Black History, For Real

Before Michael Jackson became the King of Pop, or Otis Redding claimed his place as one of the greatest singer-songwriters in American popular music history, their talents had to be discovered and shared with the world. Enter the competing labels Motown and Stax Records. In the early 1960s, Berry Gordy’s Motown and Jim Stewart’s Stax pioneered the sound of Black music, giving birth to soul and R&a...

When it comes to works of art, “Picasso” is synonymous with brilliance and innovation. Spanish painter and sculptor Pablo Picasso is famously known for spearheading the Cubist movement during the 20th century art revolution. What most people don’t know is that Picasso was heavily inspired by Africans and the African diaspora. One of his most famous works, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon , depicts a stri...

Black culture is a pivotal pillar of broader American culture. From fashion, to language, to being the sonic foundation to much of American music. In this special episode, our hosts do a deep dive into country music and how its roots are grounded in Black music. Using Beyoncé’s latest effort, Cowboy Carter, as a springboard, Conscious Lee and Franchesca Ramsey discuss the differences between appre...

The Tulsa Race Massacre is by far one of the most horrific events in American history. Although it took place over 100 years ago, the effects still ripple through the country to this day. During this time, the Oklahoma media suppressed the truth of what really happened. However, one brave resident of Greenwood documents the reality. Mary E. Jones Parrish understands the power of storytelling, and...

In the spring of 1921, a racially integrated group of moviegoers were enjoying a night out at the Black-owned Dreamland Theater. But when the movie is suddenly turned off and the lights are turned on, enjoyment turns to confusion. The cinema patrons are alerted to trouble brewing in town and are urged to make their way home with caution. But as news of a lynching spreads, Greenwood residents begin...

In 1906, entrepreneurs Ottawa Gurley and J.B. Stradford purchased parcels of government land in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They had dreams of building a thriving Black community, equipped with the same amenities and privileges available to whites. Dubbed Greenwood, it was promoted as a sanctuary where Black people could thrive without fear of racial discrimination. By 1921, Greenwood had become a hub of Bla...

After nearly two years, Mansa Musa finally completes his pilgrimage to Mecca. The trip is filled with tribulations, but the transformed king has prevailed. The spiritual journey may not erase the wrongdoings of his past, but it leads Musa to a peaceful self-acceptance. After his trip to the holy land, Musa must make his way home to his throne in Mali. But the road back may not be as welcoming as t...

Feeling immense shame and regret for killing his mother, Mansa Musa seeks counsel from his Imam. The religious leader advises the king to seek peace in the Muslim holy land of Mecca. Musa embarks on the pilgrimage with a caravan of 60,000 men, made up of soldiers, advisers, and slaves; and 100 camels, each carrying 300 pounds of gold. During the first half of the 2-year journey, the convoy will fa...

Had there been a version of the Forbes list in the early 14th century, a 20-something-year-old Malian king would reign supreme. Dubbed the “richest man of all time," Mansa Musa’s wealth is unmatched to this day. However, Musa paid a hefty price for his position. In the early years of his 25-year reign, the young and brash king led the Mali Empire with an iron fist and a large ego, conquering terri...

W.E.B. Du Bois and Countee Cullen were, no question, pivotal pillars during the Harlem Renaissance. Du Bois’s philosophy of race and Cullen’s masterful poetry defy the status quo of the early 1900s; however, both men fall victim to the challenges Black people still face today. In this special episode, Franchesca Ramsy and Conscious Lee dive deeper into the black-on-black conflict, church hurt, and...

As Countee Cullen tries to recover from his divorce from Yolande DuBois, his career begins to falter. The Great Depression has rolled in and Black art is one of the first things to suffer. White patrons have pulled their investments, so Countee must find a steady gig. He takes a job as a teacher, where he begins to mentor a young James Baldwin. Meanwhile, W.E.B. DuBois is moving away from res...

To save his public image, Countee Cullen marries W.E.B. Dubois’ daughter, Yolande. The wedding is the merger of the century. All of Black high society is in attendance to celebrate this high profile matrimony. W.E.B.’s plan to create a dynasty is complete. Countee finds love and another father figure. Happy ending, right? Not quite. Countee’s marriage to Yolande might’ve hushed the whispers of his...

In the early 1900’s, Harlem Renaissance poet Countee Cullen went from an orphan to one of the most celebrated literary figures of his time. But his reluctance to introduce Blackness into his art threatened to alienate him from peers. And his struggles with his sexuality threatened to isolate him from his family. Luckily, his mentor W.E.B. DuBois has a plan to solve both problems. Listen to Black H...

In the early 1900s, NAACP co-founder W.E.B. DuBois is at the top of his game, as the first Black person to earn a PhD from Harvard and as editor of a successful magazine. He believes he has a way to achieve full equality for Black people, but major beef with civil rights leaders Booker T. Washington and Marcus Garvey threatens to expose his idea as an elitist mess. Listen to Black History, For Rea...

As the first ever woman in the Black Panther Party’s decision-making body, Kathleen Cleaver played a large role in shaping and influencing the Party’s views on gender roles. Her drive to live a life of liberty inspired other women to do the same. And it’s in the Party where she meets her controversial husband, Eldridge Cleaver, who would leave her with a difficult choice to make: be a supportive w...

After many of her comrades are killed, imprisoned, and forced into exile, Elaine Brown rises the ranks to be tapped as the first and only female leader of the Black Panther Party. Like other vocal women within the Party, she faced rampant sexism. But violence within the Party and whispers of her being a government informant also threatened her ambitions to save and revitalize the Black Panther Par...

At only 23 years old, Afeni Shakur defended herself and 20 other Black Panther comrades in the famous Panther 21 trial. Best known as the mother of Tupac Shakur, Afeni’s legacy extends beyond her maternal role to a rap icon. Shakur’s fighting spirit helped her combat sexism within the Party and racism in the world, but her personal demons would have lasting impacts on her relationship with her son...

In her 20s, Assata Shakur became a target for government forces aiming to discredit Black liberation movements. Soon, she would emerge as one of America's most notorious fugitives. After being convicted of murdering a state trooper, Assata is sentenced to life in prison. But, she maintains her innocence. Two years into her sentence, she is broken out of prison and escapes to Cuba. Forty years afte...

Join Franchesca Ramsey and Conscious Lee every week as they go beyond the stories of Black History you already know to drop you right in the mix. Learn about the most overlooked Black History makers and events you should already know about, not just during Black History Month. We’ll even spill the occasional historical tea! All facts, no cap. Follow  Black History, For Rea l, and listen early...