred-gray.
A review of "White Rage" by Carol Anderson which examines the reality that Black efforts at progress and achievement are often met with resistance and retrenchment of obstacles.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/white-rage-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about the author and educator who penned “The Salt Eaters” as well as two critically acclaimed volumes of short stories, then my Toni Cade Bambara Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/toni-cade-bambara
A review of "Beasts of No Nation" a 2015 Netflix film based on Uzodinma Iweala’s 2005 novel about a boy who becomes a child soldier.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/beasts-of-no-nation-movie-review/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=beasts_of_no_nation_movie_review.
A review of "Beasts of No Nation" a 2015 Netflix film based on Uzodinma Iweala’s 2005 novel about a boy who becomes a child soldier.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/beasts-of-no-nation-movie-review/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=beasts_of_no_nation_movie_review.
If you're interested in learning about the inventor who developed the mobile refrigeration device that made it possible to efficiently transport food long distances, then my Frederick McKinley Jones Black History Facts profile is for you.
If you're interested in learning about the inventor who developed the mobile refrigeration device that made it possible to efficiently transport food long distances, then my Frederick McKinley Jones Black History Facts profile is for you.
A review of "The Death of Vivek Oji", a novel that examines gender identity and cultural norms.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/death-of-vivek-oji-book-review
A review of "The Death of Vivek Oji", a novel that examines gender identity and cultural norms.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/death-of-vivek-oji-book-review
If you're interested in learning about the Nigerian author who penned over 20 books that usually focused on African women and gender roles in society, then my Florence Onyebuchi "Buchi" Emecheta Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/buchi-emecheta/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=buchi_emecheta.
A review of "When the Levees Broke", a 2006 Spike Lee documentary about the impact of 2005's Hurricane Katrina on the city of New Orleans.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/when-the-levees-broke-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about the neurologist who made tremendous contributions to the field of neurology, was a pioneer in Alzheimer’s research, and is recognized as America’s first Black psychiatrist, then my Solomon Carter Fuller Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/solomon-carter-fuller.
A review of "Dancing in the Glory of Monsters" by Jason Stearns which explains the causes of the Congo Wars and what unfolded once the fighting began.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/dancing-in-the-glory-of-monsters-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about the civil rights activist who was arrested at the age of 15 for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus, then my Claudette Colvin Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/claudette-colvin.
A review of “A Time to Kill”, a 1996 courtroom drama about the case of a Black man who is on trial for the revenge killing of two racist White men.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/a-time-to-kill-movie-review.
A review of “A Time to Kill”, a 1996 courtroom drama about the case of a Black man who is on trial for the revenge killing of two racist White men.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/a-time-to-kill-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about the educator and journalist who co-founded Washington, D.C.'s Bethel Literary and Historical Society and the American Negro Academy, then my John Wesley Cromwell Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/john-wesley-cromwell.
"It's Not All Downhill From Here" by Terry McMillan is about a year in the life of Loretha, a woman in her 60s, and her circle of friends.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/its-not-all-downhill-from-here-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about the playwright and novelist who achieved several firsts in the theater world and penned the classic "A Hero Ain’t Nothin’ but a Sandwich", then my Alice Childress Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/alice-childress.
A review of "Free Angela and All Political Prisoners", a 2013 documentary directed by Shola Lynch about the events that led to Angela Davis' arrest and prosecution.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/free-angela-and-all-political-prisoners-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about the teacher turned politician who became the first president of Tanzania after it achieved independence, then my Julius Nyerere Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/julius-nyerere.
A review of "They Were Her Property" by Stephanie Jones-Rogers which discusses the role that White women played in the institution of slavery.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/they-were-her-property-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about the poet and activist whose poems were featured in several Harlem Renaissance magazines and anthologies despite her being based in Virginia, then my Anne Spencer Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/anne-spencer.
A review of "Lean on Me", a 1989 film about Joe Clark, a high school principal who was put in charge of a school that was underperforming academically while also struggling with multiple other issues.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/lean-on-me-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about the civil rights activist who traveled Mississippi organizing campaigns and investigating civil rights crimes, then my Medgar Evers Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/medgar-evers.
A review of “Welcome to Lagos” by Chibundu Onuzo, the story of five people from different parts of Nigerian society who flee the Niger Delta in hopes of better lives in Lagos.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/welcome-to-lagos-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about the jazz pianist and singer who fought racism and McCarthyism, then my Hazel Scott Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/hazel-scott.
A review of "Hoop Dreams", a classic 1994 documentary directed by Steve James about two boys growing up in Chicago and their dream of playing basketball in the NBA.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/hoop-dreams-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about the gospel turned soul singer who was the first Black artist to own a record label, then my Sam Cooke Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/sam-cooke.
A review of "The Color of Money" by Mehrsa Baradaran which discusses the history of economic limitations and responsibilities placed on Black banks and capitalism.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/color-of-money-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about the Afro-Latina Cuban exile who became an icon and ambassador of salsa music, then my Celia Cruz Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/celia-cruz.
A review of "Straight Outta Compton", a 2015 F. Gary Gray directed film about NWA, an iconic rap group from Compton, Los Angeles.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/straight-outta-compton-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about the US Navy cook who became a hero during the attack on Pearl Harbor by carrying the wounded to safety and manning a submachine gun to return fire despite having no training, then my Doris "Dorie" Miller Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/doris-miller
A review of "The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man" by James Weldon Johnson, the fictional account of a biracial man looking back over his life.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/autobiography-of-an-ex-colored-man-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about New York City's first Black female assistant district attorney who developed the strategy for taking down Charles "Lucky" Luciano, then my Eunice Hunton Carter Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/eunice-hunton-carter.
A review of "Africa's Great Civilizations", a 2017 PBS miniseries hosted by Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. which charts the rise and fall of various African empires.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/africas-great-civilizations-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about the computer scientist who developed the network and theory that set a record for calculations per second and contributed to the creation of the internet, then my Philip Emeagwali Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/philip-emeagwali.
A review of “One Righteous Man” by Arthur Browne which tells the story of Samuel Battle, the first Black police officer in New York City.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/one-righteous-man-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about an incident where three teens were killed by Detroit Police officers who then attempted to cover up what happened, then my Algiers Motel Murders Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/algiers-motel-murders.
A review of "Jungle Fever", a 1991 Spike Lee joint about a Black architect who has an affair with his White secretary.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/jungle-fever-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about the activist who led the NAACP during the Civil Rights Movement, then my Roy Wilkins Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available http://noirehistoir.com/blog/roy-wilkins
A review of "The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives" by Lola Shoneyin, a novel about a polygamous Nigerian man, Baba Segi his four wives, seven children, and all kinds of drama.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/the-secret-lives-of-baba-segis-wives-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about the founder of the Palmer Memorial Institute, then my Charlotte Hawkins Brown Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/charlotte-hawkins-brown.
A review of “Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool”, a 2019 Stanley Nelson Jr. documentary about the life and career of the jazz legend. Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/miles-davis-birth-of-the-cool-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about the electrical engineer who helped develop the system for allowing peripherals and accessories to be added or connected to the personal computer, then my Mark Dean Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/mark-dean.
A review of "When Affirmative Action Was White" by Ira Katznelson which tells the story of how the progressive programs of the 1930s and 1940s solidified and expanded the White American middle class while excluding Black citizens whenever possible.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/when-affirmative-action-was-white-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about the writer and activist who protested discrimination and used her work to champion Black issues, then my Shirley Graham Du Bois Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/shirley-graham-du-bois.
A review of "Ray", a 2004 Oscar-winning film starring Jamie Foxx in a biopic about the life and career of legendary musician Ray Charles Robinson (better known as Ray Charles).
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/ray-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about the poet and cultural theorist who became the first President of the Republic of Senegal, then my Léopold Senghor Black History Facts profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/leopold-senghor.
A review of "Killing the Black Body" by Dorothy E. Roberts, a good book to discuss intersectionality as it touches on both race and reproductive rights.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/killing-the-black-body-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about the noted author who penned the classic book, "Ain't I Woman" about intersectional racism as well as 30 other titles, then my bell hooks Black History Fact profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/bell-hooks.
A discussion of “Black and Missing”, a 2021 documentary in part about Black and Missing Foundation, Inc (BAMFI) but also about the sobering fact that every year in America, hundreds of thousands of people go missing. Of the missing, a disproportionate number are people of color and in particular, Black.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/black-and-missing-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about a woman who established facilities to provide classes and programs for her local community (Locust Street Settlement) as well as a residential rehabilitation facility for girls and young women (Virginia Industrial Home School for Colored Girls), then my Janie Porter Barrett Black History Fact profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/janie-porter-barrett.
A discussion of "The Bluest Eye", Toni Morrison’s debut novel which earned her a Nobel Prize.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/the-bluest-eye-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about the chemist who developed "The Ball Method" which was a highly effective treatment for leprosy, then my Alice Black History Fact profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/alice-ball.
