Civics & Coffee

19/02/2024

Charlene Mitchell was an activist & feminist who launched her bid for president in 1968 as part of the communist party.

Born in 1930, Mitchell grew up in Chicago. She joined the communist party at 16 and participated in civil rights protests.

Her presidential campaign was lackluster as she appeared on the ballot in only four states and earned about 1,000 votes.

She passed away in 2022 at 92.

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18/02/2024

Ann Lowe was a fashion designer who made history by designing the wedding dress worn by Jacqueline Bouvier in her marriage to future president John F. Kennedy.

Born in Alabama in 1898, Lowe demonstrated her sewing talent at a young age. Coming from a family of talented seamstresses and honed her craft in her youth.

Her life was made into a novel and was the subject of yesterday’s episode with the author. Check it out if you haven’t already!

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17/02/2024

Join me this week as I speak with Professor of Literature and historical novelist Piper Hugely as we discuss her book By Her Own Design.

The novel tells a fictionalized account of the black fashion designer Ann Lowe and is an engaging, thought provoking look at the life of black women in Jim Crow United States.

16/02/2024

Sister Rosetta Tharpe was a musician who rose to popularity in the 1930s and 1940s. Known as the “godmother of rock and roll,” Tharpe pioneered a guitar technique using distortion.

Her technique went on to influence other artists like Little Richard and Elvis and helped pave the way for electric guitar blues overseas.

She passed at just 58 from a stroke.

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15/02/2024

Coming at you this weekend - another new episode.

Join me this week as I interview historical fiction writer Piper Huguley about her book, By Her Own Design.

14/02/2024

Hattie Canty was a labor activist and the first Black woman to be elected leader of the Culinary Workers Union.

Born in Alabama in 1933, Canty moved to Las Vegas in 1972 and began working as a room attendant. It’s as an attendant that Canty got involved in union work.

She ran the CWU during one of the longest labor strike in U.S. history. She passed away in 2012.

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12/02/2024

Sam Cooke was an R&B and soul singer who came to fame in the late 50s, releasing a string of hits including You Send Me and Cupid.

Originally trained in Gospel music, Cooke was initially hesitant to move into popular music, fearing he may alienate his gospel fanbase. However after his father’s blessing, Cooke decided to go for it and became one of the most popular singers of his generation.

He was killed in 1964 at the age of 33.

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11/02/2024

Zora Neale Hurston was an anthropologist, author, and filmmaker who traveled the southern half of the United States to highlight the racial struggles of Black Americans.

Born in 1891, Hurston grew up in Florida and was a major participant in the Harlem Renaissance. She is best known for writing Their Eyes Were Watching God, which was published in 1937.

I covered Hurston for the podcast a few years back. Be sure to listen to learn more about this fascinating woman.

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10/02/2024

The American Historical Association Conference was held last month in San Francisco. One of the largest conferences around, it attracts historians from all over to discuss and debate various historical topics. However, so much of the conference experience remains unknown.

Join me this week as I dive into history conferences. What are they? Should you go? And how can you maximize your experience?

09/02/2024

Benjamin Banneker was a mathematician, surveyor, and almanac author. Born in 1731 in Maryland, Banneker had limited formal education and was largely self-taught.

He helped survey the nation’s capital and published several almanacs before passing away in 1806. I covered Banneker on the podcast a few years back. Be sure to check it out if you haven’t already.

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08/02/2024

Doing something a little different this week. What do you think I am talking about?

Find out for sure on Saturday!

07/02/2024

Tracy Chapman brought joy to thousands Sunday evening when she made a rare appearance at the Grammy’s.

Born in 1964, Chapman is a singer and songwriter who came to fame when she released her debut album in the late 1980s.

She is a four time Grammy award winner and was reintroduced to a new generation of audiences in 2023 when country singer Luke Combs remade one of her earliest hits, Fast Car.

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04/02/2024

Fannie Lou Hammer was a community organizer and a women’s and civil rights activist.

Born in Mississippi in 1917, Hamer got into organizing in the early 1960s after being denied the right to vote despite passing the state’s literacy requirement.

She attended the 1964 Democratic National Convention as part of the Freedom Democratic Party. She passed away at just 59 in 1977.

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03/02/2024

Known as the founder of the American Red Cross, Clara Barton lived several lifetimes in her 90 years on earth. She was a nurse, abolitionist, and activist, always challenging norms and pushing the envelope.

Join me this week as I dive into the life of Clara Barton.

02/02/2024

Sojourner Truth was an abolitionist, activist, and itinerant preacher who worked the secure the rights of women throughout her life.

Born around 1797 as Isabella Baumfree, Truth took on a new moniker in 1843 as she believed God had spoken to her and set her on a mission.

She is known for her “Ain’t I A Woman?” Speech as well as for helping recruit soldiers during the Civil War.

