Noire History

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.