A discussion of “Claudine”, a 1974 film starring Diahann Carroll and James Earl Jones as Claudine and Rupert (aka Roop), two people living imperfect lives who meet and begin dating.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/claudine-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about the first Black woman to obtain a Ph.D. in psychology, then my Inez Beverly Prosser Black History Fact profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/inez-beverly-prosser.
A review of "Stamped from the Beginning" by Ibram X. Kendi which provides a history of America's racist ideas. Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/stamped-from-the-beginning-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about the man who pioneered Pan-African and Africana studies, then my John Henrik Clarke Black History Short is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/john-henrik-clarke.
A discussion of "Malcolm X", a 1992 Spike Lee Joint starring Denzel Washington in the life story of the controversial leader.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/malcolm-x-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about the woman who was of the early and most consistent voices in the call for reparations for Black Americans during the Civil Rights Movement, then my Audley “Queen Mother” Moore Black History Short is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/audley-queen-mother-moore.
A discussion of "Go Tell It on the Mountain", a 1953 semi-autobiographical novel by James Baldwin about a 14-year-old boy growing up in Harlem with his family. Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/go-tell-it-on-the-mountain-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about the historian who amassed a collection of 10,000 artifacts related to Black history and culture housed at Harlem's Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, then my Arturo Schomburg profile is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/arturo-schomburg.
A review of “King in the Wilderness”, a 2018 documentary that covers the last years of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/king-in-the-wilderness-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about a poet and memoirist whose creative work spanned books, plays, movies, and television, then my Maya Angelou Black History Short is for you.
Show notes, sources, and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/maya-angelou.
A review of "Things That Make White People Uncomfortable", a memoir by NFL defensive end Michael Bennett which also discusses various social issues.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/things-that-make-white-people-uncomfortable-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about the Mexican general of mixed African descent who abolished slavery after helping the country achieve independence, then my Vicente Guerrero Black History Short is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/vicente-guerrero.
A review of "The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross", a 2013 documentary that tells the history of Black people in America.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/african-americans-many-rivers-to-cross-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about the mother of modern African literature and the first female African novelist to publish a book in English, then my Flora Nwapa Black History Short is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/flora-nwapa.
A review of "Sugar" by Bernice McFadden, the story of a world-weary prostitute who moves to a small town and forms an unlikely friendship with her neighbor.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/sugar-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about a chemist who synthesized medications from plants used to treat glaucoma and rheumatoid arthritis then my Percy Lavon Julian Black History Short is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/percy-lavon-julian.
A review of “A Raisin in the Sun”, a 1961 film adapted from Lorraine Hansberry's 1959 play about the fictional Younger family.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/a-raisin-in-the-sun-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about a woman of many firsts, the most prominent achievement being the first Black woman judge in America then my Jane Bolin Black History Short is for you.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/jane-bolin.
A review of “Black Fortunes” by Shomari Wills which tells the story of the first six Black Americans who became millionaires in the years following slavery.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/black-fortunes-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about the activist who co-founded CORE and helped to organize the 1961 Freedom Riders campaign, then my James Farmer Black History Short is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/james-farmer.
A review of “40 Years a Prisoner”, a documentary about the events leading up to and following the 1978 Philadelphia police department's raid of the MOVE organization's home.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/40-years-a-prisoner-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about the first Black woman in NASA's astronaut training program, America's first Black woman astronaut, and the first Black woman in space, then my Mae C. Jemison Black History Short is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/mae-c-jemison.
A review of "His Only Wife" by Peace Adzo Medie which takes place in Ghana and tells the story of a young woman who enters an arranged marriage with the son of a wealthy family.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/his-only-wife-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about the songwriter who co-wrote "Lift Every Voice and Sing" and led the NAACP during the 1920s, then my James Weldon Johnson Black History Short is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/james-weldon-johnson.
A review of “Soul Food”, a 1997 George Tillman Jr. drama about the Joseph family's descent into dysfunction after the matriarch goes into a coma.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/soul-food-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about an armed resistance in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania where a local resistance group of free and formerly enslaved Black people repelled an effort to recapture four escaped slaves, then my Christiana Resistance Black History Short is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/christiana-resistance.
A review of "The Color of Law" by Richard Rothstein which charts the history of how local, state, and federal government policies and programs segregated cities across America.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/color-of-law-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about the first Black female surgeon in the South and the first Black woman to be a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, then my Dorothy Lavinia Brown Black History Short is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/dorothy-lavinia-brown.
A review of “Confirmation”, a 2016 HBO film about the hearings for Judge Clarence Thomas' (Wendell Pierce) nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. In Washington, D.C. Thomas seems likely to be confirmed until a former employee, Anita Hill (Kerry Washington), surfaces with allegations of sexual harassment.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/confirmation-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about the first Black graduate of West Point and the army's first Black commissioned officer, then my Henry Flipper Black History Short is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/henry-flipper.
A review of “Americanah” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a book about immigrants leaving and coming home but also finding fulfillment as well as romantic, familial, and platonic relationships. It's a whole bunch of different stuff that somehow all fits together.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/americanah-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about the Mason-Dixon Line and how the border it created between Northern and Southern states played a role in defining the land of freedom versus bondage, then my Fugitive Slave Acts Black History Short is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/fugitive-slave-laws.
A review of "Atlanta's Missing and Murdered: The Lost Children", a 2020 five-part HBO miniseries about the Atlanta Child Murders.
Show notes are available on http://noirehistoir.com/blog/atlantas-missing-and-murdered-the-lost-children-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about the Black woman whose research contributed to connecting the relationship between cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and the clogging of arteries, then my Marie Maynard Daly Black History Short is for you.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/marie-maynard-daly.
A review of "The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness" by Michelle Alexander which tackles the complex issues of mass incarceration.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/new-jim-crow-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about the circumstances leading up to Steve Biko's murder and the attempt to cover up what happened, then my Steve Biko Murder & Aftermath Black History Short is for you.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/steve-biko.
A review of Driving Miss Daisy, a 1989 dramedy film about the 25-year relationship between a rude older woman and her chauffeur.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/driving-miss-daisy-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning how Steve Biko's arrest and expulsion from high school led to him becoming an activist, then my Steve Biko Early Life Black History Short is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/steve-biko.
A review of "Jubilee" by Margaret Walker which follows the life of Vyry through the antebellum period, the Civil War, and Reconstruction.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/jubilee-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about the rollercoaster of Zora Neale Hurston’s work being published and receiving rewards while she experienced constant financial issues, then my Black History Short about Zora Neale Hurston's later life is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/zora-neale-hurston.
A review of New Jack City, a 1991 Mario Van Peebles film about a Harlem drug kingpin and the local police force that is intent on bringing him down.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/new-jack-city-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about how Zora Neale Hurston's early life of striving to get an education set her on a path to writing, then my Black History Short about Zora Neale Hurston's early life is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/zora-neale-hurston.
A review of "We Cast a Shadow” by Maurice Carlos Ruffin, a dark comedy about a man who goes to desperate lengths to shield his son from a dystopian society. Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/we-cast-a-shadow-book-review.
If you’re interested in learning about the union organizer who led pushes to desegregate the military, outlaw race-based employment discrimination within military departments, and provided the framework for the March on Washington, then my A. Philip Randolph Black History Short is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/a-philip-randolph.
A review of "Dead Presidents", a 1995 Hughes Brothers film about Anthony Curtis (Larenz Tate), a young man who serves in the Vietnam War with hopes of charting his path in the world but is instead scarred by the atrocities of war.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/dead-presidents-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about the first Black woman in America to charter a bank, then my Black History Short about Maggie Lena Walker's later life is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/maggie-lena-walker.
A review of “Behold the Dreamers” by Imbolo Mbue, the story of a couple who emigrate from Cameroon with their young son in hopes of a better life in New York City.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/behold-the-dreamers-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about the childhood experiences that led to a fraternal order becoming part of a mission to help achieve Black economic independence, then my Black History Short about Maggie Lena Walker's early life is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/maggie-lena-walker.
A review of School Daze, a 1988 Spike Lee film (or shall I say "joint") about the divisions between various factions on the campus of a fictional HBCU.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/school-daze-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about an acclaimed photographer who was a successful fashion photographer but is most well known for his photo essays and portraits from during the Civil Rights Movement, then my Gordon Parks Black History Short is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/gordon-parks/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=bhs_gordon_parks&utm_content=general.
A review of “The Girl Who Smiled Beads” by Clemantine Wamariya, which charts her and her sister’s experience as refugees during the Rwandan genocide.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/the-girl-who-smiled-beads-book-review.
If you’re interested in learning about the second woman overall and the first Black woman to brave the elements, bandits, and wild animals to serve as a United States Post Office Star Route Carrier, then my “Stagecoach” Mary Fields Black History Short is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/stagecoach-mary-fields.
A review of "4 Little Girls", a 1997 Spike Lee documentary about the 1963 bombing of Birmingham, Alabama’s 16th Street Baptist Church which resulted in the deaths of four little girls.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/4-little-girls-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about the organizer of the Mississippi Freedom Summer voter registration campaign and co-founder of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP), then my Bob Moses Black History Short is for you.
