Noire History

A review of "We Cast a Shadow" by Maurice Carlos Ruffin, a dark comedy about a man who goes to desperate lengths to shield his son from a dystopian society. Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/we-cast-a-shadow-book-review .

If you're interested in learning about the union organizer who led pushes to desegregate the military, outlaw race-based employment discrimination within military departments, and provided the framework for the March on Washington, then my A. Philip Randolph Black History Short is for you. Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/a-philip-randolph .

A review of "Dead Presidents", a 1995 Hughes Brothers film about Anthony Curtis (Larenz Tate), a young man who serves in the Vietnam War with hopes of charting his path in the world but is instead scarred by the atrocities of war. Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/dead-presidents-movie-review .

If you're interested in learning about the first Black woman in America to charter a bank, then my Black History Short about Maggie Lena Walker's later life is for you. Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/maggie-lena-walker .  

A review of "Behold the Dreamers" by Imbolo Mbue, the story of a couple who emigrate from Cameroon with their young son in hopes of a better life in New York City. Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/behold-the-dreamers-book-review .

If you're interested in learning about the childhood experiences that led to a fraternal order becoming part of a mission to help achieve Black economic independence, then my Black History Short about Maggie Lena Walker's early life is for you. Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/maggie-lena-walker .

A review of School Daze, a 1988 Spike Lee film (or shall I say "joint") about the divisions between various factions on the campus of a fictional HBCU. Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/school-daze-movie-review .

If you're interested in learning about an acclaimed photographer who was a successful fashion photographer but is most well known for his photo essays and portraits from during the Civil Rights Movement, then my Gordon Parks Black History Short is for you. Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/gordon-parks/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=bhs_gordon_...

A review of "The Girl Who Smiled Beads" by Clemantine Wamariya, which charts her and her sister's experience as refugees during the Rwandan genocide.   Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/the-girl-who-smiled-beads-book-review .

If you're interested in learning about the second woman overall and the first Black woman to brave the elements, bandits, and wild animals to serve as a United States Post Office Star Route Carrier, then my "Stagecoach" Mary Fields Black History Short is for you.   Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/stagecoach-mary-fields .

A review of "4 Little Girls", a 1997 Spike Lee documentary about the 1963 bombing of Birmingham, Alabama's 16th Street Baptist Church which resulted in the deaths of four little girls.   Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/4-little-girls-movie-review .

If you're interested in learning about the organizer of the Mississippi Freedom Summer voter registration campaign and co-founder of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP), then my Bob Moses Black History Short is for you. Show notes and sources are available http://noirehistoir.com/blog/bob-moses .

A review of "The Underground Railroad Records" by William Still, a vitally important book that shares the experiences of people who escaped or attempted to escape slavery via the Underground Railroad. Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/the-underground-railroad-records-book-review .

If you're interested in learning about the founder of the first newspaper to be published by and for Black women, then my Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin Black History Short is for you.   Show notes and sources at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/josephine-st-pierre-ruffin .

A review of "Boyz n the Hood", John Singleton's 1991 film debut about a boy growing up with his father and friends in South Central, Los Angeles. Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/boyz-n-the-hood-movie-review .

If you're interested in learning about the events that led to the destruction of the predominantly Black town of Rosewood, Florida and its aftermath, my Rosewood Massacre Black History Short is for you.   Show notes and sources are available http://noirehistoir.com/blog/rosewood-massacre .

A review of "A Kind of Freedom" by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton, the story of three family members which provides a glimpse into issues such as Jim Crow, drug addiction, and mass incarceration that have plagued the Black community.    Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/a-kind-of-freedom-book-review .

If you're interested in learning about a legendary jazz musician whose playing and singing style were a major influence on other musicians and singers in the genre and beyond, my Louis Armstrong Later Life Black History Short is for you.   Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/louis-armstrong .

A review of "Tina", a 2021 HBO documentary about the life and career of Anna Mae Bullock better known as the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll", Tina Turner. Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/tina-movie-review .

If you're interested in learning about how a boy born into poverty and instability in a rough New Orleans neighborhood turned his life around after finding positive male role models and music, my Louis Armstrong Early Life Black History Short is for you. Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/louis-armstrong .  

A review of "I Put a Spell on You," an autobiography about the life and career of the singer, songwriter, and pianist known professionally as Nina Simone. Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/i-put-a-spell-on-you-book-review .

If you're interested in learning about the blues singer and songwriter who inspired August Wilson's play "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" and Alice Walker's Shug Avery character in "The Color Purple", then my Ma Rainey Black History Short is for you. Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/ma-rainey .

A review of "Standing in the Shadows of Motown", a documentary about the Funk Brothers, musicians who played Motown's studio sessions. Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/standing-in-the-shadows-of-motown-movie-review .

A profile of W.C. Handy, a musician, and songwriter whose publishing company turned out hit blues compositions that helped launch the genre. Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/w-c-handy .

A review of the book "My Life with Earth, Wind, & Fire" by Maurice White which tells his life story and the story of Earth Wind & Fire. Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/my-life-with-earth-wind-fire-book-review .