Best PushBlack Podcasts (2024)

1
Prince’s Inspiring Legacy And Activism For Artistic Freedom 3:27

3h ago3:27

3:27

With the word “slave” written on his right cheek, Prince put on a legendary performance. Many people viewed his music as an escape to feel free, but what happens when the artist doesn’t feel free himself? _____________ 2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. PushBlack exists to amplify t…

1
His Escapes Mirrored The Ancestors From Centuries Ago 3:06

22m ago3:06

3:06

His breathing heavy, he heard guards searching through the forest, shouting his name. He couldn’t get caught. Because just like his fugitive ancestors, who escaped the plantation centuries ago, he too was a runaway - a successful one! _____________ 2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company.…

1
Slavemasters In Your Neighborhood with Clint Smith (May 2021) 54:31

20m ago54:31

54:31

The debates over U.S. monuments that celebrate Confederate generals, soldiers, and politicians show just how pervasive slavery's legacy is - and how it continues to impact the way Black America moves and exists in the world today. In May 2021, Jay sat down with author/poet Clint Smith to discuss this and more on this episode of the Best of Black Hi…

1
Her Legacy Continues To Inspire Black Culture Decades Later 3:11

1h ago3:11

3:11

She’s responsible for much of our cultural norms and celebrations. Her legacy? Being the iconic leader who took no mess. _____________ 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 wi…

1
They’ve Got Weapons | 4 46:53

3d ago46:53

46:53

Horrific race riots erupt when New York City starts to draft soldiers into the Civil War. A mob of white people, who resent fighting for emancipation, direct their rage at the Black community as well as the police… and all hell breaks loose. The NYPD pushes for more firearms – but will they use them to protect New York’s most vulnerable, or subdue …

1
The Delicious Evolution Of Soul Food 3:38

1h ago3:38

3:38

Culinary historian Micheal Twitty says: “Our food was never just food. It was medicine and a gateway to good fortune, and a mystical lubricant between the living and the dead.” Our cuisine has always been worthy of praise. _____________ 2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. PushBlack e…

1
He Proved That You Can Fight Injustice At Any Age 3:32

1h ago3:32

3:32

For decades, he watched this country evolve and shift - and in many ways treat Black people the same. But how he went hard for our people even at 91 years old will inspire you to never stop fighting for our rights. _____________ 2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. PushBlack exists to…

1
The History Behind Sweet vs Savory Grits 3:21

1h ago3:21

3:21

The sweet vs. savory grits debate is a longstanding discussion in our community. But is there a right way to enjoy comfort food? _____________ 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 h…

1
Environmental Racism- A Hidden Threat with Dr. Dorceta Taylor (April 2021) 53:35

42m ago53:35

53:35

The lasting impacts of toxic waste, pollution, climate change, and other harms continue to cause long-term health outcomes and take countless Black lives. In April 2021, with the guidance of environmental sociologist Dr. Dorceta Taylor, Jay digs into the connection between racism, economic inequality, the environment, and the actions we can take to…

1
He Froze Racism In Its Tracks With This Invention 3:16

33m ago3:16

3:16

Our people were fighting for freedom – and this brilliant inventor had an epiphany. To succeed against white terrorism, we would need to be committed to one thing: problem-solving. And he gave us a perfect example. _____________ 2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. PushBlack exists to…

1
What’s Done Can Be Undone | 3 40:31

4d ago40:31

40:31

New York’s power-hungry mayor weaponizes the police to help him control the city – and bulldoze a thriving Black community for his own real estate profits. The state, fearing that the mayor and his police have become too strong, wage a war for control – and create their own rival force. From Wondery, Crooked Media and PushBlack. Empire City is made…

1
Black Women Invented Rock, Proving the Enduring Legacy of Black Musicians 3:45

10m ago3:45

3:45

Her fingers plucked the guitar strings with an intensity no one had heard before. She created a bold, new genre. Yet when people think of rock, they forget all about Sister Rosetta Tharpe or countless Black women who still rock hard today. _____________ 2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media com…

1
She Changed The State Of Death Row In This Country 3:15

23h ago3:15

3:15

The 20-year-old mother woke up in a daze, neck sore. Shocked, she saw her husband beside her, dying. Shockingly, she would not only get sent to prison for her husband’s murder, but end up battling her entire country. _____________ 2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. PushBlack exists …