Show notes and sources are available http://noirehistoir.com/blog/bob-moses.
A review of “The Underground Railroad Records” by William Still, a vitally important book that shares the experiences of people who escaped or attempted to escape slavery via the Underground Railroad.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/the-underground-railroad-records-book-review.
If you’re interested in learning about the founder of the first newspaper to be published by and for Black women, then my Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin Black History Short is for you.
Show notes and sources at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/josephine-st-pierre-ruffin.
A review of "Boyz n the Hood", John Singleton's 1991 film debut about a boy growing up with his father and friends in South Central, Los Angeles.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/boyz-n-the-hood-movie-review.
If you’re interested in learning about the events that led to the destruction of the predominantly Black town of Rosewood, Florida and its aftermath, my Rosewood Massacre Black History Short is for you.
Show notes and sources are available http://noirehistoir.com/blog/rosewood-massacre.
A review of "A Kind of Freedom" by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton, the story of three family members which provides a glimpse into issues such as Jim Crow, drug addiction, and mass incarceration that have plagued the Black community.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/a-kind-of-freedom-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about a legendary jazz musician whose playing and singing style were a major influence on other musicians and singers in the genre and beyond, my Louis Armstrong Later Life Black History Short is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/louis-armstrong.
A review of "Tina", a 2021 HBO documentary about the life and career of Anna Mae Bullock better known as the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll", Tina Turner.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/tina-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about how a boy born into poverty and instability in a rough New Orleans neighborhood turned his life around after finding positive male role models and music, my Louis Armstrong Early Life Black History Short is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/louis-armstrong.
A review of "I Put a Spell on You," an autobiography about the life and career of the singer, songwriter, and pianist known professionally as Nina Simone.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/i-put-a-spell-on-you-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about the blues singer and songwriter who inspired August Wilson's play “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and Alice Walker's Shug Avery character in “The Color Purple”, then my Ma Rainey Black History Short is for you.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/ma-rainey.
A review of "Standing in the Shadows of Motown", a documentary about the Funk Brothers, musicians who played Motown's studio sessions.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/standing-in-the-shadows-of-motown-movie-review.
A profile of W.C. Handy, a musician, and songwriter whose publishing company turned out hit blues compositions that helped launch the genre.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/w-c-handy.
A review of the book "My Life with Earth, Wind, & Fire" by Maurice White which tells his life story and the story of Earth Wind & Fire.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/my-life-with-earth-wind-fire-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about a versatile singer who gave an amazing performance on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial after racists prevented her from performing at Constitution Hall, my Marian Anderson Black History Short is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/marian-anderson.
A review of "The Tuskegee Airmen", a 1995 made-for-TV semi-fictional drama about the Tuskegee Airmen, America's first all-Black Air Corp squadron.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/the-tuskegee-airmen-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about a botanist and inventor who developed 300 products from peanuts and 118 from sweet potatoes to decrease Black farmers' reliance on cotton and tobacco, my George Washington Carver Black History Short is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/george-washington-carver.
A review of "The Sun Does Shine", an autobiography written by Anthony Ray Hinton about his life and experience as a wrongfully convicted man.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/the-sun-does-shine-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about the first Black woman to win a Nobel Prize, my Toni Morrison Black History Short is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/toni-morrison.
A review of “Baby Boy”, a 2001 John Singleton film about a trifling young man named Jody (Tyrese Gibson) and his journey to mature and leave behind his dysfunctional behavior.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/baby-boy-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about a multi-talented singer, actor, and activist whose career was destroyed by a communist witch hunt, my Paul Robeson Black History Short is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/paul-robeson.
A review of “Deacon King Kong” by James McBride which tells the story of Deacon Cuffy Lambkin, better known as “Sportcoat”, and the chain of events he unwittingly sets in motion when he shoots Deems Clemens, the leader of the neighborhood drug dealers. There’s a theme of change throughout with regards to the old and new ways of doing things.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/deacon-king-kong-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about the first Black person to win a Pulitzer prize, my Gwendolyn Brooks Black History Short is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/gwendolyn-brooks.
A review of "What's My Name: Muhammad Ali", a 2019 HBO Antoine Fuqua directed documentary about the greatest boxer of all time.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/whats-my-name-muhammad-ali-movie-review.
If you’re interested in learning about the backstory and aftermath of the Black Power Salute at the 1968 Mexico City Summer Olympics then my Tommie Smith & John Carlos Black History Short is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/tommie-smith-and-john-carlos.
A review of "Undisputed Truth", an in-depth autobiography that tells the story of Mike “Iron Mike” Tyson's rise from poverty to fame and fall from grace.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/undisputed-truth-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about an athlete who overcame childhood paralysis that was caused by polio and went on to become the first American woman to win three track and field gold medals at a single Olympic Games then my Wilma Rudolph Black History Short is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/wilma-rudolph.
A review of "Unforgivable Blackness", a 2005 sports documentary about Jack Johnson, the first Black heavyweight champion.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/unforgivable-blackness-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about the man who won 4 gold medals and broke records to become the star of the 1936 Olympics disproving the Nazi claims of Aryan supremacy then my Jesse Owens Black History Short is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/jessie-owens.
Women, Race, & Class by Angela Davis was published in 1981 and analyzes the individual histories and intersections of sexism, racism, and classism in America. The book primarily focuses on the women's liberation movement and provides an overview of the movement's complete timeline as well as in-depth coverage of specific eras.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/women-race-and-class-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about the first Black woman to serve as a federal judge then my Constance Baker Motley Black History Short is for you.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/constance-baker-motley.
A review of "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman", a 1974 film adapted from Ernest J. Gaines' 1971 novel of the same name. A then 50-year-old Cicely Tyson portrayed the lead character from the age of 23 to 110 a role for which she became the first Black person to win a lead actress Emmy Award.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/the-autobiography-of-miss-jane-pittman-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about the first Black woman to hold a pilot license then my Bessie Coleman Black History Short is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/bessie-coleman.
A review of "Ghana Must Go" by Taiye Selasi, a book about family and identity that explores the long-lasting effects of family trauma. It’s a very engrossing read about how pride, fear, and secrets can steal our joy and cut us off from having and maintaining meaningful relationships.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/ghana-must-go-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about the first Black female neurosurgeon in America then my Alexa Canady Black History Short is for you.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/alexa-canady.
A review of "The Color Purple", a historical drama based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning 1982 novel of the same name that was written by Alice Walker.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/the-color-purple-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about one of the oldest and most significant civil rights organizations then my National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Black History Short is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/naacp.
A review of "Negroes and the Gun" which provides a history of Black people and firearms which includes but goes beyond self-defense.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/negroes-and-the-gun-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about the first Black female playwright to have a play performed on Broadway then my Lorraine Hansberry Black History Short is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/lorraine-hansberry.
A review of the film "Judas and the Black Messiah" which tells the story of how an FBI informant infiltrated the Chicago chapter of the Black Panthers and aided in the assassination of Fred Hampton.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/judas-and-the-black-messiah-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about the "father of Black History" and founder of Black History Month then my Carter G. Woodson Black History Short is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/carter-g-woodson.
If you're interested in a satirical book about spies, community, and integration during the late 1960s-70s then my discussion of The Spook Who Sat By the Door is for you. Written by Sam Greenlee in the 60s, the book offers a lot of commentary on the self-serving nature of liberal politicians and activists, institutional racism, and the assimilation dreams of the Black bourgeoisie.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/the-spook-who-sat-by-the-door-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about the guerilla war where native Kenyans fought against British colonialist powers then my Mau Mau Rebellion Black History Short is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/mau-mau-rebellion.
A review of the movie "Love & Basketball", a decent movie with a problematic love story that is absolute trash but gets a pass. The odds are that you’ve already seen "Love & Basketball". I’d like your perspective if you agree with my take on the movie. But I also want all the smoke if you disagree with my assessment.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/love-and-basketball-movie-review.
If you're interested in learning about Coretta Scott King beyond the basics of her being Dr. King's wife then my Coretta Scott King Black History Short is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/coretta-scott-king.
If you are looking for a new literary classic that perfectly summarizes the history of race relations in the UK while also breaking down how racist institutions are preserved by refusing to discuss racism then my review of "Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race" is for you.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/why-im-no-longer-talking-to-white-people-about-race-book-review.
YouTube video is available at https://youtu.be/JbMKwTWG1EQ.
If you're interested in learning about a Harlem-based activist and organization with plans for building a network of global independent Black companies and a Black-ruled nation in Africa then my Marcus Garvey & The UNIA Black History Short Part Two is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/marcus-garvey-unia.
A review of the movie John Q which stars Denzel Washington as a father at the end of his rope and seemingly out of options who takes action in a desperate attempt to help save his son’s life.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/john-q-movie-review.
YouTube video is available at https://youtu.be/HypfBHsttMA.
If you're interested in learning about Marcus Garvey's early life including the people and experiences that influenced his early philosophy then my Marcus Garvey & The UNIA Black History Short Part One is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/marcus-garvey-unia.
