The Unhidden Minute

Emmett Till , a 14-year-old Black American child from Chicago, was brutally murdered in Money, Mississippi, in August 1955, sparking outrage and galvanizing the Civil Rights Movement. Till had allegedly whistled at a white woman, Carolyn Bryant, in a grocery store, prompting her husband, Roy Bryant, and his half-brother, J.W. Milam, to abduct and brutally beat him. Till's body was later discovered...

Brown v. Board of Education was a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that fundamentally reshaped American education and the fight against racial segregation. The case originated in Topeka, Kansas, where Linda Brown, a young Black American child, was denied admission to her neighborhood school because of her race. In 1954, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of Brown, declaring that racial s...

The Federal Council of Negro Affairs was an informal organization of Black American advisors to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt during the 1930s and 1940s. Known as the Black Cabinet , this group led by the social activist Mary McLeod Bethune played a crucial role in advocating for civil rights and equality in various aspects of government policy, including access to outdoor recreation in publ...

During World War II, on July 17, 1944, a munitions ship exploded at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine in Concord, California. The blast killed 320 people, most of whom were Black American sailors. After the Port Chicago disaster , amidst racial discrimination in the military, surviving Black sailors were ordered to resume loading munitions despite safety concerns. When they refused due to the hazard...

The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion , also known as the "Six Triple Eight," was a all-Black, all-female unit of the United States Army during World War II. Formed in 1945, the Six Triple Eighth was tasked with addressing the significant backlog of mail for almost 7 million American soldiers and government worker stationed in Europe. Led by Major Charity Adams Earley, the Six Triple Eight...

The 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion , made history as the first Black American airborne unit in the United States military during World War II. Known as the Triple Nickels, the 555th’s combat duties, also included training as aerial deployed fire fighters, becoming the first military smoke jumping unit in American history. Stationed in the Pacific Northwest in 1945, the Triple Nickels' primary...

General Benjamin O. Davis Jr. (1912–2002) was a pioneering figure in the United States Air Force. Despite facing discrimination and segregation throughout his career, Davis persevered and excelled as a combat pilot and leader. During World War II, he commanded the 99th Fighter Squadron at Tuskegee Army Airfield in Alabama, the first Black American military aviators, also known as the Tuskegee Airm...

Willa Beatrice Brown (1906–1992) was a pioneering Black American pilot and educator who broke barriers in aviation and fought against racial and gender discrimination. Born in Indiana, Brown became the first Black American woman to earn a commercial pilot's license in the United States in 1937. Throughout her career, Brown advocated for greater opportunities for Black Americans and women in aviati...

The Tuskegee Airmen were a group of Black American pilots and support personnel who served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. Trained at the Tuskegee Army Airfield in Alabama, they overcame racial prejudice and discrimination to become one of the most successful and respected fighter groups of the war. Despite facing skepticism over their abilities, the Tuskegee Airmen prove...

During World War II, the iconic image of " Rosie the Riveter " became synonymous with the millions of women who entered the workforce to support the war effort while men were fighting overseas. While Rosie the Riveter is often depicted as a white woman, it's essential to acknowledge the significant contributions of Black women to the war effort, including their roles as riveters, welders, and work...

The 761st Tank Battalion , also known as the "Black Panthers," was a segregated unit in the United States Army during World War II. Deployed to Europe in 1944, the 761st saw extensive combat in France, Belgium, and Germany. They played a crucial role in breaking through enemy lines, providing armored support, and engaging in fierce battles against German forces. Despite facing racism both within a...

Doris Miller (1919–1943), also known as Dorie, was a Black American sailor in the United States Navy, best known for his heroic actions during the attack on Pearl Harbor , Hawaii on December 7, 1941. Despite being assigned to duties as a mess attendant due to segregation policies, Miller bravely manned an anti-aircraft gun aboard the USS West Virginia . During the Battle of Pearl Harbor, with no p...

Victor Hugo Green , born in 1892, was a Black American postal worker from Harlem, New York, who became renowned for his groundbreaking creation, the "Green Book." In 1936, Green launched this travel guide aimed at Black American motorists, providing crucial information about safe accommodations, restaurants, and businesses that welcomed Black travelers during the era of racial segregation and Jim...

