In society, prison is used to punish people who commit crimes, break laws, or need to be separated from the general public. However, oftentimes prisoners are subjected to unhygienic environments, subpar healthcare, and dangerous situations riddled with violence. Humans can only take being caged up and abused for so long before the inevitable happens and someone snaps. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on the Attica State Prison Riot, one of the most famous and deadliest prison uprisings in history.

Revolutions take a lot of courage, discipline, and faith to pull off. Advocating for change in a society that has always deemed a group of people as less than requires sacrifice and preservation even as leaders are lost and movements rise and fall. One of the most impactful leaders and revolutionaries of modern Black American history was lost on February 21, 1965 to senseless violence. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Malcolm X.

Throughout history, Black American communities have been deprived of resources and targeted by senseless violence and discrimination. Communities like Black Wall Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Linnentown in Athens, Georgia have been decimated by racist mobs and have had their histories erased. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Oscarville and the tragic story of the residents who were driven out to create Lake Lanier.

The concept of sports dates back to 7000 BC and originally determined who was fit for military service. The first Olympic Games, held in Olympia in 776 BC, gradually expanded over time to include events like sprinting, javelin and discus throws, chariot racing, wrestling, and even boxing. Over time, participation has expanded to include women and other historically marginalized groups who were once excluded from competition. Join me as we explore the incredible contributions of Black Americans to sports and the significant struggles they’ve overcome to succeed.

Fisher Island, Florida is one of the most luxurious and private places to live. It boasts sprawling mansions, beautiful blue water, and is only accessible by private boat, helicopter, or ferry. While it is now a secluded playground for celebrities and rich people, it started out as a venture to improve the lives of Black Americans in Miami. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on the famous, picturesque island that was originally meant to be a resort for Black Americans.

Success in America has always been subjective and dependent on a person’s socioeconomic status. Black Americans have never been granted equal, fair opportunities to achieve success which has led to disparities in income, generational wealth, education, and more. Despite this, many Black Americans have worked hard to fight through slavery, Jim Crow, Reconstruction, segregation, and racism to create their own version of success. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Fancy & Staple Groceries, the first high-end grocery store opened by Black American, Samuel T. Wilcox.

Throughout the course of history, there have been numerous Black American communities that have been targeted, infiltrated, and undermined by the dominant society. Black Wall Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma was one of the most famous and prosperous communities that was destroyed and decimated. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Mound Bayou, Mississippi, one of the largest standing Black American communities in the United States.

Getting elected to a public political office is no small feat. It often entails many hours of hard work and requires getting the broader population to believe in you and your ideas. Politicians can affect citizens’ daily lives by passing memorandums, adjusting tax rates, and instilling social and economic policies. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on one of the most well-known mayors of Washington, D.C., Marion Barry.

There are a lot of conspiracy theories on the internet. They range from mundane topics like the quality of tap water to extremist topics like planning coups to overtake the government. Some are totally insane and have no real leg to stand on, but others have a semblance of truth that makes you question if what you think you know is really true. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on the covert operations of COINTELPRO.

From the beginning of time, Black Americans have had integral roles in creating, inventing, and developing many of the modern luxuries we take for granted today. Unfortunately, many of the early Black pioneers weren’t credited for their hard work. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Nathan “Nearest” Green, the master distiller who created the original recipe for Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey.

Being on code is one of the most important and powerful things a socioeconomic group can do in society. Not only does it foster camaraderie amongst individuals, but it also sends a message to the powers that be. Throughout history, Black Americans have had to rely on each other to fight through adversity in hopes of receiving equal treatment. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on the famous Montgomery Bus Boycott and its long lasting economic and social impacts.

Going to school without fear of being targeted solely based on your race is a modern luxury that many fought and lost their lives for. Desegregation created volatile and oftentimes deadly mobs that stood in the way of integration of public schools and institutions. The Little Rock Nine were one example of just how dangerous integration actually was for many young Black Americans pursuing an education. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Medgar Evers, a civil rights activist who fought for change in Mississippi.

Life and death can happen in an instance and completely change our world. There’s no way to predict when a loved one will transition to Heaven, which is why it’s so important to give people their flowers every time we have the opportunity. We have to keep their memory alive even after death. Join me as we give an Earthly farewell to two greats who recently transitioned to Heaven, James Earl Jones and Frankie Beverly.

Racing is a popular sport around the world and has multiple different divisions for spectators to enjoy. No matter if it’s Formula One, NASCAR, IndyCar, or LMP, the object of the race remains the same - to cross the finish line first. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on the Black American Racers Association (BARA).

California is known for its beautiful sunny beaches, the hustle and bustle of Hollywood, the tech innovations of Silicon Valley, and the notoriously high cost of living that permeates every aspect of daily life for residents. Despite boasting a proud history of joining the Union as a Free State, there are multiple instances of California actually protecting the institution of slavery. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Bridget “Biddy” Mason, a slave who not only fought and won her freedom, but who also became one of the first prominent landowners in Los Angeles in the 1850s and 1860s.

Summer 2024 is rapidly coming to an end. Many people enjoyed time with their kids while school was out and some even planned fun family vacations to make new memories. The weather was actually pretty crazy with high heat waves and dangerous thunderstorms popping up all over the place. Before we flip the page to the slight chill of the fall, pumpkin spiced lattes, and ample hours of football to indulge in, let’s shine a Historical Spotlight on the long, hot summer of 1967.

With new, experimental drugs like COVID-19 vaccines and Ozempic making waves amongst consumers, it’s hard to decipher any potential long term side effects from medications or treatments when they haven’t had extensive lab testing. Throughout history, Black Americans have been subjected to being test subjects for potentially dangerous treatments that have negatively impacted their health. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on one of the most egregious and racist medical studies, the Tuskegee Syphilis Study.

Having a baby and becoming a mom is something many women look forward to their entire lives. The thought of nurturing a life that you and your partner made out of love is an amazingly beautiful thing. Having multiple babies is not only rare, but in some instances can be life threatening. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on the first set of identical Black quadruplets, the Fultz Sisters.

Over the last four years or so, baseball has rapidly become one of my favorite sports. It’s really entertaining to watch the battle between pitchers and hitters. Black Americans didn’t always have the opportunity to make a name for themselves in the big leagues. It took courage from outstanding people to break barriers and change the norm. Join me as we shine a historical spotlight on the legendary Jackie Robinson and the impact he had on baseball.

Entrepreneurship is an amazing tool if you have the lifestyle, work ethic, and perseverance to support it. Black Americans have always faced difficulties in owning businesses simply because of the unjust system that permeates society. There have been individuals here and there that have gotten ahead and built successful organizations over the years, but they were oftentimes sabotaged to their demise. Join me as we shine a historical spotlight on businessman A.G. Gaston and the impact he had on the local Birmingham community.