If you like detective novels and police procedurals with twists and turns as well as a bit of depth that makes the story and characters feel both familiar and refreshing then my book review of "Bluebird, Bluebird" by Attica Locke is for you.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/bluebird-bluebird-book-review.
If you’re interested in learning about Liberia and Africa’s first female president then my Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Black History Short is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/ellen-johnson-sirleaf.
If you consider yourself a film buff or even just a casual movie fan and are interested in learning about the first century of the Black film industry then my review of “A Century of Black Cinema” might be for you.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/a-century-of-black-cinema-movie-review.
The Noire Histoir Podcast will be on a holiday hiatus until January 2021. I invite you to check out the archives while the show is on break. May you and your loved ones have peace and joy in the remaining days of the year. And have a happy and healthy 2021.
Visit http://noirehistoir.com for more info and content.
If you're interested in learning about a playwright who created a body of work that told the story of the Black experience and helped to launch the careers of several famous Black actors and actresses then my August Wilson Black History Short is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/august-wilson.
If you’re interested in reading a book that explores racism, sexism, and identity through the lens of a Black boy coming of age in Mississippi then my review of "Heavy: An American Memoir" by Kiese Laymon might be for you.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/heavy-an-american-memoir-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about an organization that helped Black citizens overcome entrenched voter suppression and intimidation to become the majority of registered voters in their county and establish an independent political party then my Lowndes County Freedom Organization (LCFO) Black History Short is for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/lowndes-county-freedom-organization.
A brief overview of the history of the Black Panther Party which discusses the organization's ideology, programs, and controversies.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/history-of-the-black-panther-party.
If you're interested in learning about a writer, poet, and activist who penned “The Color Purple” which spent 25 weeks on the New York Times’ bestseller list and won both the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Award for Fiction then my Alice Walker Black History Short for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/alice-walker.
A review of Isabel Wilkerson's "Caste", a book about the structure of caste systems and their impact on three societies.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/caste-book-review.
If you're interested in learning about the plans and realities of creating a multi-faceted civil rights campaign aimed at an entire state then my Freedom Summer Black History Short for you.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/freedom-summer.
A review of "Tales of the Grim Sleeper", a documentary about the suspected murders of an estimated 100 women in South Los Angeles.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/tales-of-the-grim-sleeper-movie-review.
A profile of Stokely Carmichael, an activist and political organizer who participated in the Freedom Rides, launched the Lowndes County Freedom Organization, served as chairman of SNCC, and was the first to express the ideology of Black self-determination as "Black Power."
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/stokely-carmichael.
A book review of "The Vanishing Half" by Brit Bennett, the story of twin sisters who leave their small Louisiana town in search of new lives.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/the-vanishing-half-book-review.
A profile of Nannie Helen Burroughs, an educator and activist who fought against race and gender based discrimination by campaigning against lynching and founding the the National Trade and Professional School for Women and Girls.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/nannie-helen-burroughs.
If you’re interested in learning about apartheid including the circumstances that led to its official creation, the laws that were enacted, the movement that led to its abolition, and its aftermath. Then my "Apartheid in South Africa" Black History Feature is for you.
Show notes and sources at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/apartheid-in-south-africa.
A profile of Walter Sisulu, a South African anti-apartheid activist and a leader of the African National Congress (ANC) who was imprisoned for 26 years alongside Nelson Mandela.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/walter-sisulu.
A review of "Transcendent Kingdom", Yaa Gyasi’s sophomore novel about a neuroscience PhD candidate who reflects on her life, religion, and science.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/transcendent-kingdom-book-review.
A profile of Sojourner Truth, an abolitionist and women's rights activist who was born a slave, walked to freedom, and was one of the first Black women to successfully sue a White man in America.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/sojourner-truth.
A Brief History of Colonists in South Africa provides an overview of the story of the Boers, British, and Black South Africans from the 1400s to the early 1900s.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/a-brief-history-of-colonists-in-south-africa.
Part three of a three-part profile of Patrice Lumumba. The final episode discusses the assassination of Lumumba as well as theories about who was involved and why.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/patrice-lumumba.
A book review of Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀'s "Stay With Me", a story about a married Nigerian couple who experience difficulties trying to conceive.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/stay-with-me-book-review.
Part two of a three part profile of Patrice Lumumba. The second episode picks up after Lumumba has co-founded the first national Congolese political party and allies and enemies emerge.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/patrice-lumumba.
A review of the 1996 film "Set It Off" which tells the story of four Black women in Los Angeles who decide to become bank robbers to help their plans for better lives.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/set-it-off-movie-review.
Part one of a three-part profile of Patrice Lumumba. The first episode covers the period of Lumumba's childhood to his becoming an “évolué."
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/patrice-lumumba.
The August 2020 edition of Noire News includes the usual memorial and good news along with feature stories about gender-based violence, the latest happenings within the injustice system, Brandy’s People interview where she discusses her depression and mental health, and the coup in Mali.
Sources and show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/august-2020-noire-news.
A profile of Augusta Savage, a sculptor from the Harlem Renaissance whose studio and gallery helped to nurture upcoming Black artists.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/augusta-savage.
A brief history of how Black voting rights in America developed from the first Constitutional Congress in 1776 through the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/history-of-black-voting-rights-in-america.
A profile of Dr. Charles Drew, who developed a process for separating plasma from blood cells and improved techniques for blood storage.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/dr-charles-drew.
A review of "The Nickel Boys" by Colson Whitehead, the story of a Black young man growing up in Tallahassee during the 1950s and 60s who is sent to a reform school.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/the-nickel-boys-book-review.
A profile of Wangari Maathai, an environmental and political activist who became the first African woman to be awarded the Nobel Prize.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/wangari-maathai.
A review of A Spike Lee Joint: "Da 5 Bloods", the story of the surviving members of a Vietnam War platoon who return in search of the gold, leader, and pieces of themselves that they were forced to leave behind.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/da-5-bloods-movie-review
A profile of John Lewis, an activist and politician whose pivotal role in significant moments during the Civil Rights Movement would see him recognized as one of the “Big Six” leaders despite only being in his 20s.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/john-lewis.
In the July 2020 edition of Noire News I discuss the UNICEF lead exposure report, the LAPD's expansion of the CSP, mental health support for police officers, and how distractions are undermining the Black Lives Matter Movement.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/july-2020-noire-news.
A profile of Mary McLeod Bethune, an educator who founded part of what would become Bethune-Cookman College and an activist who served as an advisor to several presidents.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/mary-mcleod-bethune.
A review of the book "There Are No Children Here" by Alex Kotlowitz which tells the story of residents of Chicago’s Henry Horner projects during the 1980s.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/there-are-no-children-here-book-review.
A profile of the Scottsboro Boys, nine Black teens who were falsely accused and convicted of rape resulting in Supreme Court rulings that set precedence for future civil rights cases.
Show notes and sources are available http://noirehistoir.com/blog/scottsboro-boys.
A review of the movie "In the Heat of the Night", a 1967 murder mystery set in a Southern town that is investigated by a Northern Black homicide detective.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/in-the-heat-of-the-night-movie-review.
A profile of Harriet Tubman's later life covering her life after escaping to freedom, time as a conductor on the Underground Railroad, and service in the Union Army.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/harriet-tubman.
In the June 2020 edition of Noire News I’ll be discussing June’s protests, some good news, and memorializing a few Black people who passed away this month.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/june-2020-noire-news.
A profile of Harriet Tubman's early life covering her childhood to the events that motivated her to escape from slavery in her late 20s.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/harriet-tubman.
A profile of the Reconstruction Era which began a few years before the end of the American Civil War and extended to about a decade after its end.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/reconstruction-era.
Just a heads up that there won't be a new feature episode this week as I'll be taking a two-week break to prepare content for the next quarter. I plan to be back on July 3rd, with a feature story about Reconstruction just in time for Independence Day. I hope you'll join me then.
In the meantime if you're new to the show or haven't listened to all of the episodes, I invite you to go back in the archives and check out some of the previous episodes. Maybe not the first few as they were a bit rough.
A profile of Frederick Douglass' life following his escape from slavery which includes his time as an abolitionist and early advocate for Black civil rights.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/frederick-douglass.
A discussion of Up From Slavery by Booker T Washington, an autobiography covering his experience as a child born into slavery, his struggle to obtain an education, and his time spent helping to establish what would become Tuskegee University.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/up-from-slavery-book-review.
A profile of Frederick Douglass' early life covering the period of his childhood to his escape from slavery.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/frederick-douglass.
A review of the 1989 classic, "Glory", a movie that tells the story of the formation of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment and its activities during the Civil War.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/glory-movie-review.
A profile of the Buffalo Soldiers, a moniker used to describe the six all-Black regiments that were created after the Civil War who fought in the Indian and Spanish-American Wars and protected the national parks.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/buffalo-soldiers.
Get a good balance of what’s going on in the Black community, a memorial to some people we’ve lost, and a bit of good news in the May 2020 Noire News.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/may-2020-noire-news.
