The first woman on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorist List was a Black Panther. The richest person of all time, an African king, gave away so much gold that it caused Cairo’s economy to crash. A 109 year old Black woman fights for reparations for her neighborhood that was burned to the ground when she was a child. On Wondery’s history series Black History, For Real, hosts Franchesca Ramsey and Conscious Lee go beyond the stories you already know to drop you right in the mix. It’s a no-nonsense, unwhitewashed account of history’s most overlooked moments, with a mix of narrative storytelling and candid conversation. We’ll even spill the occasional historical tea! It’s all facts, no cap.
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The podcast Black History, For Real is created by Wondery. The podcast and the artwork on this page are embedded on this page using the public podcast feed (RSS).
Vienna is working a delivery job when she hears about Cop City, a massive police training facility planned for Atlanta. She decides to join the activists trying to stop construction. When Vienna arrives in the South River Forest, she quickly finds a community, a cause and a love unlike any other. But the events of one morning shatters everything. Vienna and everyone connected to the forest begin to question what are you willing to die for? Wondery, Campside and Tenderfoot TV present: We Came to the Forest.
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Kamala Harris, the daughter of immigrants, once dreamed of justice on the streets of Oakland. Barack Obama, born to a Kenyan father and a Kansas mother, found his voice on Chicago's South Side. Against the odds, both rose from the margins to the Senate, ultimately shattering ceilings in the White House. But with the 2024 election looming, Harris stands on the precipice of another historic leap. The path Obama carved is now shadowed by fierce divisions and disillusionment. In a nation wrestling with the fallout of Obama’s legacy and the fierce resistance that followed, can Harris carry the torch forward? Or will America’s appetite for change be extinguished just as she steps forward?
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It's 1978, and Senator Edward Brooke is fighting for his political life. As the first Black U.S. Senator elected by popular vote, Ed broke barriers and reached the heights of power. But scandal and betrayal threaten to bring it all crashing down. Meanwhile, a young Carol Moseley Braun faces her own trials as she begins her journey to become the first Black woman in the Senate. From backroom deals to civil rights battles, two trailblazing Black senators navigate racism, party politics, and inner turmoil in their attempt to shape American democracy.
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The Civil War’s over, countless Black people are making their way in a new and dangerous world, and their fight for equality and representation ain’t over. Two Black men – preacher Hiram Revels and the formerly enslaved Blanche Bruce – rise up during U.S. Reconstruction with different ideas about gaining and maintaining power. One, leans on his faith and his God, the other on his wiles as he escapes near death. Both men come from two completely different walks of life, but their eyes are set on winning the same prize: becoming the first Black senators in the United States’ Congress. But, the nation’s politics are strained, and even if they win their seats, taking real power ain’t gonna be easy.
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Blackness is more than skin deep. This thing is cultural, and culture moves beyond what we can see. Franchesca and Conscious dive into the nuances between race and ethnicity while celebrating the contributions of Afro Latino people to Black history. And, because we ain’t gonna let Halloween pass us by without touching on the spooky, our hosts chat about the resurgence of Voodoo in some Afro Latino communities and its connection back to the African continent.
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Woop! Woop! That’s the sound of da police! Conscious and Frankie welcome Dr. Chenjerai Kumanyika – host of Empire City: The Untold Origin Story of the NYPD. Dr. Kumanyika’s podcast is a deeply personal tale of his relationship to policing, the history of the NYPD and its long reaching impact in police departments across the nation. Are the police truly functioning as designed? Does their origin begin and end as slave catching patrols? Today’s conversation brings humor and depth to the exploration of that fraught history.
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As a child, Gwen Ifill watches the flickering images of 1960s America dance across her television screen. Journalists and news anchors covering the turbulent era look and sound nothing like Gwen, but she’s determined to leave her mark. From her internship at the Boston Herald American, to debate stages holding powerful politicians to account and town halls creating space for Black America’s pain and rage – Gwen Ifill carves a path all her own to the top of legacy media.
