Noire History

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.