A Black Life

We know what those who know teach, and for black history, what’s known is tainted. Listen and learn about Dr. Cedric Robinson the a black leader and intellectual not sullied by white washing or fear mongering. You can listen to and view A Black Life wherever you get your podcast or follow the links, https://apple.co/3QN3gxA. https://www.youtube.com/@ablacklifepodcast

We’ve learned about Dr. King, but few of any ever really address the full scope of the leader. Listen and learn about the Dr. King who was tired of turning the other cheek. You can listen to and view A Black Life wherever you get your podcast or follow the links, https://apple.co/3QN3gxA. https://www.youtube.com/@ablacklifepodcast

Every week I try to come up with some fun and interesting way of describing the shows topic, and entice you to listen. I’m not doing that today. This episode is about Mary Church Terrell.  Listen and learn about what about a great woman. You can listen to A Black Life wherever you get your podcast or follow the link, https://apple.co/3QN3gxA.

One year ago I did a thing. Who would’ve thought that later on in the journey that thing would be requested? With the mind to satisfy that request, I’ve decided to rerun the episode on Dr. Vivien Thomas. Without further ado - Have you ever done something good, I mean something really spectacular? Have you ever done something so revolutionary that it would save lives and then turn around and not get credit? Well, if you have or know someone who has, then you'll understand why it's so important to discuss the work of today's subject. If you understand what it is to be hidden, then you'll definitely want to listen to this weeks episode of A Black Life and learn about the scientist, researcher, and medical doctor Vivien T. Thomas LL.D. You can listen to A Black Life wherever you get your podcast or follow the link, https://apple.co/3QN3gxA. 

Last week we discussed lynching and the great Ida B. Wells. The pain and embarrassment of abuse isn’t the correct historicity, but there is power in the truth of overcoming. Listen and learn about what we can glean from the story of and purpose of oppression. You can listen to A Black Life wherever you get your podcast or follow the link, https://apple.co/3QN3gxA. 

“Southern trees bear strange fruitBlood on the leaves and blood at the rootBlack bodies swinging in the southern breezeStrange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.” What more can I say? Lynching of blacks in the south was almost sport, and it struck the cord of many blacks and black luminaries. As a teacher and journalist Ida B. Wells was one such luminary,  and she did what she did best, which was study and share. Listen and learn about what Billie Holiday famously called strange fruit, and what Miss. Wells did about it. You can listen to A Black Life wherever you get your podcast or follow the link, https://apple.co/3QN3gxA. 

Peace kings is a constant refrain among old heads, but did you know there were African kings outside of Africa? Listen and learn about the royals you never could have imagined. You can listen to A Black Life wherever you get your podcast or follow the link, https://apple.co/3QN3gxA. 

Duke Ellington said “take the A train.” I’m no jazz phenom and North Carolina is no New York, but I imagine black North Carolinians would’ve said take Safe Bus. Now, you probably want to know what that is, right?Lucky you I’ve got an answer. Listen and learn about the Safe Bus company, which was the largest black owned transportation company. You can listen to A Black Life wherever you get your podcast or follow the link, https://apple.co/3QN3gxA. 

I’m not even going to make the normal introduction. Today, I feature a fun adventure in storytelling. Halloween is a fun and scary time of year, but often black folks are absent, mainly because we’re often the first killed. Listen and learn about the black take on Halloween. You can listen to A Black Life wherever you get your podcast or follow the link, https://apple.co/3QN3gxA. 

Today I’m going to get straight to it. We’re talking about pancakes and Aunt Jemima. No, not just the lady on the box, but the real life person. Listen and learn about Nancy Green the real life first Aunt Jemima. You can listen to A Black Life wherever you get your podcast or follow the link, https://apple.co/3QN3gxA.

Do you know William D. Allen? Maybe you’ve heard of P.B.S. Pinchback, No? Well, surely you’ve come across Charlotte E. Ray? Exactly my point. There’s great black people all throughout history, but too many don’t know about them. There was a man who found this to be a bit perplexing and decided to do something about it. Listen and learn about a trailblazing historian, and the collection of black artifacts Arturo Schomburg amassed. You can listen to A Black Life wherever you get your podcast or follow the link, https://apple.co/3QN3gxA. 

As promised, this week we’re looking into the life of the black man who became the first Black Prime Minister of a free Jamaica. Like Issac Hayes said :”he’s a complicated man, but no one understands him but his woman.” No, I’m not talking bout shaft. I’m talking about Sir. Alexander Bustamante. Listen and learn about whom this guy actually was, and what that meant for a people. You can listen to A Black Life wherever you get your podcast or follow the link, https://apple.co/3QN3gxA. 

Jamaica is known as home to beautiful people,  sunny days, and fun beaches, but it’s really a complex mix of cultures. What’s the story that’s not told? Well, we can start with the island being originally populated by South American Native Americans. For the rest, I guess you’ll just have to tune in. Listen and learn about how the actions of a leader and the history of a nation birthed a song in their hearts. You can listen to A Black Life wherever you get your podcast or follow the link, https://apple.co/3QN3gxA. 

The song of the Jamaican is the cry of every heart yearning to be free. Before we discuss their freedom struggle, of Jamaica, let’s look at the words of their song of liberation. Listen to the song of freedom, the hope of liberty, and the will to survive. You can listen to A Black Life wherever you get your podcast or follow the link, https://apple.co/3QN3gxA.

Today, there is no long introduction. We’ll discover a black man who served his country with honor and distinction. From a slave heritage to one of the top ranking military men in the country, and just mere decades after bondage. Listen and learn about Brigadier General Charles Young. You can listen to A Black Life wherever you get your podcast or follow the link, https://apple.co/3QN3gxA. 

Black people, following slavery, thought enough of themselves to pursue something everyone else said they were too stupid to handle, and that was the acquisition and working of land and creation of corporate communities. One black periodical stated: “From this it will be seen that the colored people down South are not so dumb as many suppose them to be.” When 40 acres and a mule became law, thousands of black citizens took to freedom and produced exploits. Today we’ll discover what happens when a tree is cut down before given a chance to grow. Listen and learn about black land dispossession. You can listen to A Black Life wherever you get your podcast or follow the link, https://apple.co/3QN3gxA. 

If you live in New York City, or visited, or maybe you’ve taken a subway in any major city, you’ll want to say a very big thanks to Granville T. Woods. He was a mechanic, an engineer, an inventor, and a businessman. Listen and learn about the black man who single handily made the New York City Subway a viable possibility. You can listen to A Black Life wherever you get your podcast or follow the link, https://apple.co/3QN3gxA. 

In this day we are almost all consumed with the acquisition of more. The problem is society is often woefully unprepared  to accomplish that goal. There is an entity though that has a track record of truly empowering people to succeed. Listen and learn about the unnoticed power and effect of H.B.C.U.’s. You can listen to A Black Life wherever you get your podcast or follow the link, https://apple.co/3QN3gxA. 

The architect Robert Taylor might not be a household name, but I have no doubt you’ve heard of his descendent. Her name is Valerie Jarrett. Well today we’ll look at some of his most magnificent creations and how he drafted a path for his progeny. Listen and learn about the first black architect in the country. You can listen to A Black Life wherever you get your podcast or follow the link, https://apple.co/3QN3gxA.