Noire History

If you're interested in learning about a versatile singer who gave an amazing performance on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial after racists prevented her from performing at Constitution Hall, my Marian Anderson Black History Short is for you. Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/marian-anderson .  

A review of "The Tuskegee Airmen", a 1995 made-for-TV semi-fictional drama about the Tuskegee Airmen, America's first all-Black Air Corp squadron. Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/the-tuskegee-airmen-movie-review .

If you're interested in learning about a botanist and inventor who developed 300 products from peanuts and 118 from sweet potatoes to decrease Black farmers' reliance on cotton and tobacco, my George Washington Carver Black History Short is for you. Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/george-washington-carver .  

A review of "The Sun Does Shine", an autobiography written by Anthony Ray Hinton about his life and experience as a wrongfully convicted man. Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/the-sun-does-shine-book-review .

If you're interested in learning about the first Black woman to win a Nobel Prize, my Toni Morrison Black History Short is for you.   Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/toni-morrison .

A review of "Baby Boy", a 2001 John Singleton film about a trifling young man named Jody (Tyrese Gibson) and his journey to mature and leave behind his dysfunctional behavior. Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/baby-boy-movie-review .  

If you're interested in learning about a multi-talented singer, actor, and activist whose career was destroyed by a communist witch hunt, my Paul Robeson Black History Short is for you. Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/paul-robeson .  

A review of "Deacon King Kong" by James McBride which tells the story of Deacon Cuffy Lambkin, better known as "Sportcoat", and the chain of events he unwittingly sets in motion when he shoots Deems Clemens, the leader of the neighborhood drug dealers. There's a theme of change throughout with regards to the old and new ways of doing things. Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog...

If you're interested in learning about the first Black person to win a Pulitzer prize, my Gwendolyn Brooks Black History Short is for you. Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/gwendolyn-brooks .

A review of "What's My Name: Muhammad Ali", a 2019 HBO Antoine Fuqua directed documentary about the greatest boxer of all time. Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/whats-my-name-muhammad-ali-movie-review .

If you're interested in learning about the backstory and aftermath of the Black Power Salute at the 1968 Mexico City Summer Olympics then my Tommie Smith & John Carlos Black History Short is for you. Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/tommie-smith-and-john-carlos .

A review of "Undisputed Truth", an in-depth autobiography that tells the story of Mike "Iron Mike" Tyson's rise from poverty to fame and fall from grace. Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/undisputed-truth-book-review .    

If you're interested in learning about an athlete who overcame childhood paralysis that was caused by polio and went on to become the first American woman to win three track and field gold medals at a single Olympic Games then my Wilma Rudolph Black History Short is for you. Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/wilma-rudolph .

A review of "Unforgivable Blackness", a 2005 sports documentary about Jack Johnson, the first Black heavyweight champion.   Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/unforgivable-blackness-movie-review .

If you're interested in learning about the man who won 4 gold medals and broke records to become the star of the 1936 Olympics disproving the Nazi claims of Aryan supremacy then my Jesse Owens Black History Short is for you.   Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/jessie-owens .    

Women, Race, & Class by Angela Davis was published in 1981 and analyzes the individual histories and intersections of sexism, racism, and classism in America. The book primarily focuses on the women's liberation movement and provides an overview of the movement's complete timeline as well as in-depth coverage of specific eras. Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/women-race-and...

If you're interested in learning about the first Black woman to serve as a federal judge then my Constance Baker Motley Black History Short is for you. Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/constance-baker-motley .  

A review of "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman", a 1974 film adapted from Ernest J. Gaines' 1971 novel of the same name. A then 50-year-old Cicely Tyson portrayed the lead character from the age of 23 to 110 a role for which she became the first Black person to win a lead actress Emmy Award. Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/the-autobiography-of-miss-jane-pittman-movie-...

If you're interested in learning about the first Black woman to hold a pilot license then my Bessie Coleman Black History Short is for you. Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/bessie-coleman .

A review of "Ghana Must Go" by Taiye Selasi, a book about family and identity that explores the long-lasting effects of family trauma. It's a very engrossing read about how pride, fear, and secrets can steal our joy and cut us off from having and maintaining meaningful relationships. Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/ghana-must-go-book-review .

If you're interested in learning about the first Black female neurosurgeon in America then my Alexa Canady Black History Short is for you. Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/alexa-canady .

A review of "The Color Purple", a historical drama based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning 1982 novel of the same name that was written by Alice Walker. Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/the-color-purple-movie-review .

If you're interested in learning about one of the oldest and most significant civil rights organizations then my National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Black History Short is for you. Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/naacp .

A review of "Negroes and the Gun" which provides a history of Black people and firearms which includes but goes beyond self-defense. Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/negroes-and-the-gun-book-review .

If you're interested in learning about the first Black female playwright to have a play performed on Broadway then my Lorraine Hansberry Black History Short is for you.   Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/lorraine-hansberry .