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The famous Brazilian footballer Pelé should never have climbed to the pinnacle of his sport. Young Edson, the kid who would become Pelé, grows up in poverty kicking around a football made of socks. And he lives in a country uncomfortable with his Black skin. Born with a dream too large for his small village to hold and the relentless determination to become the best footballer in the world, Pelé climbs from obscurity on the pitch and becomes the national treasure of his country and the game.
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Celia Cruz, dubbed the "Queen of Salsa" is one the the biggest Latin music stars of all time. From her humble beginnings in Cuba to her rise as a global icon, Celia’s voice and energy changed the game for Latin music. Fran and Conscious explore her journey, the racial barriers she broke, and the vibrant spirit she left behind. We’ll also dig into her strong stance against Fidel Castro, why she never returned to Cuba, and how that shaped her life and songs. ¡Azúcar!
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Black people’s accomplishments aren’t usually celebrated without creating some discomfort in the white cultural zeitgeist. There’s something about Black Excellence that often leads to knee jerk criticisms. From the complicated Jack Johnson, to the modern-day struggles of Serena Williams and Colin Kaepernick, this question in sports keeps popping up: why do Black athletes often have to fight for their humanity as much as they do for victory? This deep dive with Franchesca and Conscious unpacks the weight Black sports icons carry as they navigate notoriety, racism, and activism in a world that loves their talent but resists their truth.
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“Luck has nothing to do with it, because I have spent many, many hours, countless hours, on the court working for my one moment in time, not knowing when it would come.” Serena Williams said those words knowing how many perceived a young Black girl in a predominantly white sport. Her career might appear defined by luck on the outside, but the kid who grew up slamming tennis balls on Compton’s Courts always believed she’d be the G.O.A.T. Her journey to the top is filled with failures and disappointments but surprisingly little self-doubt. When the tennis world turns on Serena and her sister Venus, the legend in the making steps onto Arthur Ashe Court at the US Open, and turns her gaze to the future of the sport and her budding legacy.
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Jack Johnson, the Galveston Giant, is known for two things: his brutal fists and fearless audacity. Before Muhammad Ali, Johnson shocked the world with his unrivaled boxing skills, shattering racial barriers and igniting racial tensions. On July 4th, 1910, in "The Fight of the Century," he defeated Jim Jeffries, the "Great White Hope," becoming the first Black World Heavyweight Boxing Champion and creating an uproar among racists. But Jack's legacy of rising from poverty and challenging racial constructs is soon overshadowed by his own personal demons.
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Witnessing someone achieve greatness in multiple areas of life is pretty rare. Paul Robeson’s a rare type of man. Almost like Beyonce, he’s a Renaissance man. There isn’t a color line he can’t cross and excellence is his middle name. By the 1930’s, Paul’s graduated college as valedictorian, played professional football, and become the first Black actor to play Othello (don’t worry this gets addressed in the episode). But even with all the achievements, Paul’s still looked at as a nobody because he’s Black; and his outspoken nature leads to national condemnation.
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Football season’s back, and it’s still missing one of the game’s best quarterbacks: Colin Kaepernick. Colin grows up loving athletes like basketball player Allen Iverson, but he dreams of making it to the NFL. When the dream finally comes true, he takes the NFL world by storm in 2012 as quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. Almost four years later, everything changes. Images of police brutalizing Black people are inescapable. Colin kneels during the National Anthem to protest the injustices. His protests draws attention to police brutality, and it also draws the ire of some NFL owners and fans. But, he refuses to back down. It took Colin years to make it to the league, and only one season to lose it all.
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You ever see someone laugh so hard it makes you crack a smile? Even though you’ve got no idea what they are laughing about? Contagious joy helps people survive. Especially Black people, because Black joy is a revolutionary act. In this bonus episode, Franchesca and Conscious discuss how reclaiming spaces for happiness and expression is vital when balancing stories about trauma and oppression. The hosts also give a history lesson on the roots of rock and roll. Spoiler alert - Black people are the roots.
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You never think a simple day by the water can turn deadly. Young Eugene Williams never thought his day at the beach would end in tragedy, either. But, his death at a segregated beach in Chicago sparks a fight to desegregate all American beaches. Activists like Dr. Gilbert Mason, take a courageous stand to transform public spaces across the nation. In order to enjoy peace and tranquility in the Sun, they rise up and clash with racist violent mobs and a legal system resistant to change. Their fight alters the face of the Civil Rights Movement and the country.
