Noire History

A review of "If Beale Street Could Talk", a Barry Jenkins film adapted from the James Baldwin book of the same name. Set in early 1970s Harlem, the film tells the story of Clementine "Tish" Rivers (Kiki Layne) and Alonzo "Fonny" Hunt (Stephan James), two young adults who are navigating their blossoming love and the society around them. Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/if-be...

A profile of Fannie Lou Hamer, a community organizer and activist who contributed to various voter registration programs, assisted with organizing Freedom Summer, developed farming co-ops to provide economic opportunities for Black people, and helped to implement childcare and education programs for low-income children.   Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/fannie-lou-hamer?ut...

On this episode of the career interview series, we are joined by Okenna Oparah an Inpatient Clinical Pharmacist from Imo State, Nigeria by way of Atlanta, Georgia. Okenna shares how he's achieved career satisfaction by focusing on the things he values while also moving away from the things he does not enjoy.   Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/okenna-oparah-inpatie...

A profile of Bayard Rustin, a political organizer who was a key planner of The March on Washington and the wider Civil Rights Movement.   Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/bayard-rustin .

A review of "The Mother of Black Hollywood", a memoir in which Jenifer Lewis tells the story of her life from being a young kid growing up in Kinloch, MO to a working actress in New York and Los Angeles.   Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/mother-of-black-hollywood-book-review .

A profile of Daisy Bates, a journalist, civil rights activist, and co-owner of the Arkansas State Press. Bates was a member of the Arkansas branch of the NAACP and collaborated on the push to integrate Little Rock schools. She personally escorted Black children to newly integrated schools, among which was the group that would come to be known as the "Little Rock Nine." Show notes are available at...

A review of my experience visiting the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park in Atlanta, Georgia's historically Black Sweet Auburn neighborhood. Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/martin-luther-king-jr-national-historical-park .

A profile of Cuffy, an enslaved man from Africa who led a slave rebellion in the Dutch colony, Berbice in present-day Guyana. Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/cuffy-berbice-slave-rebellion .

A movie review of "Green Book", a drama that takes place in 1962 and tells the story of an African-American classical pianist touring the Midwest and South with an Italian-American bouncer serving as his chauffeur and security. Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/green-book-movie-review .  

A profile of Barbara Jordan, a gifted orator, politician, and political organizer from Houston, Texas who made great contributions while in Congress. Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/barbara-jordan .

On this episode of the career interview series, we are joined by Sandra Shular a Care Coordinator from Newnan, Georgia. She shares how her career has allowed her to work with various demographics, families, and individuals at different stages of life. Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/sandra-shular-care-coordinator . Learn about participating in the career intervie...

A profile of Lewis Howard Latimer, a self-taught draftsman and inventor who made contributions to seven patents and improved the Edison light bulb. Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/lewis-howard-latimer .

A discussion of Trevor Noah's "Born a Crime" which tells the story of his early life, apartheid, and a particular period in the history of South Africa. Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/born-a-crime-book-review .

A profile of The Clotilda and Africatown. The Clotilda is believed to be the ship that brought the last group of enslaved people to America from Africa. Africatown was later founded by surviving members of this group following emancipation. Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/clotilda-and-africatown .

A movie review of "When They See Us" by Ava Duvernay which tells the story of five teens from Harlem who were wrongfully convicted and later exonerated. Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/when-they-see-us-movie-review .

A profile of Dr. Patricia E. Bath, one of the first Black o phthalmologists and inventor of a laser that removes cataracts which made her the first female African-American doctor to receive a patent for a medical instrument. Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/dr-patricia-bath .

I made the day long journey to Guyana for a joyous family event and decided to make a full vacation of it and spent a few days in the capital, Georgetown. While there I visited a few restaurants and tourist attractions which included the zoo, the 1763 Monument, and the Guyana Museum of African Heritage. In this episode I give some background on the trip and share my experience at the museum. Show...

A profile of Dr. Ralph Abernathy, a WWII veteran, minister, and civil rights activist who worked closely with Dr. King on many campaigns. Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/dr-ralph-abernathy .

A review of "We're Going to Need More Wine" by Gabrielle Union a good read that balances serious topics with funny moments.   Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/were-going-to-need-more-wine .

A profile of the Whitelaw Hotel which was established in 1919 and developed, designed, and financed by Black professionals. Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/whitelaw-hotel .

On this episode of the career interview series, we are joined by Hazel Watson a Clinical Care Associate (CCA) from Berbice, Guyana. Hazel's passion for healthcare was sparked as a kid when she saw an ambulance and paramedics respond to an accident. She shares the alternative career path she took after her original education and career plans went off track. Show notes at http://noirehistoir.com/blo...

A profile of Marian Wright Edelman, the first Black woman admitted to the Mississippi State Bar and Founder of the Children's Defense Fund (CDF).   Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/marian-wright-edelman .

A profile of Lois Mailou Jones a visual artist whose 70-year career overlapped the 47 years she spent teaching upcoming notable Black artists at Howard University. Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/lois-mailou-jones .

On this episode of the career interview series, we are joined by Lloyd Cambridge a Small Business Educator hailing from my hometown Brooklyn, New York. Lloyd's interest in entrepreneurship began when he was a kid growing up in Brownsville dreaming of being the cool kid with the fly clothes and the latest Jordans.   Studying abroad for a semester in Madrid, Spain started out a bit rocky but ended u...