Black History Moments

The first Black woman to win a gold medal at the Olympics was from Albany, Georgia. But before she performed on the world's stage, she was a star athlete and standout that ran dirt roads barefoot and made her own hurdles from ropes and sticks she'd find around town. 

This is her story...

When we think about the pillars of Rock & Roll, we usually think about Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry, and more popular figures. However, did you know that a Black woman is known as the “godmother” of Rock & Roll from developing her signature sound while playing her electric guitar?

This is her story...

I’m sure you’ve all seen the famous photograph of the woman casually pushing aside a bayonet-tipped riffle as she side-eyes soldiers. Her name was Gloria Richardson and she was the powerful force behind the Cambridge Movement. It’s not often that we hear her name mentioned alongside other Civil Rights leaders but she deserves her flowers.

This is her story...

Bayard Rustin was an openly gay Black man that helped plan and strategize many of the major civil right's events in history. Even when people tried to weaponize his sexuality against him, Bayard stood the course. 

This is his story...

Did you know that The Little Rock Nine were hand-picked by a woman who knew they'd be able to handle the scrutiny coming their way? Her name was Daisy Bates and she knew early on that she had to do something about racism and segregation in America. 

This is her story...

David Ruggles was like the 18th century version of Malcolm X. Born a free man, David made sure that he did everything he could to help enslaved people down south and free people up north. David was "about that action."

This is his story...

When we think of the Underground Railroad, our first thought may go to Harriet Tubman. But have you heard the story of Aunt Polly Jackson who helped escaped Black people using her two unlikely weapons of choice?

This is her story...

Billie Holiday is one of the most influential jazz singers in American History. But there are parts of her story that remain untold. Listen to this episode to get an inside look at her life and what came to be the United States vs. Billie Holiday.

This is her story...

If you've seen Netflix's latest hit, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, you may be curious to know more about the real person. Ma Rainey aka "Queen of the Blues", had a mouth full of gold teeth that matched her flashy performances. She was a blues pioneer and one of the first blues musicians ever recorded. 

This is her story...

When we think about the LGBTQ revolution, we often direct our thoughts to Stonewall and pride parades that followed, but did you know that a Black trans woman was one of those at the forefront? Marsha P. Johnson was a trendsetter and pillar to LGBTQ youth in NYC. Unfortunately, her life was cut short in a case that has been cold for over 28 years now. 

This is her story...

Mary Ellen Pleasant was a self-made millionaire who was worth 30 million dollars at her peak. She used her money to invest in real estate and other businesses but most importantly, she used her wealth to ignite change. For example, she was a key figure in John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry in 1859. But how did a woman with so much wealth spend the latter stages of her life in poverty? 

This is her story...

Edward Bouchet was the first Black person to receive a PhD in America. He was intelligent and more than capable but even with his amazing accomplishments, he would not be granted the same opportunities as his peers. 

This is his story...

Did you know that the cells of a Black woman were used for major medical advancements and launched a multi-billion dollar medical industry? Henrietta's cells were the first human biological materials to ever be bought and sold but her family was never compensated and they weren't told of Henrietta's legacy until 20 years after she died. 

This is her story...

Did you know that when Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, there were still enslaved people in Texas who were not informed of the news? It wasn't until June 19, 1865 that Union soldiers made their way to Texas to inform those people. However, the newfound news wasn't instant magic...

This is the story of Juneteenth...

Before Rosa Parks, there was a 15 year old girl named Claudette Colvin who refused to give up her seat on her way home from school. It wasn't until 9 months after her arrest that Rosa used that inspiration to refuse giving up her seat in Montgomery, sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott. But why don't we know Claudette's story as well as Rosa's? I'll tell you here...

This is her story...

During the Harlem Renaissance, creative expression was in full swing from artists like Langston Hughes and Josephine Baker. However, we rarely hear about the legend that was Gladys Bentley. Gladys was a gender-bending performer that wore tuxedos and sung risqué lyrics to women in the audience at her shows.  

This is her story...

In 1981, the top R&B song was "Endless Love" by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie. The must-see movie was Halloween II. Although the 80's seemed a bit progressive compared to earlier times, the lynching of 19 year old aspiring carpenter, Michael Donald proved that we still had a long way to go. His death sparked the lawsuit that left the Klan bankrupt.

This is his story...

Annie Turnbo Malone was that girl. Annie may have been the first Black woman to become a self-made millionaire although it is taught that Madame CJ Walker was the first. She taught Madame CJ Walker much of what she knew about haircare, she opened the first cosmetology school for Black hair, and she was a philanthropist for the people.   

This is her story...

When we think of martyrs of the Civil Rights Movement, we rarely discuss the original martyrs, Harry T. and Harriette Moore. This Florida couple organized over 100,000 Black people to vote, investigated every lynching in the state of Florida, and formed over 50 branches of the NAACP. 

This is their story...