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Summertime, and the livin’s easy. Unless you’re Black, and trying to hit up the beach, in early 19th-century America. Beaches, like the rest of the nation, are segregated by race. And of course Black people only have access to the most dangerous sands and waters. That begins to change when Frederick Douglass’ bougie son, Charles, buys land on the shores of Maryland. On the West Coast, Willa Bruce starts her own beach revolution, but her white neighbor’s aren’t happy and violence follows. If things are going to change anytime soon, Charles and Willa must stand their ground.
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“I’ll sleep when I die.” That’s usually the sentiment of a laborer on the perpetual grind. Sure, hard work pays off, but when do we declare it’s time to rest? In this special episode, our hosts have a candid conversation about the drawbacks of hustle culture and how prioritizing high productivity puts pressure on workers. Franchesca Ramsey and Conscious Lee also speak to the inequalities Black creators face in the gig economy. So let your hair down; this is a safe space.
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Martin Luther King, Jr. is dead, and Samuel L. Jackson’s taken the entire Morehouse College Board of Trustees hostage. This includes the recently assassinated Civil Rights icon’s father – Martin Luther King, Sr. Soon, MLK, Sr’s. heart problems force them to make a stark choice: sacrifice his life for the Movement, or spare him out of a decency. Police violence has ended student protests across the nation, but Samuel and the other students refuse to back down. Their demands must be met, even if it means potentially sacrificing a Movement elder.
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Samuel L. Jackson’s got big plans when he arrives at Morehouse College in the late 1960s. He loves movies and he’s dreaming of a bright future as a marine biologist. But the world’s dreaming of other things.Tensions around the Civil Rights Movement are only increasing and protests against the Vietnam War are erupting on campuses around the nation. When these forces come to a head on campus, Samuel L. Jackson’s leading the charge. And his shocking actions change the history and the future of Morehouse College.
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The more things change, the more they stay the same. Fannie Lou Hamer had her voting rights and reproductive rights infringed upon, but she stood on business to improve things for the future. So, why are we still fighting the same battles? Franchesca Ramsey and Conscious Lee make the connections between what Hamer went through over 50 years ago, and the struggles of medical racism, disenfranchisement, and the disintegration of reproductive rights that we face today.
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After getting arrested by racist police and being beaten to near death, Fannie puts her fight for voting rights into high gear. With the help of fellow activists, Fannie forms her own political party, the MFDP (Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party), and appears on live television - telling her story to millions of Americans. She wants to protect Black citizens from the dangers of racism, and she believes having the power to change legislation will do that. However, there’s one person standing in the way of her mission. The President of the United States.
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Fannie Lou Hamer’s been a fighter her entire life. Growing up as a poor Black girl in Jim Crow Mississippi leaves her no other choice. Fannie’s not just fighting for herself, but for all Black people in the deep south. To her, the path to freedom lies at the ballot box, and the road she walks ain’t easy. Racists will do anything to stop her march for freedom and equality. Even the US government turns on her, and the fight for equal rights nearly costs Fannie Lou her life.
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Motown has finally found its groove. The Jackson Five add their bubblegum soul to the company’s more traditional sound. And albums from Motown artists rocket to the top of the Billboard charts. The record label is churning out hit record after hit record. Things at Stax Records ain’t too bad either. They’ve finally figured out how to capture some of that Motown magic, but new rules for creating music are stifling creativity. Stax musicians are pushing back. Over at Motown, songwriters clamor for more credit, creating tension between the hit writers and the check writers. The legacies of both record labels are on the line, and it's hard to know how they’ll hold on. Or, if it’s even possible.
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The Civil Rights Movement is at its peak. Trouble’s brewing in the streets and inside Motown and Stax records. Stax artists watch in disbelief as Los Angeles burns during the Watts’ uprising. Things get worse when soulful singer Otis Redding is dealt a tragic hand by Lady Luck. Meanwhile, Motown is slapped with a lawsuit from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s lawyers and Diana Ross and the Supremes are rebelling against the labels management. If Motown and Stax are going to survive this turbulent time, they’ll have to overcome the internal divisions driving them apart.
