Noire History

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.