A profile of Pauli Murray, a civil rights activist who became a lawyer, co-founded the National Organization for Women (NOW), and later became the first Black female Episcopal priest.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/pauli-murray/.
A review of Ta-Nehisi Coates’ “The Water Dancer”, the story of a young enslaved boy who comes to the attention of the Underground, a mysterious network that helps enslaved people escape to freedom.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/the-water-dancer-book-review.
A profile of Chinua Achebe, a Nigerian novelist who wrote stories about interactions between Africans and colonialists but set himself apart by telling them from the perspective of Africans.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/chinua-achebe.
"Waiting to Exhale" is a classic from the 1990s black film canon. Based on Terry McMillan’s 1992 bestseller, the film was released in 1995 directed by Forest Whitaker and featured an all-star cast of female leads which included Angela Bassett, Lela Rochon, Loretta Divine, and Whitney Houston.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/waiting-to-exhale-movie-review.
A profile of Dr. Matilda Evans the first Black female MD in South Carolina and a healthcare advocate for Black people as a whole but children in particular.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/dr-matilda-evans.
A historical profile of the Negro Leagues, which consisted of various Black teams and Black baseball leagues that operated during the time of major league baseball's color barrier.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/negro-league-baseball.
A profile of William Still, a Philadelphia based abolitionist who was a prodigious conductor on the Underground Railroad.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/william-still.
A review of "Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present" by Harriet A. Washington which charts the history of unethical medical experiments that have been conducted on Black people.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/medical-apartheid-book-review.
A profile of the Tulsa Race Massacre which occurred on May 31 - June 1, 1921 and tore through the prosperous all-Black Greenwood District leaving a trail of murdered Black people, looted homes, and burned out buildings.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/tulsa-race-massacre-and-greenwood-district.
A review and analysis of The Hughes Brothers 1993 film "Menace II Society" which I consider to be a part of the classic 1990s Black film canon.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/menace-to-society-movie-review.
A profile of the Greenwood District, a neighborhood on the outskirts of Tulsa settled by formerly enslaved and free Black people who migrated to the area in pursuit of opportunities and hopes of acquiring land.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/tulsa-race-massacre-and-greenwood-district.
In the Noire News March episode I’ll discuss feature stories about Black people in West and Central Africa, the United Kingdom, and America. In addition there’s the regular monthly memorial and even a few positive stories some of which were inspired by the coronavirus.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/march-2020-noire-news.
A profile of John H. Johnson, the entrepreneur who founded Johnson Publishing Co. which publishes Ebony and Jet magazine.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/john-h-johnson.
A Black history travel guide for visiting Memphis, Tennessee which includes a brief history of the city and some insights into a few of its museums.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/memphis-black-history-sites.
A profile of Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman in Congress, the first Black woman and only the second woman of any race to seek the nomination for president of the United States from a major political party.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/shirley-chisholm.
A book review of Ella Baker and the Black Freedom Movement which was written by Barbara Ransby and tells the story of Ella Baker’s life. Visit the Noire Histoir YouTube Channel or website for the full review.
Show notes and are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/ella-baker-and-the-black-freedom-movement-book-review.
A profile of Miriam Makeba, a South African entertainer who was exiled for 30 years in retaliation for her speaking out against apartheid.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/miriam-makeba.
A review of "Hidden Figures", a 2016 film about three Black women who used their talents in math and engineering to help America win the Space Race.
Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/hidden-figures-movie-review.
A profile of Anna Julia Cooper, a writer and educator who is regarded as one of the first Black feminists and specifically spoke to the intersection of gender and race.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/anna-julia-cooper.
In the February 2020 edition of Noire News I’ll be discussing feature stories about the stigma of mental illness, the injustice system, Guyana's oil, Snoop Dogg v. Gayle King, attacks on civilians in Cameroon and Nigeria. As always, there's a memorial, good news, and now things you might want to participate in. Show notes, sources, and links to more info are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/february-2020-noire-news.
A profile of Mound Bayou, a town in the central Mississippi delta founded by former slaves who turned the area into a thriving self-sufficient Black community.
Show notes and sources are available at
http://noirehistoir.com/blog/mound-bayou.
A profile of the Harlem Renaissance, a period in history where Black people funneled their hopes and miseries into creative art forms that would define a generation and provide inspiration for many more to come.
Sources and show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/harlem-renaissance
A profile of Bobby Seale, a social and political activist who co-founded the Black Panther Party.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/bobby-seale.
If you’re unfamiliar, Love Jones was one in a series of what’s considered the modern classics of the 1990s golden age of Black films. The film tells the story of Darius Lovehall (Larenz Tate) and Nina Mosley (Nia Long) two twenty-somethings who meet and begin dating while living in Chicago during the 1990s.
Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/love-jones-movie-review.
A profile of Frances Harper, a poet who published her first book of poetry when she was 20 and toured the East Coast and South where she gave lectures in support of the anti-slavery movement.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/frances-harper.
“Friends: A Love Story” tells the story of Angela Bassett's and Courtney B. Vance's individual personal and professional lives followed by how they came together and the resulting marriage. It's an incredible book about figuring out how to better define what you want in a partner and more importantly what you want within yourself.
Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/friends-a-love-story-book-review.
A profile of Henry Highland Garnet, an escaped slave who rose to prominence as a fiery abolitionist preacher and called on slaves to revolt and take their freedom.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/henry-highland-garnet.
In the January 2020 edition of Noire News I discuss the Mississippi Prison deaths, the East African locust infestation, Caribbean earthquake, and the planned launch of the Black News Network. There is also a memorial to notable deaths in the community and some good news to balance things out.
Show notes, sources, and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/january-2020-noire-news.
A profile of Mary Ann Shadd Cary, the first Black woman publisher in North American, the first woman publisher in Canada, a graduate of Howard University Law School's first class, and the second Black woman in America to earn a law degree.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/mary-ann-shadd-cary.
"A Particular Kind of Black Man" by Tope Folarin tells the story of Tunde Akinola, the son of Nigerian immigrants who settled in Utah.
Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/a-particular-kind-of-black-man-book-review.
A profile of Blanche Bruce, the second Black man to serve in the U.S. Senate but the first to serve a full term.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/blanche-bruce.
In this episode of the career interview series, we are joined by Rohan Pessoa, a high school Guidance Counselor. Rohan's parents emigrated from Jamaica and he was the first generation in his family to be born in America. When the time came for him to select a college, his parents were unable to offer much guidance. That experience combined with a summer youth job at a job office sparked an interest in social work and a desire to help others.
Show notes and links are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/rohan-pessoa-guidance-counselor.
A profile of Dorothy Height, an activist for civil and women's rights who helped to organize the March on Washington and spent decades leading the NCNW and the YWCA's Center for Racial Justice.
Show notes are sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/dorothy-height.
A review of the movie "Just Mercy" starring Michael B. Jordan as Bryan Stevenson, a recent Harvard Law grad who fights wrongful convictions.
Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/just-mercy-movie-review.
A profile of Ernie Barnes, a professional football player who became a notable artist after retiring from sports.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/ernie-barnes.
A discussion of some of the major Black news stories and notable deaths from 2019.
Also available as a YouTube video with show notes at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/2019-noire-news-wrap-up.
A profile of Rosemary Brown, a Jamaica-born Canadian politician who worked to eradicate racial and gender discrimination.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/rosemary-brown.
Many of Selma, Alabama’s Black history sites revolve around the Voter Registration and Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. During my trip I visited the Selma Interpretive Center; Ancient Africa, Enslavement, & Civil War Museum; Voting Rights Museum; First Colored Baptist Church; Brown Chapel AME; and Tabernacle Baptist Church.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/selma-alabama-black-history-sites.
A profile of Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, one of the first doctors to perform open-heart surgery and the founder of America’s first Black-owned hospital.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/daniel-hale-williams.
A review of the movie "Queen & Slim", the story of a young Black couple that goes on the run after killing a police officer in self-defense.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/queen-and-slim-movie-review.
A profile of Phillis Wheatley who was enslaved as a child, became a noted poet, and was the first Black woman to have a book published in America.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/phillis-wheatley.
A review and discussion of the book "Becoming" by Michelle Obama which provides a blueprint for learning to not question your suitability for success.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/becoming-book-review.
A profile of Claudia Jones, journalist, activist, and founder of the Notting Hill Carnival.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/claudia-jones.
In this episode of the career interview series, we are joined by Jeremy Ellis, a Travel Registered Nurse.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/jeremy-ellis-travel-registered-nurse.
A profile of Benjamin Banneker, a mostly self-taught astronomer who is best known for a series of almanacs that were published in the late 1700s.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/benjamin-banneker.
I had a chance to visit Tuskegee, Alabama and spent the day on the Tuskegee University campus as well as touring other Black history sites around the city. This episode provides historical profiles of and tips for visiting the Tuskegee's Black history sites.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/tuskegee-black-history-sites.