Give me a minute and let me tell you a story. Over the last 60 days this podcast has shared a series of stories in recognition of Black American history. The Unhidden Minute was originally only scheduled to run through the month of February, but after 29 episodes there were still so many more stories to tell, so it continued through the month of March. We just finished our first hour. Now that it’...

Louis Armstrong , often referred to as "Satchmo" or "Pops," was a legendary figure in the realm of jazz music, leaving an indelible mark on the genre and influencing generations of musicians. Born on August 4, 1901, in New Orleans, Louisiana, Armstrong rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most celebrated trumpet players and vocalists of all time. His innovative trumpet playing, charact...

Mary Fields , also known as Stagecoach Mary, was a trailblazing figure of the American West, born around 1832. She became the first Black American woman to work for the United States Postal Service and one of the few female stagecoach drivers in history. Fields was renowned for her remarkable strength, fearlessness, and no-nonsense attitude. Despite facing discrimination and adversity, she earned...

Langston Hughes , an iconic figure in American literature, was born on February 1, 1902, in Joplin, Missouri. He became one of the most significant poets, novelists, and playwrights of the Harlem Renaissance, a flourishing cultural movement among Black Americans in the 1920s and 1930s. Hughes' works vividly captured the struggles, joys, and aspirations of Black life in America. His poetry, charact...

James Beckwourth , born around 1798, was a remarkable figure of the American West, known for his exploits as a fur trader, scout, and explorer. Born into slavery in Virginia, Beckwourth eventually gained his freedom and embarked on a life of adventure on the frontier. Beckwourth's most notable achievements include his exploration of the Rocky Mountains and his discovery of a mountain pass that now...

Zora Neale Hurston , born on January 7, 1891, in Notasulga, Alabama , was a pioneering Black American author, anthropologist, and folklorist. She is best known for her novel " Their Eyes Were Watching God ," which is celebrated as a masterpiece of American literature. Hurston's upbringing in Eatonville, Florida , the first all-Black incorporated town in the United States, deeply influenced her wor...

Born into slavery in 1838, Bass Reeves emerged as one of the most legendary lawmen of the American West. After the Civil War, Reeves, who had many talents including marksmanship and tracking, became a Deputy U.S. Marshal in the Indian Territory (now Oklahoma), making him one of the first Black federal law enforcement officers west of the Mississippi River. Reeves' career was marked by his exceptio...

Paul Laurence Dunbar was an influential Black American poet, novelist, and playwright who rose to prominence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in 1872 in Dayton, Ohio, Dunbar was the son of formerly enslaved parents and displayed a talent for writing from a young age. Dunbar gained widespread acclaim for his poetry, which skillfully blended African American dialect with traditional E...

Founded in 1877, the town of Nicodemus, Kansas was a beacon of hope and self-determination for Black Americans during the post-Civil War era of Reconstruction. Part of the larger Exoduster movement , through which thousands of Black Americans migrated westward in search of land, freedom, and economic opportunity, the settlers of Nicodemus established a thriving community centered around agricultur...

Give me a minute and let me tell you a story.  From its very beginning, the United States of America has been built upon the dedicated efforts of remarkable human beings. Our history is a conglomeration of the deeds and achievements of countless individuals whose contributions to the enduring legacy of our less than perfect union must be acknowledged. That includes those who identify as Black indi...

During the Great Depression from 1933 to 1936 a racially integrated unit of the Civilian Conservation Corps known as Company 818 built a series of trails through Grand Canyon National Park . Established to provide financial security for the unemployed, the CCC helped its participants learn valuable trade skills while protecting the integrity of the natural environment. But Black members of Company...

Buck C. Franklin was a prominent attorney in Tulsa, Oklahoma through the 1920s. He played a significant role in advocating for the rights of Black Americans during a time of deep segregation and racial tension. Born in Homer Oklahoma in 1879, Franklin moved to Tulsa in 1921, just before the infamous Tulsa Race Massacre . Beginning on May 29th of that year, more than 300 people were murdered in a w...