I did a few episodes on Truth on the pod a few years back, be sure to check them out to learn more about this amazing woman!

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01/02/2024

Coming to you this weekend - another new episode. Any ideas what I am covering?

Find out for sure Saturday!

30/01/2024

Happy birthday goes to 32nd President of the United States Franklin D. Roosevelt who was born today in 1882.

Born to an upper class family, Roosevelt started his career as an attorney before getting into politics, where he was a New York State Senator from 1911 to 1913.

He is most known for coming to office at the height of the Great Depression, where he passed a flurry of legislation aimed at combatting the economic devastation experience by millions.

He is the only president to be elected to four terms, though he did not serve the full length as he died on April 12, 1945 at just 63 years old.

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29/01/2024

Today in history, 1936: the U.S. Baseball Hall of Fame elects its inaugural class.

The votes came with establishing a museum dedicated to the sport, located in Cooperstown, New York. The Baseball Writer’s Association of America voted for five players, including Babe Ruth.

To date, there have been 346 individuals inducted into the hall of fame including the most recent “class” which includes Adrián Beltré.

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27/01/2024

Joining me this week is Dr. Katlyn Carter who recently published her first book, Democracy in Darkness: Secrecy and Transparency in the Age of Revolutions. The book traces the history of the origins of government for both the United States and France and illuminates how the call for transparency in government did not always translate in practice.

I hope you all enjoy the interview!

26/01/2024

Today in history, 1961: Dr. Janet Travell is appointed as President Kennedy’s personal physician, making her the first woman in history to fill the role.

Born in 1901, Travell graduated with honors from Wellesley College and had been working with Kennedy for several years before serving as Physician to the President.

Travell helped Kennedy manage his back pain from his time in service, as well as treated his Addison’s condition. She passed away in 1997.

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25/01/2024

Coming to you this weekend - another new episode.

Join me as I chat with Dr. Katlyn Carter about her new book, Democracy in Darkness. I can’t wait for you to hear our special conversation!

23/01/2024

Happy Birthday to Irene Sharaff who was born on this date in 1910. Sharaff was a set and costume designer who won several awards for her work.

Growing up in Boston, Sharaff studied in both New York and Paris before starting as a fashion illustrator. She made the move to productions in 1931 where she worked on a stage production of Alice in Wonderland.

She would earn a Tony and 5 Academy Awards during her career, including for films like West Side Story and Cleopatra.

She passed away in 1993 at the age of 83.

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22/01/2024

Great article about teaching history using “unconventional” primary sources.

Using sources including rap lyrics, albums, and music videos and visual art like graffiti, one historian pushes his students to think historically about hip-hop culture.

21/01/2024

One of my all time favorite historical movies. 💗

2h 2m | R

20/01/2024

Depicted in the 1989 Hollywood feature film “Glory” the Massachusetts 54th was the first all black regiment to fight in the Civil War. Established in the aftermath of the Emancipation Proclamation, the members serving in the regiment had a lot riding on their perceived success.

Join me this week as I dive into the history of the Massachusetts 54th.

19/01/2024

Happy birthday to the delightful Dolly Parton, who is 78 years young today.

Born in a small cabin in Tennessee, Parton has enjoyed a staggering five decades-long career. She has composed over 3,000 songs including Jolene and I Will Always Love You.

She is also an actress, entrepreneur, and philanthropist who has donated money to a slew of causes including children’s literacy. I recently released an episode about Dolly - check it out if you haven’t already!

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18/01/2024

Happy Thursday peeps!

I am back with another teaser Thursday. What do you think I am covering? Find out for sure Saturday!

16/01/2024

Happy Birthday to singer and actress Haughton who was born on this day in 1979.

The Brooklyn native earned her singing chops performing with her aunt, Gladys Knight, before competing on Star Search.

Her first album was released in 1994 and was produced by now convicted R&B star R. Kelly. She is perhaps best known for introducing the music world to super producers Timbaland and Missy Elliott who worked on her 1996 One in a Million album.

She passed away in 2001 at the age of 22.

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15/01/2024

Shirley Chisholm was the first black woman serve in Congress, when she was elected to represent New York’s 12th district in 1968.

Born in New York, Chisholm spent a part of her youth in Barbados where she was largely sheltered from the pervasive racism of the United States.

She was an educator before she decided to run for Congress and spent her political life pursuing no-nonsense initiatives aimed to rejuvenate her community. She retired in 1983 and passed away in 2005.

I produced an episode about Chisholm a few years back. I highly recommend giving it a listen to learn more about this exceptional woman from history.

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13/01/2024

Collecting intelligence against ones enemy has been a longstanding military practice. Commanders have long sought to ensure they have the most accurate information before heading to battle to maximize their effectiveness and the Civil War was no different.

Join me this week as I dive into the history of spying during the Civil War.