A profile of Elizabeth Freeman, an enslaved woman who utilized the Massachusetts State Constitution to file suit against her owner and gain her freedom.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/elizabeth-freeman.
A movie review and discussion of the social thriller "Get Out" which was written and directed by Jordan Peele. If you haven’t seen the movie already you can still listen but stop when you reach the spoiler section. That way you can still see and enjoy the movie without having the plot twist ruined for you.
Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/get-out-movie-review.
A profile of Hiram Rhodes Revels, an educator and minister in the African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church who also served as the first Black U.S. Senator.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/hiram-revels.
A review of "Forty Million Dollar Slaves" by William C. Rhoden, a chronicle of Black athletes navigating efforts to limit their participation in sports.
Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/forty-million-dollar-slaves-book-review.
A profile of Queen Amina, a Hausa princess who later became the warrior Queen of Zazzau an area in present-day Nigeria.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/queen-amina.
In this episode of the career interview series, we are joined by Dr. Kalvin Chinyere an internal medicine doctor who discusses not trading time for money.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/kalvin-chinyere-internal-medicine-doctor.
A profile of Granville T. Woods, a mechanical and electrical engineer who received more than 60 patents for his inventions.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/granville-woods.
A discussion of the original 1968 version of Night of the Living Dead. I assume most people have already seen the film and thus it contains spoilers.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/night-of-the-living-dead-movie-review.
A profile of Jo Ann Robinson, a school teacher and college professor who launched the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/jo-ann-robinson.
Part two of a profile of Harlem Black History covering 1929 to the present as well as the backstory on several Harlem historic landmarks such as the Apollo Theater, the Schomburg, and Sylvia's.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/harlem-black-history.
A profile of Mifflin Wistar Gibbs, an entrepreneur and politician who sought his fortune as a pioneer in the West and Canada and was also an active abolitionist involved with the Underground Railroad.
Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/mifflin-wistar-gibbs.
A short profile of Alonzo Herndon, an Atlanta based businessman who became one of the first African-American millionaires.
Video is available on the Noire Histoir website at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/alonzo-herndon.
Part one of a profile of Harlem Black History covering 1640 to 1928 as well as the backstory on several Harlem Black History sites and institutions.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/harlem-black-history.
A profile of Josiah Henson, a fugitive slave who escaped to Canada where he established a settlement and industrial school for other fugitive slaves.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/josiah-henson.
A review of "The Last Black Man in San Francisco" which tells the story of one man's quest to recover and restore a home that was built by his grandfather.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/the-last-black-man-in-san-francisco-movie-review.
A profile of newspaper publisher and editor Robert Sengstacke Abbott and The Chicago Defender a prominent national Black newspaper.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/robert-abbott-and-the-chicago-defender.
A review of "Under the Udala Trees" by Chinelo Okparanta, which begins during the Biafra War in Nigeria in the late 1960’s. The book tells the story of Ijeoma, a middle-class girl living with her parents while trying to survive air raids and food shortages. And her journey to define and accept herself following the end of the war.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/under-the-udala-trees-book-review.
A profile of Gloria Richardson, an activist who co-founded the CNAC which participated in protests to address the needs of Cambridge’s Black community. The city was placed under martial law and from these protests came the iconic photos of Richardson dismissively pushing aside the bayonets of guardsmen.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/gloria-richardson.
Given Montgomery’s role in the Civil Rights Movement, there are a lot of historic sites throughout the city. I didn’t have enough time to see all of the museums and historical sites during my first visit. But I recently made a second trip and got to see some of the places that I missed on my previous trip.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/montgomery-civil-rights-sites.
A profile of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment, the second Black regiment to be created during the American Civil War. The 54th Regiment led what became the famed attack on Fort Wagner during which it suffered heavy casualties.
Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/54th-massachusetts-regiment.
A review of "If Beale Street Could Talk", a Barry Jenkins film adapted from the James Baldwin book of the same name. Set in early 1970s Harlem, the film tells the story of Clementine “Tish” Rivers (Kiki Layne) and Alonzo “Fonny” Hunt (Stephan James), two young adults who are navigating their blossoming love and the society around them.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/if-beale-street-could-talk.
A profile of Fannie Lou Hamer, a community organizer and activist who contributed to various voter registration programs, assisted with organizing Freedom Summer, developed farming co-ops to provide economic opportunities for Black people, and helped to implement childcare and education programs for low-income children.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/fannie-lou-hamer?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=bhs_fannie_lou_hamer.
On this episode of the career interview series, we are joined by Okenna Oparah an Inpatient Clinical Pharmacist from Imo State, Nigeria by way of Atlanta, Georgia. Okenna shares how he’s achieved career satisfaction by focusing on the things he values while also moving away from the things he does not enjoy.
Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/okenna-oparah-inpatient-clinical-pharmacist
A profile of Bayard Rustin, a political organizer who was a key planner of The March on Washington and the wider Civil Rights Movement.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/bayard-rustin.
A review of "The Mother of Black Hollywood", a memoir in which Jenifer Lewis tells the story of her life from being a young kid growing up in Kinloch, MO to a working actress in New York and Los Angeles.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/mother-of-black-hollywood-book-review.
A profile of Daisy Bates, a journalist, civil rights activist, and co-owner of the Arkansas State Press. Bates was a member of the Arkansas branch of the NAACP and collaborated on the push to integrate Little Rock schools. She personally escorted Black children to newly integrated schools, among which was the group that would come to be known as the "Little Rock Nine."
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/daisy-bates.
A review of my experience visiting the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park in Atlanta, Georgia's historically Black Sweet Auburn neighborhood.
Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/martin-luther-king-jr-national-historical-park.
A profile of Cuffy, an enslaved man from Africa who led a slave rebellion in the Dutch colony, Berbice in present-day Guyana.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/cuffy-berbice-slave-rebellion.
A movie review of "Green Book", a drama that takes place in 1962 and tells the story of an African-American classical pianist touring the Midwest and South with an Italian-American bouncer serving as his chauffeur and security.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/green-book-movie-review.
A profile of Barbara Jordan, a gifted orator, politician, and political organizer from Houston, Texas who made great contributions while in Congress.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/barbara-jordan.
On this episode of the career interview series, we are joined by Sandra Shular a Care Coordinator from Newnan, Georgia. She shares how her career has allowed her to work with various demographics, families, and individuals at different stages of life.
Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/sandra-shular-care-coordinator.
Learn about participating in the career interviews at http://noirehistoir.com/career-interviews.
A profile of Lewis Howard Latimer, a self-taught draftsman and inventor who made contributions to seven patents and improved the Edison light bulb.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/lewis-howard-latimer.
A discussion of Trevor Noah's "Born a Crime" which tells the story of his early life, apartheid, and a particular period in the history of South Africa.
Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/born-a-crime-book-review.
A profile of The Clotilda and Africatown. The Clotilda is believed to be the ship that brought the last group of enslaved people to America from Africa. Africatown was later founded by surviving members of this group following emancipation.
Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/clotilda-and-africatown.
A movie review of "When They See Us" by Ava Duvernay which tells the story of five teens from Harlem who were wrongfully convicted and later exonerated.
Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/when-they-see-us-movie-review.
A profile of Dr. Patricia E. Bath, one of the first Black ophthalmologists and inventor of a laser that removes cataracts which made her the first female African-American doctor to receive a patent for a medical instrument.
Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/dr-patricia-bath.
I made the day long journey to Guyana for a joyous family event and decided to make a full vacation of it and spent a few days in the capital, Georgetown. While there I visited a few restaurants and tourist attractions which included the zoo, the 1763 Monument, and the Guyana Museum of African Heritage.
In this episode I give some background on the trip and share my experience at the museum.
Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/guyana-museum-of-african-heritage.
A profile of Dr. Ralph Abernathy, a WWII veteran, minister, and civil rights activist who worked closely with Dr. King on many campaigns.
Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/dr-ralph-abernathy.
A review of "We're Going to Need More Wine" by Gabrielle Union a good read that balances serious topics with funny moments.
Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/were-going-to-need-more-wine.
A profile of the Whitelaw Hotel which was established in 1919 and developed, designed, and financed by Black professionals.
Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/whitelaw-hotel.
On this episode of the career interview series, we are joined by Hazel Watson a Clinical Care Associate (CCA) from Berbice, Guyana. Hazel’s passion for healthcare was sparked as a kid when she saw an ambulance and paramedics respond to an accident. She shares the alternative career path she took after her original education and career plans went off track.
Show notes at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/hazel-watson-clinical-care-associate.
Learn more about participating in the career interviews at http://noirehistoir.com/career-interviews.
A profile of Marian Wright Edelman, the first Black woman admitted to the Mississippi State Bar and Founder of the Children's Defense Fund (CDF).
Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/marian-wright-edelman.
Located on Auburn Avenue, the Apex Museum focuses on local Black history and details the story of Atlanta's historically black Sweet Auburn Avenue neighborhood. Atlanta is located in the South and the museum certainly doesn't shy away from the city's controversial past. But what sets the museum apart from others is that it is completely focused on the history and experiences of Black people from a Black perspective.
Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/apex-museum.
A profile of Lois Mailou Jones a visual artist whose 70-year career overlapped the 47 years she spent teaching upcoming notable Black artists at Howard University.
Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/lois-mailou-jones.
On this episode of the career interview series, we are joined by Lloyd Cambridge a Small Business Educator hailing from my hometown Brooklyn, New York. Lloyd’s interest in entrepreneurship began when he was a kid growing up in Brownsville dreaming of being the cool kid with the fly clothes and the latest Jordans.
Studying abroad for a semester in Madrid, Spain started out a bit rocky but ended up being a memorable life experience. Lloyd’s economics major combined with an internship at Lord & Taylor landed him a post-college job at one of his dream companies J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. Since then Lloyd’s career has focused on educating and helping entrepreneurs launch and grow small businesses.
Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/lloyd-cambridge-small-business-educator.
A Black History Short featuring a profile of Ahmed Sékou Touré a politician in Guinea who helped to lead the country to independence and became the first president.
Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/ahmed-sekou-toure.
"The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace" by Jeff Hobbs tells the life story of a young man that grows up in rough and tumble East Orange right outside of Newark, New Jersey and goes on to attend Yale University. In this episode I provide a summary of the book and discuss some of it's major themes.
Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/the-short-and-tragic-life-of-robert-peace.
A profile of Alain LeRoy Locke, a gifted scholar, philosopher, and the "Father of the Harlem Renaissance".
SHOW NOTES
Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/alain-leroy-locke.
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On this episode of the career interview series, we are joined by Marissa Allen. Marissa is a Pediatric Emergency Room (ER) Registered Nurse (RN) hailing from Durham, North Carolina and currently residing in Atlanta, Georgia.
As with most of the other interviews, we’ll spend some time discussing Marissa’s background. But, because Marissa is still relatively early in her career, we’re going to take a deep dive into her training to become an RN, the job search process, and orientation.
Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/marissa-allen-pediatric-emergency-room-registered-nurse.
A profile of Bloody Sunday, a day on which Alabama State Troopers released tear gas and attacked protestors as they attempted to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge in a march for civil and voting rights.
Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/bloody-sunday.
The Spelman College Museum of Fine Art is located in Atlanta, GA on the Spelman College campus. The museum features art created by Black women from across the Black diaspora. In this episode, I share a review of my visit during the Amy Sherald exhibition.
Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/spelman-college-museum.
A profile of Edward Blyden who is considered the "father of Pan-Africanism", served as a Liberian ambassador, and openly challenged the idea of Black inferiority.
Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/edward-blyden.
In this episode of the career interview series, we’ll be hearing from Pierre DeBois, an entrepreneur who was born in Gary, Indiana. As a young boy, Pierre was passionate about cars and dreamed of working on cars when he grew up.
Pierre achieved his childhood dream by interning at General Motors during college and working at Ford for eight years. But, he later made a major career change after completing grad school and is now the founder of a digital marketing analytics company.
Show notes and video available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/pierre-debois-digital-marketing-analytics-entrepreneur.
A profile of Septima Poinsette Clark who spent 30 years of her life as a teacher and 50 years participating in a variety of racial, education, and social equality initiatives.
Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/septima-poinsette-clark.
A profile of Queen Nzinga, ruler of the Ndongo and Matamba Kingdoms (modern-day Angola) who resisted Portuguese colonization and slave trading.
Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/queen-nzinga.
This is a throwback to my review of "Bessie" an HBO film starring Queen Latifah in an excellent portrayal of 1920’s blues legend Bessie Smith. The movie covers Bessie’s rise, fall, and comeback during the 1920’s — 1930’s with brief peeks back into her childhood. In this episode I discussed the movie's strengths (performances) and weaknesses (partially underdeveloped story). Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/bessie.
A profile of Mary Church Terrell who was one of the first African-American women to earn a Bachelor’s degree and went on to become an educator, scholar, and activist.
Show notes and video at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/mary-church-terrell.
"Ida A Sword Among Lions" by Paula Giddings is a biography that details the journalistic activism of Ida B. Wells. Covering the incredibly impactful life of Wells is a huge undertaking but Giddings' delivers the goods.
Show notes available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/ida-a-sword-among-lions-book-review.
A profile of Amelia Boynton Robinson who traveled the Alabama countryside promoting educational info, founded an insurance company geared towards Black people, and participated in Black voter registration initiatives.
Show notes and video at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/amelia-boynton-robinson.
In this episode of the career interview series, we’ll be hearing from Joy Williams, a media entrepreneur currently running two of her own companies.
SHOW NOTES
http://noirehistoir.com/blog/joy-williams-founder-and-managing-director
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A profile of Lugenia Burns Hope who worked on projects to assess and address the needs of Atlanta's Black community.
Show notes and video at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/lugenia-burns-hope.
The Center for Civil and Human Rights is located in Downtown Atlanta. Spread across three floors, the museum focuses on the Civil Rights Era, global human rights, and also features special exhibits related to these topics.
View show notes and video at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/center-for-civil-and-human-rights.
In this episode of the career interview series, we’ll be hearing from Tuwisha Rogers-Simpson, a Marketing and Partnerships Executive.
SHOW NOTES
http://noirehistoir.com/blog/tuwisha-rogers-simpson-marketing-and-partnerships-executive
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A profile of Aaron Douglas who is most notable for being a visual artist during the Harlem Renaissance.
Show notes and video at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/aaron-douglas.
A profile of E.D. Nixon who is most notable for his work as a civil rights leader in Montgomery, Alabama during the 1940’s and 1950’s.
Show notes and video at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/e-d-nixon.
King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochschild is the story of how King Leopold II of Belgium used violence and coercion to gain control of the Congo. In this review, I discuss how on a larger scale the book also provides a perspective on how various European powers carved up Africa for their own gain.
Visit http://noirehistoir.com/blog/king-leopolds-ghost-book-review for show notes and video.
A profile of Irene Amos Morgan who is most notable for refusing to give up her seat on a Greyhound bus and successfully fighting interstate bus racial segregation in court.
Show notes and video at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/irene-amos-morgan.
In this episode of the career interview series, we’ll be hearing from Cheick Dukuly, a Physical Education Teacher from Brooklyn, NY. We discuss how Cheick combines his past work experiences and passion for media, sports, and education as a teacher at a charter school.
Show notes and video at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/cheick-dukuly-physical-education-teacher.
In the first Noire Histoir Black History Minute, I profile Alonzo Herndon who is most notable for being a successful entrepreneur in Atlanta, GA.
Show notes and video at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/alonzo-herndon.
Today we’ll be hearing from Tresa Chambers, a Communications Strategist from Newport News, VA. In this interview we’ll discuss movement to achieve progress, defining and marking success, and being a resource for upcoming generations.
Show notes and video available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/tresa-chambers-communications-strategist.
In this episode we'll be hearing from Adekunle Oduye, a Design Technologist from my hometown, Brooklyn, New York. As a kid Adekunle had a strong passion for art and enjoyed creating abstract and landscape paintings. Needing a change of scenery in college, he studied abroad for a semester and used the opportunity to travel throughout Europe. In this interview we'll discuss some aspects of web design as well as the importance of providing mentorship for young Black professionals who are entering the tech industry.
Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/adekunle-oduye-design-technologist.
In this episode we’ll be hearing from Christopher Taylor, a Job Hunt Strategist hailing from Chesterfield, Virginia. Chris’ work experience began with a Burger King broiler and later included an internship at Lizzie Grubman Public Relations, a decade in sales at a large company, and few years as a headhunter before striking out on his own. In addition to his past roles, Chris also shares his philosophy on the importance of identifying your passions as well as understanding the unique skills you can bring to a company.
Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/christopher-taylor-job-hunt-strategist(opens in a new tab).
I visited The Legacy Museum, if not the first week, then the second week that it opened. The Legacy Museum was created by the Equal Justice Initiative and is located in Montgomery, Alabama.
The Legacy Museum is split into four parts or themes that chart the history of the systematic oppression of Black people. The first section is kidnapped, which relates to slavery. The second is terrorized which relates to lynching. The third, which is segregated relates to Jim Crow. And the fourth, which is the most modern relates to mass incarceration.
Visit http://noirehistoir.com/blog/the-legacy-museum for show notes and video.
The National Memorial for Peace and Justice is dedicated to the memory of African-Americans who lost their lives to lynchings. Reading books about lynchings is one thing. But, it was something different to walk through the National Memorial for Peace and Justice and crane your neck to look at all of these blocks knowing that each one of them represented the loss of at least one person’s life.
Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/national-memorial-for-peace-and-justice.
Phillip Dray details the history of mob violence and lynchings in "At the Hands of Persons Unknown". Dray lays out how lynchings were used as a form of political terrorism aimed at subjugating Black people and enforcing white supremacy.
Show notes and video available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/at-the-hands-of-persons-unknown.
I recently took a day trip to Birmingham as part of my goal to visit as many Southern cities as possible while living in Atlanta. I was attracted to visiting the city by its role in the history of the Civil Rights Movement and also the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute was founded in 1992 and is located in Birmingham’s historic Civil Rights District.
Read about my visit at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/birmingham-civil-rights-institute. Link in bio.
“Before the Mayflower” by Lerone Bennett Jr is the ultimate book to read if you’re interested in Black History, especially American Black History. Originally published in 1962, the book covers the history of Black America from 1619 to 1962.
Visit http://noirehistoir.com/blog/before-the-mayflower for show notes and video.
"The Other Wes Moore" explores the lives of two young Black men coming of age during the same era, in similar neighborhoods, and with the same name. (What are the odds?) They both experience adolescent bumps and bruises. But, their lives diverge setting one on the path to prison and the other to becoming a Rhodes Scholar.
Show notes and video are available on the Noire Histoir website at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/the-other-wes-moore-book-review.
I had high expectations for "The Coming" by Daniel Black. The book tells the story of a group of Africans being enslaved and enduring the experience of the Middle Passage. Lots of other people thought "The Coming" was a moving experience but the writing style wasn’t my cup of tea.
Visit http://noirehistoir.com/blog/the-coming-book-review for show notes and audio.
"The Assassination of Fred Hampton" by Jeffrey Haas is an incredible book about a less celebrated but important Black figure. The details may differ but the story of Fred Hampton is unfortunately not uncommon. Yet, his death stands apart from most others as it was proven to have been the result of a concerted effort by the FBI and Chicago police.
"The Book of Harlan" by Bernice L. McFadden tells the story of a Black musician from Harlem who travels to Paris around the time the city falls to the Nazis. McFadden uses the main character's life to tie together moments in the Black experience from about the 1920’s to the 1960’s/1970’s.
Visit http://noirehistoir.com/blog/the-book-of-harlan-book-review for show notes and video.
Moonlight is a great study in the facade of machismo and hyper-masculinity. It explores the development and suppression of Black boys’ and men’s identities and sexuality. On a basic level, it’s a coming of age story about a gay Black male. Yet, because it’s about that it’s also about so much more.
Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/moonlight-movie-review.
"Ain't I a Woman" by Bell Hooks explores the impact of racism and sexism on Black women. Not as separate factors but through the lens of intersectionality. The book charts the history of how “sexism operates both independently of and simultaneously with racism to oppress us” (Black women).
Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/aint-i-a-woman-book-review.
"Coming of Age in Mississippi" by Anne Moody is the story of a young Black woman coming of age in rural Mississippi during the 40's and 50's. Moody's introduction to and involvement in the Civil Rights Movement unfolds in a beautifully written story.
It was refreshing to read about the development of an activist juxtaposed against a young woman's journey to define herself. Hushed whispers introduce her to the NAACP and lead her to political demonstrations. But, there was something sweet about her scandalous talent show performance, teen crushes, and first kisses. The two facets of Moody's life help to bring balance to "Coming of Age in Mississippi".
Visit http://noirehistoir.com/blog/coming-of-age-in-mississippi-book-review for show notes and audio.
"The Book of Negroes" (aka "Someone Knows My Name") by Lawrence Hill is a great work of historical fiction. In this episode I discuss how the author weaves together a gripping story with historical tidbits.
Visit http://noirehistoir.com/blog/the-book-of-negroes-book-review for show notes and video.
In some ways, "Manchild in the Promised Land" is about a rambunctious boy and his group of friends coming of age in the 1940s-1950s. In a different place and if Claude were a different race, this could have been an innocent and heart-warming story. But, on the gritty streets of Harlem, Claude's life is rife with violence, crime, and despair from a young age.
In this review, I contrast the book's pros and cons with those of "Soul on Ice".
Visit http://noirehistoir.com/blog/manchild-in-the-promised-land-book-review for show notes and video.
"Homegoing" by Yaa Gyasi is a work of historical fiction but it’s a good jumping off point for venturing into the history of the Black diaspora. The book charts a timeline of the effect of the slave trade on the people that remained in Africa and the enslaved people who were brought to America.
Visit http://noirehistoir.com/blog/homegoing-book-review for show notes and video.
In this episode, I discuss "The Underground Railroad" by Colson Whitehead. The book tells the story of Cora, a young slave woman who makes plans to escape with a fellow slave, Caesar.
Show notes and video are available on the Noire Histoir website at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/underground-railroad-colson-whitehead-book-review.
In this episode of the Noire Histoir podcast I discuss "Watch Me Fly" by Myrlie Evers-Williams.
"Watch Me Fly" is more than the story of the widow of a civil rights hero. It’s also the story of a rather sheltered woman who struggles to find herself in her thirties after her world is ripped apart.
Visit http://noirehistoir.com/blog/watch-me-fly-book-review for show notes and video.
"Freeman" by Leonard Pitts, Jr. follows three main characters at the end of the Civil War. Tilda, a former slave woman freed by the end of the war. Her estranged husband, Sam Freeman, who had been a slave but managed to escape to the North. And Prudence Kent, a White woman from Boston whose father was wealthy. Through these three characters, we get very different perspectives on the time.
I enjoyed "Freeman". It was an emotional roller coaster that had me in my feelings at quite a few points. The book was a quick read and I was able to finish it in about a week or two.
Visit NoireHistoir.com for show notes and video.
"13th", a documentary by filmmaker Ava DuVernay, explores the history of institutional racism through the lens of the 13th Amendment. In this episode, I discuss the economic motivations for using mass incarceration and the prison-industrial complex to target the Black community.
Visit NoireHistoir.com for show notes and video.
Brainwashed: Challenging the Myth of Black Inferiority written by Tom Burrell, is a book about “the greatest propaganda campaign of all time”: the concept of black inferiority. In this episode, I discuss the book's theories on racial stereotypes and its exploration of the lingering effects of slavery on the Black psyche and community.
Visit NoireHistoir.com for show notes and video.
"Django Unchained" is a western set two years before the Civil War that tells the story of a slave named Django who works as a bounty hunter to obtain his and his wife's freedom. In this episode I review the movie and discuss the impact of Quentin Tarantino's penchant for visual violence on the film's story and characters.
Visit NoireHistoir.com for show notes and video.
"Selma" provides a snapshot of the efforts to end systematic suppression of Black voting and other civil rights in the South. In this episode, I discuss the film's portrayal of Martin Luther King, Jr.; President Lyndon B. Johnson; and other key figures from the Civil Rights Movement.
Visit NoireHistoir.com for show notes and video.
"Your Money and Your Man" by Michelle Singletary, offers women financial advice for life in general but mostly focuses on dating/courtship, marriage, and raising kids. In this episode I discuss useful sections of the book along with the points on which I agreed and disagreed with Singletary's views on personal finance.
Visit NoireHistoir.com for show notes and video.
In this episode, I discuss "What Happened, Miss Simone?", an award-winning Netflix documentary about the life and career of Nina Simone.
Simone put her life and career at risk to join the Civil Rights Movement. She was ostracized by the music industry and abandoned by fans only to later re-emerge as a cultural icon.
Visit NoireHistoir.com for show notes and video.
"At the Dark End of the Street" by Danielle L. McGuire tells the story of Black women's fight to obtain civil rights and equal legal protection against rape and sexual harassment. ⠀⠀
In this episode I discuss the book's fresh perspective on Rosa Parks and the Civil Rights Movement.
Visit NoireHistoir.com for show notes and video.
"Bessie" is an HBO film starring Queen Latifah in an excellent portrayal of 1920’s blues legend Bessie Smith. The movie covers Bessie’s rise, fall, and comeback during the 1920’s — 1930’s with brief peeks back into her childhood. In this episode I discuss the movie's strengths (performances) and weaknesses (partially underdeveloped story). Visit NoireHistoir.com for show notes and video.
"The Warmth of Other Suns" by Isabel Wilkerson, weaves together the stories of three people who fled the South during The Great Migration. It's not a happy book but I found it very inspiring. In this episode, I discuss the book's main characters and touch on The Great Migration, the plight of sharecroppers, and the generational wealth gap. Visit NoireHistoir.com for show notes and video.
"The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood" by David Simon and Edward Burns is one of the most saddening and inspiring books I’ve ever read. The book follows the lives of residents near the corner of West Fayette and Monroe Streets in West Baltimore over the course of a year in the early 90’s. The authors lay bare how a history of poverty, crime, and drug addiction tore apart the neighborhood, families, and individuals.
Visit NoireHistoir.com for text and video.
"Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" tells the story of Harriet Jacobs, a fugitive slave who escaped North with hopes of reuniting with her children. A quick but thought-provoking read, the book touches on several social issues. One of the primary themes is the impact of limited civil rights on slave women and their ability to protect themselves and their children. Visit NoireHistoir.com for text and video.
Hello and welcome to Noire Histoir, a podcast where I share and discuss Black history and literature from my Noire perspective. In this introductory episode, I'll tell you a bit about myself and what you can expect from the podcast.
Visit noirehistoir.com for more info.