Drapetomaniax: Unshackled History

Latest Episodes:

The Many Beefs of Ida B. Wells (featuring Georgia Me and Karen Morrow) Nov 07, 2023

Show notes

Arguably, best investigative journalist of her time, 19th-century trailblazer, anti lynching champion and a force to be reckoned with. From her days in the Deep South to her fearless exposés, we’re bringing you into the battle rap ring with the one and only Ida B. Wells!

Drapetomaniax is created by Michael Harriot in collaboration between OtherTone, Sony Music Entertainment and Queer Media

This episode features:

Emailer 1 Janelle Brown

Ida Georgia Me

Special thanks to our voice actors:

MC/Dee Karen Morrow

DJ Rodrick Morrow

Announcer Janelle Brown

Executive Producers Pharrell Williams, Scott Vener, Noleca Radway, and Moses Soyoola

Senior ProducerJanicia Francis

Managing Producer JoAnn DeLuna

Production CoordinatorHomero Radway

Production Assistant Gilianne Roberts-Atkinson

WritersSilas Miami, Dallas Rico, Roderick Morrow, Danielle Solomon and Randolph Terrence

Sound Engineer Toni Paulsen

Fact checker LaPorsche Thomas

Music Supervisor Patricia Wangechi Kihoro

Theme Song Freedom by Pharell Williams

Music featured in this episode include:

0s and 1s by Ballpoint

Flavor by Ballpoint

First to Fall by Toby Tranter

Globular by _91nova

Outta my Way by APOLLO

Goodie Bags by Dylan Sitts

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

Making Black AF History (featuring Pharrell Williams and John Legend) Oct 31, 2023

Show notes

In this episode before the season finalé… Join Michael as he goes behind the scenes to meet the people who make the Drapetomaniax: Unshackled History podcast at the cast’s wrap party.

Drapetomaniax is created by Michael Harriot in collaboration between OtherTone, Sony Music Entertainment and Queer Media.

This episode features:

Pharrell Williams

John Legend

Michael Michael Harriot

Rod Rod Morrow

Noleca Blu Radway

Janicia Janicia Francis

JoAnn JoAnn DeLuna

Patricia Patricia Wangechi Kihoro

Danielle Danielle Solomon

Silas Charles Jouda

Moses Moses Soyoola

Security Homero Radway

Executive Producers Pharrell Williams, Scott Vener, Noleca Radway, and Moses Soyoola

Senior ProducerJanicia Francis

Managing Producer JoAnn DeLuna

Production CoordinatorHomero Radway

Production Assistant Gilianne Roberts-Atkinson

Writers Taylor Le Melle, Dallas Rico, Roderick Morrow, Danielle Solomon and Randolph Terrence

Audio Engineer Marcellino van Callias

Fact checker LaPorsche Thomas

Music Supervisor Patricia Wangechi Kihoro

Theme Song Freedom by Pharell Williams

Music featured on this episode includes: Mint Condition by Margareta, Rain Trap by Majk Jutbo, Head Nod Supreme by Kommodity, Mad For by Nbhd Nick, Please Leave A Message by Harvio, On My Time by King Sis, Bluedreams by Xavy Rusan, Cash Machine by FLYIN, Final Parade by Jon Björk, Dinner in Oaxaca by Guustavv, Stima by Elsaphan Njora

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

Mary Ellen Pleasant: Black Capitalist (featuring Touré, Diamond Stylz, and Jody Simms) Oct 24, 2023

Show notes

Can you name the 19th century Black woman entrepreneur who funded hundreds of Black people to flee from slavery? Mary Ellen Pleasant reported in 1875 a net worth of 30 million US dollars. Which today would be worth just shy of one billion dollars. Join the students at Drapetomaniax Agricultural and Technical State University School as they learn all about this self-made millionaire abolitionist.

Drapetomaniax is created by Michael Harriot in collaboration between OtherTone, Sony Music Entertainment and Queer Media.

This episode features:

Professor MX Fa Rizzle Diamond

Black Billionaire Aspirant Guy Toure

City Girl Jody Simms

Special thanks to our voice actors:

Mary Ellen Pleasant Leila Gray or LaPorshe Thomas

Aunt April Ola Ronke

Aunt May Kim Baum

Aunt June Allegra White

Free person of color John Etienne

Quaker Friend David Easton

Marie Laveau Sabine Blaizin

Bank Teller Noleca Radway

Executive Producers Pharrell Williams, Scott Vener, Noleca Radway, and Moses Soyoola

Senior ProducerJanicia Francis

Managing Producer JoAnn DeLuna

Production CoordinatorHomero Radway

Production Assistant Gilianne Roberts-Atkinson

WritersTaylor Le Melle, Dallas Rico, Roderick Morrow, Danielle Solomon and Randolph Terrence

Audio Engineer Toni Paulsen

Fact checker LaPorsche Thomas

Music Supervisor Patricia Kihoro

Theme Song Freedom by Pharell Williams

Songs featured in this episode include: Wicked Cinema - Cold Case, Hitstreak - Michael Briguglio, Messages and Portraits - O Mio Babbino Caro, come to find out. - Le Melle, Ethos by Johannes Bornlof, Learn to Let Go - Ben Elson, El Baile del Barrio - El Equipo Del Norte, 80’s Horror Movie by DJ Denz The Rooster, and music by Chad Milner

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

Sister Rosetta Tharpe: The Woman Who Invented Rock & Roll (featuring Lynnée Denise and Reagan Gomez) Oct 17, 2023

Show notes

Who really invented rock n roll? The facts are clear—it was Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the Black queer gospel-influenced rock and roll Beyoncé of the 1930s and ‘40s. Music legends like Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash stole her musical style without proper acknowledgement or credit. In a renaissance of sound, celebrity and high drama we salute the legend Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

Drapetomaniax is created by Michael Harriot in collaboration between OtherTone, Sony Music Entertainment and Queer Media.

This episode features:

Lynnée Lynnée Denise

Honey Reagan Gomez

Special thanks to our voice actors:

Juju Noleca Radway

Devon Danielle Solomon

Ballroom Commentator Ronie Rieves

Executive Producers Pharrell Williams, Scott Vener, Noleca Radway, and Moses Soyoola

Senior ProducerJanicia Francis

Managing Producer JoAnn DeLuna

Production CoordinatorHomero Radway

Production Assistant Gilianne Roberts-Atkinson

WritersSilas Miami, Dallas Rico, Roderick Morrow, Danielle Solomon and Randolph Terrence

Audio Engineer Marcellino van Callias

Fact checker LaPorsche Thomas

Music Supervisor Patricia Kihoro

Theme Song Freedom by Pharell Williams

Music featured in this episode includes:

My Man and I - Sister Rosetta Tharp

This Train - Sister Rosetta Tharp

Plays Rock Me Growl - Sister Rosetta Tharp

Didn’t it Rain - Sister Rosetta Tharp

Tall Skinny Papa - Sister Rosetta Tharp

Strange Things Happening Every Day

Don’t Be Cruel -Elvis Presley

Getaway Rock - Elliot Holmes

Coconut Rock - Speedy The Spider

Almost Like Falling In Love - Kayla

NYFW - Blue Steel

Vogue - Blue Steel

Agents - Alex Dovo

Order the book Why Willie Mae Thornton Matters by Lynnée Denise

https://utpress.utexas.edu/9781477321188/

For more information about the book and Lynnée Denise’s recent projects please visit https://linktr.ee/lynneedenise

And for general information about DJ Scholarship visit www.djlynneedenise.com

Twitter: @lynneedenise

Instagram: @lynneedenise

Radio Show The Black Atlantic/Black Fantastic https://1btn.fm/dj/the-black-atlantic-black-fantastic/

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

Boley, Oklahoma: A Black Town In The American West (featuring Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Tiffany Cross, and OlaRonke Akinmowo) Oct 03, 2023

Show notes

Have you heard about Boley, Oklahoma - the town that wished a motherfucker would? Boley was a thriving, black town founded by Abigail McCormick who had inherited the land where Boley was founded from her grandfather, a Creek Freedmen. This episode tells the story of how, in 1932, the entire town came together when a gang of white men decided to rob the bank because they thought it’d be easy. But they were in for a big surprise.

Drapetomaniax is created by Michael Harriot in collaboration between OtherTone, Sony Music Entertainment and Queer Media

This episode features:

Malcolm-Jamal Warner T.R. Ringe

Sheila Thompkins Tiffany Cross

Rashieda OlaRonke Akinmowo

Special thanks to our voice actors:

Ruby Jean Andrea O’Brien Vives

Groupchat 1 Jason Vives

Groupchat 2 Timil Jones

Movie Trailer Voice Guy Homero Radway

Robber 2 CC Patterson Geo Wyex

Robber 1 George Roderick Morrow

McCormick Homero Radway

Booker T Washington Rodrick Morrow

DJ Carvell Wallace

Mainline Operator Blu Radway

Executive Producers Pharrell Williams, Scott Vener, Noleca Radway, and Moses Soyoola

Senior ProducerJanicia Francis

Managing Producer JoAnn DeLuna

Production CoordinatorHomero Radway

Production Assistant Gilianne Roberts-Atkinson

WritersSilas Miami, Dallas Rico, Roderick Morrow, Danielle Solomon and Randolph Terrence

Audio Engineer Toni Paulsen

Fact checker LaPorsche Thomas

Music Supervisor Patricia Kihoro

Theme Song Freedom by Pharell Williams

Music featured in this episode include:

RnB Vibes by Grigoriy Nuzhny

At The Cross by Joyspring

The Magnetic Buzz by Spaghetti Dual

Cash Out by Nbhd Nick

Life of a Cowboy by Mac Taboel

Standoff by Nylonia

Rogue by Cody Martin

The News Tonight by Shimmer

Like N Subscribe by Work Brunch

Civil War Song- Battle Cry of Freedom

Tumbleweeds by Desert Dive

Dodge City by Christian Andersen

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

For Us, By Us Sep 26, 2023

Show notes

In this special behind the scenes episode, Drapetomaniax producers Gillianne, Janicia and Noleca answer some of our biggest listener questions, and discuss the politics behind making this groundbreaking Black History concept show.

Drapetomaniax is created by Michael Harriot in collaboration between OtherTone, Sony Music Entertainment and Queer Media.

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

Afeni Shakur On Trial: How To Get Away With Drapetomania (featuring MeLa Machinko) Sep 19, 2023

Show notes

In the midst of the Black Power movement of the 1960’s, the US government launched a campaign of terror against the Black Panther Party. In 1969, the NYPD raided the homes of multiple members. Twenty-one people (The Panther 21) were arrested, including Afeni Shakur. The young, expectant mother with no formal legal background, decided to act as her own counsel and represent herself during trial. Our very own Negro News Network reports on the astonishing trial of Afeni Shakur.

Drapetomaniax is created by Michael Harriot in collaboration between OtherTone, Sony Music Entertainment and Queer Media

This episode features:

Afeni Shakur Mela Machinko

Special thanks to our voice actors:

Prosecutor Andrea O’Brien Vives

Trudy Black Patricia Wongeshi Kihoro

Baliff Nasheema Webster

Customer Noleca Radway

Advertisment VO Rodrick Morrow

Advertisment Ad-lib Sioban Anderson

Judge Jason Vives

Ralph White Charles Ouda

Drive-Thru Employee Janicia Francis

Executive Producers Pharrell Williams, Scott Vener, Noleca Radway, and Moses Soyoola

Senior ProducerJanicia Francis

Managing Producer JoAnn DeLuna

Production CoordinatorHomero Radway

Production Assistant Gilianne Roberts-Atkinson

WritersSilas Miami, Dallas Rico, Roderick Morrow, Danielle Solomon and Randolph Terrence

Audio Engineer Marcellino van Callias

Fact checker LaPorsche Thomas

Music Supervisor Patricia Kihoro

Theme Song Freedom by Pharell Williams

Music featured in this episode include:

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

Robert F. WIlliams and The Kissing Case (featuring Bob the Drag Queen) Sep 12, 2023

Show notes

Live from the Drapetomaniax Library of Black History, in a special storytime episode, Michael is joined by Bob the Drag Queen to shed light on the harrowing tale of how civil rights leader and founder of the Black Armed Guard, Robert F. Williams, organized his city and galvanized the world to save two innocent children from a twenty-two year prison sentence.

Drapetomaniax is created by Michael Harriot in collaboration between OtherTone, Sony Music Entertainment and Queer Media.

This episode features:

Bob Bob the Drag Queen

Special thanks to our voice actors:

Mrs. Agnes Andrea O’Brien Vives

Keisha Jude Pijeaux

Brianna Hannan Pijeaux

Alex Moxie Radway

Kid 1 August Jervis-Spitzman

Executive Producers Pharrell Williams, Scott Vener, Noleca Radway, and Moses Soyoola

Senior ProducerJanicia Francis

Managing Producer JoAnn DeLuna

Production CoordinatorHomero Radway

Production Assistant Gilianne Roberts-Atkinson

Head Writer Silas Miami

Writers Dallas Rico, Roderick Morrow, Danielle Solomon, Randolph Terrence

Sound Engineer Toni Paulsen

Fact checker LaPorsche Thomas

Music Supervisor Patricia Kihoro

Theme Song Freedom by Pharell Williams

This episode includes the songs Golden Crates” by Dusty Decks, Built For You” by Wanja Wohoro, Keys to the Castle by Salon Dijon, Vanished” by Wicked Cinema , Birdwatching” by Delbony as well as music by Chad Milner

Special thanks to StoryCorps for the audio of James Thompson from a conversation recorded and produced by StoryCorps. Originally aired April 11, 2011 on NPR's Morning Edition and made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

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

The Original 33: Why Everybody Ain’t Invited To The Cookout (featuring Roland Martin, Nina Hibbler Webster and Brian Forte) Sep 05, 2023

Show notes

After the Civil War, so many newly freed African Americans registered to vote that Georgia elected 3 Black state senators and 30 Black state representatives. They were known as The Original 33. Southern white supremacists were so afraid when Black people exercised their right to vote that they started a race war. Representative Henry McNeal Turner aka DJ Freedman hosts this week's show live from the 1868 cookout that led to the Camilla Massacre.

Drapetomaniax is created by Michael Harriot in collaboration between OtherTone, Sony Music Entertainment and Queer Media

This episode features:

Sen Tunis Campbell Roland Martin

Rep. Henry McNeal Turner Brian Forte

Stacey Nina Hibbler Webster

Special thanks to our voice actors:

Commercial Voice Over Andrea O’Brien Vives

Black Voice 1 Blu Radway

Black Voice 2 Q Daily

Black Voice 3 Taylor Le Melle

Social Media Voice 2 Deborah Beete

Social Media Voice 1 Diamond Stylz

Essy Mae Davis Sabrina Harvey

Child Ryze Sparkman

Ad Libs Shalewa Mackal

Executive Producers Pharrell Williams, Scott Vener, Noleca Radway, and Moses Soyoola

Senior ProducerJanicia Francis

Managing Producer JoAnn DeLuna

Production CoordinatorHomero Radway

Production Assistant Gilianne Roberts-Atkinson

Head Writer Silas Miami

Writers Dallas Rico, Roderick Morrow, Danielle Solomon, Randolph Terrence

Audio Engineer Toni Paulsen

Fact checker LaPorsche Thomas

Music Supervisor Patricia Kihoro

Theme Song Freedom by Pharell Williams

The music featured in this episode includes

Family and What by Walz

Operator by White Drift

Get off your feet by Margareta

Pico by Jobii

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

Onesimus & The Great Vaccine Debate (featuring Damon Young and J-L Cauvin) Aug 29, 2023

Show notes

In the midst of disease and death in the colonies, an enslaved man named Onesimus introduces America to the smallpox vaccine. But much like today, the concept of a vaccine sparked skepticism, concern, counter protests and rumors that the enslaved were trying to kill off white people.

Drapetomaniax is created by Michael Harriot in collaboration between OtherTone, Sony Music Entertainment and Queer Media.

This episode featured: Damon Young as Onesimus and J-L Cauvin as Cotton Mather and James Franklin

Special thanks to our voice actors

Reporter Andrea O’Brien Vives

Slave TicTok1 Moses Soyoola

Slave Tick Tok 2 Timil Jones

Slave Tick Tok 3 Jason Vives

Dr. Kizzmkia Corbett Sabrina Harvey Merritt

Ad Lib 1 Avron Roberts

Voice Susan Haynes

Voice Christopher Toppino

Voice Magnolia McKay

Ad lib 3 Gillianne Roberts-Atkinson

Executive Producers Pharrell Williams, Scott Vener, Noleca Radway, and Moses Soyoola

Senior ProducerJanicia Francis

Managing Producer JoAnn DeLuna

Production CoordinatorHomero Radway

Production Assistant Gilianne Roberts-Atkinson

Head Writer Silas Miami

Writers Roderick Morrow, Danielle Solomon

Audio Engineer Marcellino van Callias

Fact checker LaPorsche Thomas

Music Supervisor Patricia Kihoro

Theme Song Freedom by Pharell Williams

This episode includes the songs “Demasked” and “Epicio” by Kevin servHis , “Thang Thang” by Tina Mina, ‘Tickety Tok’ by The New Fools, ‘Honourable Salute’ by Sage Oursler and music by Chad Milner.

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

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Drapetomaniax: Unshackled History

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected