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Historical Spotlights, Sports Jessica Marie Smith Historical Spotlights, Sports Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: Debi Thomas

With the 2026 Winter Olympics coming to an end, many athletes have trained their entire lives to compete against the world. Not only is it a great opportunity to display excellence, but there’s also patriotic pride in seeing your country rack up gold, silver, and bronze medals. Similar to other sports, barriers had to be broken for Black Americans to showcase their skills on the ice. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Debi Thomas, one of the very first Black figure skaters to achieve national and international success.

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Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: Denise Gray

What used to be a far-fetched wish, has slowly become an accessible modern American dream as hybrid and fully electric vehicles have grown in popularity. Luxury manufacturers like Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid compete for market share with more affordable brands like Toyota, Honda, and Ford. Improved technology helped increase the number of EVs on the road from 1 million in 2016 to over 10 million in 2020. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Denise Gray, an innovative Black American woman who helped revolutionize the car industry.

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Historical Spotlights, Sports Jessica Marie Smith Historical Spotlights, Sports Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: Venus Williams

Tennis was my favorite sport to play in high school. In the 7th grade, I got the grand idea to learn how to play after watching the Australian Open and immediately fell in love. The sport has had a stereotype of being dominated by white Europeans and many Black women have been shut out due to staunch racism and elitism. Black players are labeled as argumentative and they often receive negative press from the media. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Venus Williams and how she stamped her legacy as one of the greatest tennis players ever.

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Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: Solomon Fairfax

The Grim Reaper is a made-up personification of death that has been widely accepted in Western society. It’s represented as a shadow figure with a hooded face and carries a thin sickle blade. The figure has haunted children for centuries and even grown adults are afraid for the day when he escorts you to the afterlife. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Solomon Fairfax, the American slave who earned the nickname Grim Reaper while fighting for his freedom.

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Historical Spotlights, Sports Jessica Marie Smith Historical Spotlights, Sports Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: Randy Moss

Playing in a Super Bowl is considered one of the highest accomplishments for a football player and many athletes train their entire lives for a chance to win the Lombardi Trophy. It’s estimated that only 3.1% of players actually achieve such a rare feat. Roster changes, injuries, coaching mishaps, and other factors can dictate if a player ever secures a ring but some of the elites propel their teams forward and refuse to retire without leaving their mark on the game. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Randy Moss, one of the greatest wide receivers to ever grace the field.

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Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: Statue of Liberty

Many of us learned about the Statue of Liberty from Schoolhouse Rock!’s iconic “The Great American Melting Pot” episode released in 1977. A whole generation grew up singing about Lovely Lady Liberty and created core memories that have withstood the test of time. Seen as a symbol of freedom, the statue has a hidden history that has been minimized over time. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on one of America’s most notable landmarks, the Statue of Liberty.

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Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: Vicente Guerrero

While Black Americans have had a long, torrid fight for our rights in the United States, there have been small pockets of revolutionaries around the world who have also advocated for our equal treatment. From chattel slavery in the Caribbean to indentured servitude in Europe, the world has always had a negative perception of melanated people. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Vicente Guerrero, the first Black president that fought for equality and abolished slavery in Mexico.

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Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: Burdines Department Store

Starting a business is one sure-fire way of securing economic stability. During Jim Crow, Black Americans were forced to get creative with how they sustained themselves especially since most lucrative jobs were reserved for white workers. They also had to work twice as hard to get half as far since, culturally, they didn’t have the luxury of passing along generational wealth. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on the Burdines Store, a successful Black American owned department store in Miami.

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Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: Marian Croak

Skype used to have a firm hold on the virtual conferencing market until the 2020 pandemic forced companies like Google, Zoom, and Microsoft to create competing products. When everyone had to shelter in place, businesses were forced to embrace new methods of communication with customers and employees. Families that were spread out used some creative ingenuity to maintain close relationships, but none of that would have been possible without some key technological advancements decades prior. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Marian Croak, the Black American woman who originally developed the voice over IP technology that drives video conferencing.

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Historical Spotlights, Entertainment Jessica Marie Smith Historical Spotlights, Entertainment Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: Jill Scott

Music truly makes my world go around. I never get tired of listening to my favorite songs or building the perfect playlists for every occasion. Most of my listening statistics include R&B, hip-hop, rap, and soul and has evolved over time as I’ve gotten older. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Jill Scott, one of my all-time favorite artists who has stamped herself as a legend in Black culture.

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Historical Spotlights, Food & Cooking Jessica Marie Smith Historical Spotlights, Food & Cooking Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: Butter Pecan Ice Cream

Ice cream is a dessert loved by many, especially since it comes in numerous different flavors, shapes, and forms to satisfy anyone who craves the creamy concoction. From Drumsticks to pints to Dreamsicles and everything in between, all ages can find something they enjoy. While it’s now a popular treat, there was once a time when Black people weren’t allowed to eat it. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on butter pecan ice cream and why it’s a delicacy loved by Black Americans across the country.

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Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: Bruce’s Beach

Black Americans have always struggled to gain a foothold economically, socially, and politically in America. From the evil act of slavery to discrimination, generations have had to fight tooth and nail just to have some semblance of peace. Even when smart business owners abided by segregation laws, their organizations were often undermined and sabotaged simply because of their success. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Bruce’s Beach, a successful Black beach resort in California that was unjustly taken by eminent domain.

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Sports, Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith Sports, Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: Ernie Davis

With the College Football Playoffs right around the corner, there’s little time left to determine which teams will make the bracket. Almost all college athletes dream of the fame and notoriety that comes with being an elite player, but some also hope to win a national championship to solidify their name in history and secure the Heisman, which is annually awarded to the most outstanding athlete. It’s an honor even being selected as a finalist because it shows that a player’s hard work on the field and during practice has led to national attention. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on the very first Black American player to win the prestigious award, Ernie Davis.

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