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Motown and Stax are on the come up. Acts like Diana Ross and Isaac Hayes are helping redefine what it means to sing with soul, and their sound captures hearts in America and beyond. Even The Beatles want in on the action. The record labels' successes come with their own set of pitfalls. Money’s tight and artists and musicians are pushing back against low pay. Their chart topping hits aren’t translating into cold hard cash. Something’s gotta give.
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Before Michael Jackson became the King of Pop, or Otis Redding claimed his place as one of the greatest singer-songwriters in American popular music history, their talents had to be discovered and shared with the world. Enter the competing labels Motown and Stax Records. In the early 1960s, Berry Gordy’s Motown and Jim Stewart’s Stax pioneered the sound of Black music, giving birth to soul and R&B amidst deadly civil unrest.
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When it comes to works of art, “Picasso” is synonymous with brilliance and innovation. Spanish painter and sculptor Pablo Picasso is famously known for spearheading the Cubist movement during the 20th century art revolution. What most people don’t know is that Picasso was heavily inspired by Africans and the African diaspora. One of his most famous works, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, depicts a striking resemblance to African masks and sculptures, which has our hosts asking, “Does Picasso owe Black people?” We’re also chatting about the history of braids.
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Black culture is a pivotal pillar of broader American culture. From fashion, to language, to being the sonic foundation to much of American music. In this special episode, our hosts do a deep dive into country music and how its roots are grounded in Black music. Using Beyoncé’s latest effort, Cowboy Carter, as a springboard, Conscious Lee and Franchesca Ramsey discuss the differences between appreciation, appropriation, and colonization of Black culture. There’s also a history lesson on grillz. And not the ones you cook burgers on.
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The Tulsa Race Massacre is by far one of the most horrific events in American history. Although it took place over 100 years ago, the effects still ripple through the country to this day. During this time, the Oklahoma media suppressed the truth of what really happened. However, one brave resident of Greenwood documents the reality. Mary E. Jones Parrish understands the power of storytelling, and she is on a mission to share the truth of what actually happened to Black Wall Street, risking her life in the process.
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In the spring of 1921, a racially integrated group of moviegoers were enjoying a night out at the Black-owned Dreamland Theater. But when the movie is suddenly turned off and the lights are turned on, enjoyment turns to confusion.The cinema patrons are alerted to trouble brewing in town and are urged to make their way home with caution. But as news of a lynching spreads, Greenwood residents begin to panic. The residents of the prosperous town worry not only about their livelihoods, but also their lives.
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In 1906, entrepreneurs Ottawa Gurley and J.B. Stradford purchased parcels of government land in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They had dreams of building a thriving Black community, equipped with the same amenities and privileges available to whites. Dubbed Greenwood, it was promoted as a sanctuary where Black people could thrive without fear of racial discrimination. By 1921, Greenwood had become a hub of Black enterprise, with Gurley and Stradford leading the development of a self-sufficient business district. But their successes would be short-lived.
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After nearly two years, Mansa Musa finally completes his pilgrimage to Mecca. The trip is filled with tribulations, but the transformed king has prevailed. The spiritual journey may not erase the wrongdoings of his past, but it leads Musa to a peaceful self-acceptance. After his trip to the holy land, Musa must make his way home to his throne in Mali. But the road back may not be as welcoming as the one to Mecca.
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Feeling immense shame and regret for killing his mother, Mansa Musa seeks counsel from his Imam. The religious leader advises the king to seek peace in the Muslim holy land of Mecca. Musa embarks on the pilgrimage with a caravan of 60,000 men, made up of soldiers, advisers, and slaves; and 100 camels, each carrying 300 pounds of gold. During the first half of the 2-year journey, the convoy will face heat, exhaustion and disease. And Musa accidentally destroys the Egyptian economy along the way.
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Had there been a version of the Forbes list in the early 14th century, a 20-something-year-old Malian king would reign supreme. Dubbed the “richest man of all time," Mansa Musa’s wealth is unmatched to this day. However, Musa paid a hefty price for his position. In the early years of his 25-year reign, the young and brash king led the Mali Empire with an iron fist and a large ego, conquering territories all over Africa. But, he quickly learns the true cost of his tyrannical leadership – a cost his immense wealth won’t be able to cover.
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W.E.B. Du Bois and Countee Cullen were, no question, pivotal pillars during the Harlem Renaissance. Du Bois’s philosophy of race and Cullen’s masterful poetry defy the status quo of the early 1900s; however, both men fall victim to the challenges Black people still face today. In this special episode, Franchesca Ramsy and Conscious Lee dive deeper into the black-on-black conflict, church hurt, and misogyny that show up in our “Talented Tenth” series, in addition to modern times. As the good book says, “The truth shall set you free,” and our hosts tell it for real, for real.
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As Countee Cullen tries to recover from his divorce from Yolande DuBois, his career begins to falter. The Great Depression has rolled in and Black art is one of the first things to suffer. White patrons have pulled their investments, so Countee must find a steady gig. He takes a job as a teacher, where he begins to mentor a young James Baldwin. Meanwhile, W.E.B. DuBois is moving away from respectability politics and calling for Black people to divest from integrated society and capitalism.
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To save his public image, Countee Cullen marries W.E.B. Dubois’ daughter, Yolande. The wedding is the merger of the century. All of Black high society is in attendance to celebrate this high profile matrimony. W.E.B.’s plan to create a dynasty is complete. Countee finds love and another father figure. Happy ending, right? Not quite. Countee’s marriage to Yolande might’ve hushed the whispers of his sexuality but temptation is closer than he can handle. Like, “Best Man” close.
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In the early 1900’s, Harlem Renaissance poet Countee Cullen went from an orphan to one of the most celebrated literary figures of his time. But his reluctance to introduce Blackness into his art threatened to alienate him from peers. And his struggles with his sexuality threatened to isolate him from his family. Luckily, his mentor W.E.B. DuBois has a plan to solve both problems.
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In the early 1900s, NAACP co-founder W.E.B. DuBois is at the top of his game, as the first Black person to earn a PhD from Harvard and as editor of a successful magazine. He believes he has a way to achieve full equality for Black people, but major beef with civil rights leaders Booker T. Washington and Marcus Garvey threatens to expose his idea as an elitist mess.
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As the first ever woman in the Black Panther Party’s decision-making body, Kathleen Cleaver played a large role in shaping and influencing the Party’s views on gender roles. Her drive to live a life of liberty inspired other women to do the same. And it’s in the Party where she meets her controversial husband, Eldridge Cleaver, who would leave her with a difficult choice to make: be a supportive wife or stand up for women’s liberation.
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After many of her comrades are killed, imprisoned, and forced into exile, Elaine Brown rises the ranks to be tapped as the first and only female leader of the Black Panther Party. Like other vocal women within the Party, she faced rampant sexism. But violence within the Party and whispers of her being a government informant also threatened her ambitions to save and revitalize the Black Panther Party.
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At only 23 years old, Afeni Shakur defended herself and 20 other Black Panther comrades in the famous Panther 21 trial. Best known as the mother of Tupac Shakur, Afeni’s legacy extends beyond her maternal role to a rap icon. Shakur’s fighting spirit helped her combat sexism within the Party and racism in the world, but her personal demons would have lasting impacts on her relationship with her son, until his untimely death.
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In her 20s, Assata Shakur became a target for government forces aiming to discredit Black liberation movements. Soon, she would emerge as one of America's most notorious fugitives. After being convicted of murdering a state trooper, Assata is sentenced to life in prison. But, she maintains her innocence. Two years into her sentence, she is broken out of prison and escapes to Cuba. Forty years after the murder, she becomes the first woman to be placed on the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists list.
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Join Franchesca Ramsey and Conscious Lee every week as they go beyond the stories of Black History you already know to drop you right in the mix. Learn about the most overlooked Black History makers and events you should already know about, not just during Black History Month. We’ll even spill the occasional historical tea! All facts, no cap. Follow Black History, For Real, and listen early and ad-free on Wondery+ on January 29th, and everywhere on February 5th.
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En liten tjänst av I'm With Friends. Finns även på engelska.