Black History Year - PushBlack

Latest Episodes:

Black Horror and the Monstrous Fear of Self with Dr. Kinitra D. Brooks (May 2022) Dec 31, 2024

Show notes

They say urban legends aren’t real and are only cautionary tales to keep unruly children at bay, but there are elements underlying these stories that are far more terrifying than any monster or ghoul. The biggest horror? We, as Black people, have learned to fear ourselves.

In 2022, Jay sat down with Dr. Kinitra Brooks to guide this conversation. Beyond being a horror scholar, she is a horror fan. She’s authored two books: Searching for Sycorax: Black Women’s Hauntings of Contemporary Horror and Sycorax’s Daughters, and is working on her next work about Conjure Women. She is also the Audrey and John Leslie Endowed Chair in Literary Studies in the Department of English at Michigan State University.

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Black History Year (BHY) is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. PushBlack exists to amplify the stories of Black history you didn't learn in school and explore pathways to liberation with people leading the way. You make PushBlack happen with your contributions at BlackHistoryYear.com — most people donate $10 a month, but every dollar makes a difference. If this episode moved you, share it with your people! Thanks for supporting the work.

Hosting BHY is Jay (2020-2023) and Darren Wallace (2024). Our producers are Cydney Smith and Len Webb. BHY’s executive producers are Julian Walker and Lilly Workneh.

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

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The Little-Known Black History Of The Easter Holiday Dec 30, 2024

Show notes

When you think of the Easter holiday, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Is it Black history? It should be. Here’s why the holiday is one of the Blackest celebrations of the year.

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2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. PushBlack exists to amplify the stories of Black history you didn't learn in school. You make PushBlack happen with your contributions at BlackHistoryYear.com — most people donate $10 a month, but every dollar makes a difference. If this episode moved you, share it with your people! Thanks for supporting the work.

The production team for this podcast includes Cydney Smith, Len Webb, and Lilly Workneh. Our editors are Lance John and Avery Phillips from Gifted Sounds Network. Julian Walker serves as executive producer."

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This Popular Holiday Drink Is Rooted In Black History Dec 27, 2024

Show notes

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think about eggnog? Here’s why you might want to start considering the drink a symbol of unity for Black people everywhere.

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How Formerly Enslaved Bermudians Created This Holiday After Emancipation Dec 26, 2024

Show notes

When slavery ended in Bermuda, Black folks had a plan for the following year. Now that they were paid employees, it was time to regain their power from white supremacy, and they did it in the most genius way.

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“Poetry Is Not a Luxury”: How Words Shape Freedom with Yolanda Wisher Dec 24, 2024

Show notes

Host Darren Wallace, with our producer Len riding shotgun, sits down with poet, educator, and former Philadelphia Poet Laureate Yolanda Wisher to talk poetry. Together, they dive into the historical and cultural significance of griots and spoken word, revisit the impact of “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised,” and reflect on Kendrick Lamar’s Pulitzer Prize win. Yolanda also shares how her work—through projects like Love Jawns: A Mixtape and Stellar Masses—inspires and mobilizes communities. Poetry is all around us. This episode is here to help us understand and reconnect with its healing and transformative power.

To learn more about our guest, visit www.yolandawisher.com

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Black History Year (BHY) is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. PushBlack exists to amplify the stories of Black history you didn't learn in school and explore pathways to liberation with people who are leading the way. You make PushBlack happen with your contributions at BlackHistoryYear.com — most people donate $10 a month, but every dollar makes a difference. If this episode moved you, share it with your people! Thanks for supporting the work.

Hosting BHY is Darren Wallace. The BHY production team includes Brooke Brown, Amber Davis, Mina Davis, Kevin McFall, Gabby Roberts, and Leslie Taylor-Grover. Our producers are Cydney Smith, Darren Wallace, and Len Webb, who also edits the show. BHY’s executive producers are Julian Walker and Lilly Workneh.

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

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As Hip-Hop’s First Godmother, She Helped Build The Billion-Dollar Industry Dec 23, 2024

Show notes

Against all odds, Sylvia Robinson transformed her setbacks into the world's first hip-hop record and ignited a global movement. Without her, hip-hop may not be what it is today. Here’s how she laid the foundation for hip-hop to go worldwide.

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Resurfacing The Black Roots Of Rumba Dancing Dec 20, 2024

Show notes

Drumbeats filled the air, navels pressed against each other, and hips swayed. A dance of celebration was one of the few things the Congolese were able to take into enslavement. The history of the rumba is a tale of cultural erasure.

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This Trailblazing Doctor Challenged Racism And Changed Medicine Forever Dec 19, 2024

Show notes

He was told Black blood shouldn’t be mixed with white blood. Refusing to accept this racism, he chose another, more powerful path. His story is ironic, given that he was the one who made blood storage possible in the first place.

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The ‘Angry Black Woman’ Trope And The Truth About Black Rage Dec 18, 2024

Show notes

She got heated often. Yelled. Raged. Her emotions were belittled. She was called Sapphire and used to weaponize how Black women express anger. Thankfully, she stayed mad, and her rage was her greatest teacher of what it means to protest.

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The Black History of The DJ with Skeme Richards Dec 17, 2024

Show notes

DJs have always played an integral role in Black culture. From the underground clubs of Chicago and Detroit to the block parties of the Bronx, these sonic architects have built spaces that challenge oppression and foster community. So, how do these masters of sound harness this technical, emotional, and intuitive element to create environments for Black expression? Today, we’re diving into the art of space-making through the DJ: how they use music to guide, unite, and liberate us, one beat at a time.

And on this episode's ones and twos, we have DJ Skeme Richards, AKA the Nostalgia King. Skeme has traveled the world from his home base in Philly, liberating hearts, minds, bodies, and souls. His Nostalgia King blog chronicles the history of hip-hop, jazz, and funk through the turntable wizardry of the disc jockey.

To learn more about our guest, visit www.nostalgiaking.com

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Darren Wallace hosts BHY. The BHY production team includes Brooke Brown, Amber Davis, Mina Davis, Kevin McFall, Gabby Roberts, and Leslie Taylor-Grover. Cydney Smith, Darren Wallace, and Len Webb, who also edits the show, are our producers. BHY’s executive producers are Julian Walker and Lilly Workneh.

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices