Noire History

A review of "Booker's Place", a documentary about Booker Wright, a waiter in Greenwood, Mississippi who participated in an NBC documentary about his experiences as a black man living in the South under Jim Crow.   Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/bookers-place-movie-review .

If you're interested in learning about Denver's first recorded Black woman who became an entrepreneur and helped other Black people move west and settle in Colorado, then my Clara Brown Black History Facts profile is for you. Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/clara-brown .

"Queenie" by Candice Carty-Williams is a novel about a young Black woman in her mid-20s who was born and raised in London. The story follows her through the ups and downs of a year of her life, much of it spurred on by her relationship drama and personal issues.   Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/queenie-book-review .

If you're interested in learning about the Harlem Renaissance writer and poet who set himself apart from his contemporaries by focusing on both race relations and classism, then my Claude McKay Black History Facts profile is for you. Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/claude-mckay .

A review of "Higher Learning", a 1995 film directed by John Singleton that provides a look into the social, racial, and gender politics of a college campus.   Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/higher-learning-movie-review . 

If you're interested in learning about the entrepreneur who built a hair care company that made her the first Black female millionaire, then my Madam C.J. Walker Black History Facts profile is for you.   Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/madam-c-j-walker .

A review of "Finding Me: A Memoir" by Viola Davis, an account of the actress' personal and professional life.    Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/finding-me-a-memoir-book-review .

If you're interested in learning about the enslaved man who worked for the Continental Army as a double agent, then my James Armistead Lafayette Black History Facts profile is for you.   Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/james-armistead-lafayette .

A review of "3 ½ Minutes, Ten Bullets", a 2015 Sundance-winning documentary that tells the story of the shooting death of Jordan Davis in Jacksonville, Florida. To be more precise, the documentary dives into the events leading up to the murder of Jordan Davis and the resulting trial of Michael Dunn. Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/3-12-minutes-ten-bullets-movie-review .

If you're interested in learning about the Los Angeles real estate investor and philanthropist who began as an enslaved woman petitioning for her freedom, then my Bridget "Biddy" Mason Black History Facts profile is for you.   Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/bridget-biddy-mason .

A review of "When No One Is Watching" by Alyssa Cole, a thriller and romance about gentrification in a fictional neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY. Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/when-no-one-is-watching-book-review .

If you're interested in learning about the entrepreneur who founded the first Black record label and created a pathway for Black musicians to enter the record industry, then my Harry Pace Black History Facts profile is for you.   Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/harry-pace .

A review of "Cooley High", a classic in the Black film canon that sets itself apart as one of the few true Black coming-of-age films.   Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/cooley-high-movie-review .

If you're interested in learning about the writer and activist who penned the essay "The Master's Tools Will Not Dismantle the Master's House", one of the first works to discuss the intersectional issues of race, gender, and sexual orientation, then my Audre Lorde Black History Facts profile is for you.   Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/audre-lorde .

A review of "Will" by Will Smith an autobiography about the rapper and actor that charts his life from a childhood in West Philadelphia to being a Hollywood megastar. It's an unexpectedly candid account of the ups and downs in Smith's life that led to me finishing the book with a different perspective of the man and insightful questions for myself.   Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir...

If you're interested in learning about the Black pioneer in the field of marine biology who conducted important research into egg fertilization and embryo development, then my Ernest Everett Just Black History Facts profile is for you.   Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/ernest-everett-just .

I've decided to take a break for at least the next week. I'll drop an update should the break extend beyond a week.

A review of "In Our Mothers' Gardens", is a 2021 film directed by Shantrelle P. Lewis about the relationships between Black grandmothers, mothers, and daughters.  Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/in-our-mothers-garden-movie-review .  

If you're interested in learning about the first Black woman in America to receive an M.D. and one of the first Black authors to write a medical guide, then my Rebecca Lee Crumpler Black History Facts profile is for you.   Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/rebecca-lee-crumpler .

A review of "Memphis" by Tara Stringfellow which is at its core a book about family. The family we're born into but also our community.   Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/memphis-book-review .

If you're interested in learning about the poet, novelist, and playwright who helped to originate the style of poetry referred to as jazz poetry, then my Langston Hughes Black History Facts profile is for you.   Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/langston-hughes .

A review of "Crooklyn", a coming-of-age story about a girl, Troy,  who is growing up in Brooklyn, the only girl in a family with four brothers. Show notes are available at  http://noirehistoir.com/blog/crooklyn-movie-review .

If you're interested in learning about a teacher, artist, and activist who used her art to comment on social issues, then my Elizabeth Catlett Black History Facts profile is for you.   Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/elizabeth-catlett .

A review of "Just Pursuit" by Laura Coates is a memoir about a black female prosecutor and her time at the Department of Justice. Show notes are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/just-pursuit-book-review .

If you're interested in learning about a thriving predominantly Black settlement that was destroyed to make way for the creation of Central Park, then my Seneca Village Black History Facts profile is for you.   Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/seneca-village .