1
This Legendary Singer's Most Famous Song Sparked Suspicions Around His Untimely Death 3:14

2d ago3:14

3:14

Sam Cooke's smooth voice and good looks created the pop music we know today. However, 60 years after his lifeless body was found stripped naked in a seedy motel, questions still linger surrounding his death. _____________ 2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. PushBlack exists to amplif…

1
The Psychological Effects of White Supremacy with Dr. Kevin Cokley (Dec 2020) 47:23

3d ago47:23

47:23

White supremacy is a horror you'll find at every turn. It’s the very foundation of governmental policies and the policing systems that target and disadvantage us. But don’t take my word for it. Jay shared a revealing conversation with psychologist Kevin Cokley in Dec 2020 about the pernicious psychological harm of white supremacy. This is the Best …

1
Introducing Empire City: The Untold Origin Story of the NYPD 44:44

4d ago44:44

44:44

The police tell us they are here to protect us. But what if their original purpose was something else altogether? Peabody Award-winning host Chenjerai Kumanyika takes listeners on a journey to uncover the hidden history of the largest police force in the world – from its roots in slavery, to rival police gangs battling across the city, to everyday …

1
Why AAVE And ‘Blackronyms’ Hold Cultural And Historical Power 3:13

4d ago3:13

3:13

It's become a cool language trend where everyone wants to drop "savage" or "lit" to sound hip. While it may seem harmless, it perpetuates cultural appropriation and erases the history behind AAVE. _____________ 2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. PushBlack exists to amplify the stori…

1
If It Bleeds It Leads | 2 42:30

15d ago42:30

42:30

Before the NYPD existed, New Yorkers strongly opposed the idea of an armed police force – until a powerful news publisher changed everything. After a grisly murder takes place, the city’s newspapers sensationalize the story, blame the cops, and a new force is born. But will these cops work to solve the case or will they spend their days hunting som…

51
They Keep People Safe | 1 43:17

15d ago43:17

43:17

Chenjerai takes us back to the summer of 1835, when Black New Yorkers are being kidnapped and sold into slavery in the south. But their friends and families can’t call the cops, because it turns out the kidnappers are the cops…can a group of Black resistance fighters stop it? From Wondery, Crooked Media and PushBlack. Empire City is made with a com…

1
The Hidden Black History Of Memorial Day 3:33

7d ago3:33

3:33

Thousands of Black bodies had been tossed in mass graves after fighting for freedom — it was only right that they honored the fallen. Ten thousand people sang hymns and laid flowers. How did the Black history of this holiday get erased? _____________ 2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media compan…

1
He Is The Mastermind Behind The Black Panther Party's Iconic Visuals 3:22

8d ago3:22

3:22

It’s been decades since they disbanded, but we all know the visual identity of the Black Panthers. Think: the logo, the bold, bright colors, the illustrations of revolutionaries and cops. If that rings a bell, you need to know this artist. _____________ 2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media com…

1
This Self-Taught Photographer Documented Black Life Within The Segregated South 2:56

9d ago2:56

2:56

Gordon Parks knew a picture was worth more than 1,000 words: photographs could be weapons to fight white supremacy. Some saw his career, as a self-taught turned famous photographer, as a way out of the segregated South. But he knew it a way in. _____________ 2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black medi…

1
Shifting the Balance of Power with Dr. Joy James (Dec 2020) 28:38

10d ago28:38

28:38

Do you think you know about power? Do you think you know about control? Abolitionist scholar Dr. Joy James shared a theory with Jay back in December 2020 that explores the one specific condition required for Black liberation to occur. All is revealed in this—The Best of Black History Year. _____________ Black History Year (BHY) is produced by PushB…

1
The Unbelievable Legend of the First Black Samurai 3:04

11d ago3:04

3:04

He was forced to strip. Standing naked in front of the gawking masses, he scrubbed his skin raw to prove to them that his skin was, in fact, Black. Why on earth would he need to do this? _____________ 2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. PushBlack exists to amplify the stories of Blac…

1
This Black Spiritual Was Never Meant To Be A Campfire Song 3:04

19d ago3:04

3:04

"Kumbaya” may be a beloved campfire song, but it was a Black spiritual before it was co-opted and became anti-Black. _____________ 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 y…

1
The Civil Rights Singer Who Used Her Voice To Fight Back 3:18

28d ago3:18

3:18

Nobody could stop them in their tracks like Rutha Mae Harris. She stood on the frontlines with nothing separating her from them but the gun barrel she stared down. Then, Harris opened her mouth and began to sing. _____________ 2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. PushBlack exists to a…

1
How The Peacock Chair Became An Iconic Cultural Symbol 2:56

16d ago2:56

2:56

A rattan chair woven together in a light brown hue with a balloon back and round base is familiar. From baby showers to Huey P. Newton’s famous photo, this chair has been special to us for generations—but why? _____________ 2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. PushBlack exists to ampl…

1
The African Foundations of Civilization with Dr Runoko Rashidi (Oct 2020) 1:02:00

29d ago1:02:00

1:02:00

Our story begins in Nubia and the Nile Valley, the Kingdom of Kongo, the Mali Empire, and the Great Zimbabwe. Our host, Jay, sat down with Dr. Runoko Rashidi in October 2020 to reveal how the origins of Black people lie in great, ancient African civilizations and how our hidden history spans the globe. To learn of Dr. Rashidi's work, visit drrunoko…

1
His Scientific Invention Made The Moon Landing Possible 3:25

19d ago3:25

3:25

He was a hidden figure to many, kept out of the limelight because racists preferred it that way. But working in a white-run profession didn’t stop him from reaching for the stars. LITERALLY. _____________ 2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. PushBlack exists to amplify the stories of …

1
Introducing: Empire City: The Untold Origin Story of the NYPD 2:58

1M ago2:58

2:58

The police tell us they are here to protect us. But what if their original purpose was something else altogether? Peabody Award-winning host Chenjerai Kumanyika takes listeners on a journey to uncover the hidden history of the largest police force in the world – from its roots in slavery, to rival police gangs battling across the city, to everyday …

1
The Man Who Made Malcolm X The Hero He Became 2:51

22d ago2:51

2:51

Malcolm X might have stayed as “Detroit Red” if it wasn’t for a chance meeting in prison with Elton Bembry, better known as “Bimbi,” who showed him the power of education. But who was Bimbi? _____________ 2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. PushBlack exists to amplify the stories of …

1
The First Black Circus Owner's Philosophy On How To Treat Performers 3:00

23d ago3:00

3:00

The circus was in town, and the tent was filled to capacity. Families traveled from miles around to see something they’d never seen. As the Ringmaster stepped from the shadows, the crowd gasped. What on earth was THIS? _____________ 2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. PushBlack exist…

1
The Circus Slaves No One Ever Talks About 3:19

23d ago3:19

3:19

Brothers George and Willie Muse were abducted by the famous Ringling Bros. circus. Though many thought the children would be lost forever, their mother demanded justice… and got it. 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'…

1
A Liberated Black Imaginary with adrienne maree brown (March 2021) 49:58

25d ago49:58

49:58

Everything humanity has ever created – the good and the bad – started with imagination. But what if we could harness the power of imagination — tap into a “Black imaginary” — to build a truly just future for Black people, unique in the audacity of its reach? A dream? A simple fantasy? We don’t think so, nor did our guest, author-activist-afrofuturi…

1
They Lied About This Massacre To Protect A Racist Myth 3:00

1M ago3:00

3:00

This was one of the bloodiest massacres in American history, but it’s been mostly erased from history! Why? Because it reveals the truth about a terrible racist myth we’ve all been taught. _____________ 2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. PushBlack exists to amplify the stories of Bl…

1
His Honesty Helped Raise Awareness Around AIDS 3:07

1M ago3:07

3:07

He was terrified for his life. There were sores all over his body - was this the new virus the CDC was warning everyone about? _____________ 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 hap…

1
How This Brilliant Inventor Transformed Black Homes 3:13

1M ago3:13

3:13

As a young inventor, he wanted to change the world – but as he got older, he realized that he could actually transform Black people’s lives closer to home. How did his curiosity and brilliance cause him to do both? _____________ 2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. PushBlack exists to…

1
The Most Powerful Black Politician You've Never Heard Of 3:16

1M ago3:16

3:16

He may as well have been a unicorn: an honest, pro-Black politician during the Reconstruction era, where corruption and racism ran rampant! But soon he was dead – and his name would be as hard to find in history as a unicorn! But why? _____________ 2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company.…

1
Dr. Boyce Watkins and The Story of Sarah Rector (May 2020) 40:32

1M ago40:32

40:32

In 1907, as Oklahoma was becoming a state, the Dawes Allotment Act divided Indigenous land among natives and formerly enslaved Black people. Each member of the Rector family received land, including 10-year-old Sarah Rector, who would soon become the richest Black woman in America. In May 2020, Jay conversed with author and economic scholar Dr. Boy…

1
The True History Behind Billie Holiday's Most Impactful Song 3:30

1M ago3:30

3:30

The air was thick with tension. Police lined the back of the auditorium, daring her to sing the first note. “Southern trees bear a strange fruit,” she sang before all Hell broke loose. Here’s the history behind Billie Holiday’s most dangerous song. _____________ 2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black …

1
She Paved The Way For Black Women's Suffrage 3:42

1M ago3:42

3:42

She fought so hard, for so long, and yet – she felt so small. Her life was falling apart. Her health was failing her, and she was running out of time. Would she live to see the impact of her work? _____________ 2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. PushBlack exists to amplify the stori…

1
Maya Angelou Had Some Choice Words For Tupac In 1992 3:30

1M ago3:30

3:30

The day that Tupac Shakur met Maya Angelou on the set of “Poetic Justice,” he experienced a profound moment of empathy that would forever shape his life and career. _____________ 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 l…

1
The Little-Known Black History Of The Easter Holiday 3:15

1M ago3:15

3:15

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. _____________ 2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. PushBlack exists to amplify the stories of Bla…

1
Reclaiming Black Sexuality and Eroticism, Part 2 with Rev. Courtney Bryant 58:35

2M ago58:35

58:35

Today's History Story: Top Lies About Twerking We’re wrapping up our incredible conversation with Reverend Dr. Courtney Alma Bryant about erotic defiance and body reclamation. Erotic defiance is a powerful form of resistance and self-expression. Those brave enough to reclaim their bodies from racist and sexist constraints reap the liberating reward…

1
The Underground Railroad Was Only One Path To Freedom. Going Further South Was Another 3:19

2M ago3:19

3:19

To the North lay freedom, or so many believed. Starvation, exposure to the elements, and especially the threat of recapture still hung heavy over the heads of those who had escaped bondage. But what about escaping even further south? _____________ 2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. …

1
3 Methods Behind The Magic Of Black Creativity 3:28

2M ago3:28

3:28

Bass filling our ears, bodies dancing to new sounds. Words clipped from the documents that oppressed us, making them our own. The broken patterns of soft, colorful fabric. Our culture is synonymous with experimental creativity. Here are three examples of how. _____________ 2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-pr…

1
The Special Role Kola Nuts Play In Black Spirituality 3:02

2M ago3:02

3:02

Beyond being the once-key ingredient in soda, the kola nut has a long history with our people that goes deeper than any sugary drink. It’s a symbol of peace, prayer, and justice. _____________ 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 histor…

1
The Black Roots Of Macaroni And Cheese 3:08

2M ago3:08

3:08

It’s an iconic dish that warms the tables of our homes, fellowship halls, picnic tables at cookouts, and anywhere else special enough to bestow it. We don’t play about mac and cheese, and its incredible history in Black kitchens could explain why. _____________ 2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black m…

1
Reclaiming Black Sexuality and Eroticism with Rev. Courtney Bryant 1:04:19

2M ago1:04:19

1:04:19

Today's History Story: The Jezebel Myth Many dehumanizing stereotypes have persisted from slavery and Jim Crow to our present day. One of the most insidious? The Jezebel. But who was Jezebel, and what does her story reveal about the West’s deep-seated fear of Black bodies, sexuality, and the erotic? Today’s guest has plenty to say about it. Reveren…

1
This Popular Holiday Drink Is Rooted In Black History 2:43

2M ago2:43

2:43

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. _____________ 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 yo…

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