The Black family has been a target for destruction from the early days of slavery, to the rise of single-parent households, and all the way to modern times of mass incarceration. For example, the War on Drugs, extreme racial profiling, and limited civil rights have all forced Black families to make hard decisions and face difficult situations just to provide for their loved ones. There’s an unfair stereotype that Black Americans unproportionately benefit from the federal welfare system more than other demographics. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on the history of welfare, the negative stereotypes placed on Black Americans, and who actually benefits the most from the system.

There’s nothing I love more than an ice cold Lime Coke Zero. It’s truly a shame that the only time I can enjoy one is when I eat at a restaurant that has a Coke Freestyle machine like Wendy’s and even those have started becoming extinct as stores like Zaxby’s remove them from their menus. I can’t buy a 12-pack of cans in a grocery store, I can’t order it while at a sporting event, and I can’t just randomly enjoy one without going on a wild witch hunt. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Coca-Cola as a company and the discriminatory policies they had toward Black Americans that allowed Pepsi to become a major competitor.

There are numerous examples of Black Americans putting foot to pavement and fighting for their rights. From the early days of slave rebellions and modern day resistance, no other demographic has had to endure horrid conditions, unfair treatment, and injustice quite like we have. Regardless of the circumstances, we have refused to allow our spirits to be broken and have carried on the good fight for centuries. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on the 1970 Augusta Riot, an uprising that shook a Georgia community and led to lasting change.

To a certain extent, this country is built on hypersurveillance, unnecessary policing, and covert operations kept behind curtains. From explicit FBI programs like COINTELPRO to more subtle propaganda, it’s difficult deciphering people’s true intentions. If you have a platform and can inspire people to fight for change, especially in the Black community, you can quickly find yourself classified as a domestic enemy. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on the Prison Activists Surveillance Program, a covert operation of the FBI to control those in the prison system.

Sometimes, it’s hard to find your passion. You usually go through your childhood trying any and everything to figure out what you gravitate towards. While some people realize their life’s calling early, some have to go through trial and error to truly understand what they enjoy. It’s a luxury when your passion can align with your career or even help others along the way. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Thomas Bradley, the very first Black mayor of Los Angeles who addressed issues of disparity and ushered in much needed change for the city.

It seems that in this day and age, discrimination makes the world go around. From unjust slavery to immoral segregation, Black Americans have fought hard to gain an equal foothold in society. No other group of people have been systemically undermined, sabotaged, or kicked down despite all of their major contributions, inventions, and cultural influence on the world. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Lockheed Martin and how its discrimination has led to multiple lawsuits over time.

Change often comes with revolt. From the beginning of history, change is usually brought on not only by tyrannical regimes, but also by unfair and inequitable social situations. From slave revolts to George Floyd protests, Black Americans are no strangers to putting their lives on the line to fight for better treatment and conditions. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on the New Orleans Black workers’ strike, which became one of the very first integrated strikes in American history.

During the 1960s, the Civil Rights Movement was heating up and many different organizations were formed to fight for and advance the rights of Black Americans. Ideals ranged from nonviolent protests to more direct methods of confrontation. Almost all of the organizations that were designed for change were infiltrated, undermined, and outright targeted by the government, which ultimately stalled forward progress. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on the Black Panther Party, one of the most well-known revolutionary organizations of its time.

The Civil Rights Movement was a volatile time in American history when the Black American community put foot to pavement to fight for their rights and better treatment. Many lives were lost, including notorious ones like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X, and even regular, everyday people who got caught in the crossfire. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on the Memphis Sanitation Strike, a response to an unfortunate situation that could’ve been completely avoided.

Sometimes change is as quiet as a mouse, but sometimes change is as loud as a firework. During the Civil Rights Movement, there were many different organizations, tactics, and leaders who all ultimately pushed for better conditions for Black Americans. Each activist had their own methods of demanding justice which combined to create effective policy change and legacies. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on one of the most influential civil rights leaders of the time, Stokely Carmichael.

The fight for equal rights, treatment, and justice has always been marked by loud revolutionaries like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and Rosa Parks who fearlessly put their lives on the line. However, bold demonstrations like the Montgomery Bus Boycott in Alabama, weren’t the only times Black Americans were fighting for change. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on an organization called The Albany Movement which was formed to eradicate segregation in Southwest Georgia.

For most Black Americans, it’s historically been a struggle to access equitable and quality education. From being denied the ability to read and write during the days of slavery to the more modern white flight phenomenon of hoarding better resources, it’s always been an uphill battle to enrich the minds of a demographic that’s been unjustly discriminated against. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Ruby Bridges, the brave young girl who helped desegregate schools in Louisiana.

Resistance movements are often filled with young people striving to create a better society. Throughout history, young, Black Americans have picked up the fight for equality and better treatment. From those hidden voices during slavery to the loud bold ones of modern day, there has always been a spirit to push back against injustices. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Sammy Younge Jr., the very first Black American college student to be murdered due to his support of the Civil Rights Movement.

The civil rights movement was a pivotal point in Black history and embodied the struggle that Black Americans have always had to go through just to get ordinary rights and liberties in society. The movement relied on numerous powerful Black leaders to rally the community and organize resistance efforts. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on one of the most well-known civil rights leaders, Martin Luther King Jr., and the legacy he left in fighting for change.

The fight for justice has never been easy. From being chained up on plantations to being outright discriminated against, Black Americans have had to fight for every right we currently have. Our ancestors had to not only march peacefully for change, but they also had to turn up in the streets with molotov cocktails when needed. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Fannie Lou Hamer, an incredible civil and voting rights activist who inspired her community to fight for change. 

In society, prison is used to punish people who commit crimes, break laws, or need to be separated from the general public. However, oftentimes prisoners are subjected to unhygienic environments, subpar healthcare, and dangerous situations riddled with violence. Humans can only take being caged up and abused for so long before the inevitable happens and someone snaps. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on the Attica State Prison Riot, one of the most famous and deadliest prison uprisings in history.

Revolutions take a lot of courage, discipline, and faith to pull off. Advocating for change in a society that has always deemed a group of people as less than requires sacrifice and preservation even as leaders are lost and movements rise and fall. One of the most impactful leaders and revolutionaries of modern Black American history was lost on February 21, 1965 to senseless violence. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Malcolm X.

Getting elected to a public political office is no small feat. It often entails many hours of hard work and requires getting the broader population to believe in you and your ideas. Politicians can affect citizens’ daily lives by passing memorandums, adjusting tax rates, and instilling social and economic policies. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on one of the most well-known mayors of Washington, D.C., Marion Barry.

Being on code is one of the most important and powerful things a socioeconomic group can do in society. Not only does it foster camaraderie amongst individuals, but it also sends a message to the powers that be. Throughout history, Black Americans have had to rely on each other to fight through adversity in hopes of receiving equal treatment. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on the famous Montgomery Bus Boycott and its long lasting economic and social impacts.

Going to school without fear of being targeted solely based on your race is a modern luxury that many fought and lost their lives for. Desegregation created volatile and oftentimes deadly mobs that stood in the way of integration of public schools and institutions. The Little Rock Nine were one example of just how dangerous integration actually was for many young Black Americans pursuing an education. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Medgar Evers, a civil rights activist who fought for change in Mississippi.