California is known for its beautiful sunny beaches, the hustle and bustle of Hollywood, the tech innovations of Silicon Valley, and the notoriously high cost of living that permeates every aspect of daily life for residents. Despite boasting a proud history of joining the Union as a Free State, there are multiple instances of California actually protecting the institution of slavery. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Bridget “Biddy” Mason, a slave who not only fought and won her freedom, but who also became one of the first prominent landowners in Los Angeles in the 1850s and 1860s.

Summer 2024 is rapidly coming to an end. Many people enjoyed time with their kids while school was out and some even planned fun family vacations to make new memories. The weather was actually pretty crazy with high heat waves and dangerous thunderstorms popping up all over the place. Before we flip the page to the slight chill of the fall, pumpkin spiced lattes, and ample hours of football to indulge in, let’s shine a Historical Spotlight on the long, hot summer of 1967.

With new, experimental drugs like COVID-19 vaccines and Ozempic making waves amongst consumers, it’s hard to decipher any potential long term side effects from medications or treatments when they haven’t had extensive lab testing. Throughout history, Black Americans have been subjected to being test subjects for potentially dangerous treatments that have negatively impacted their health. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on one of the most egregious and racist medical studies, the Tuskegee Syphilis Study.

Having a baby and becoming a mom is something many women look forward to their entire lives. The thought of nurturing a life that you and your partner made out of love is an amazingly beautiful thing. Having multiple babies is not only rare, but in some instances can be life threatening. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on the first set of identical Black quadruplets, the Fultz Sisters.

The sport of women’s basketball has come so far since its inception. It’s seen the rise of dominant college teams like LSU and South Carolina and the master strategy of head coaches like Dawn Staley and Geno Auriemma. It has also seen the growth of different professional leagues, including the WNBA. Join me as we shine a historical spotlight on Cheryl Miller, one of the keystone women who helped bring women’s basketball into the national conversation.

Over the last four years or so, baseball has rapidly become one of my favorite sports. It’s really entertaining to watch the battle between pitchers and hitters. Black Americans didn’t always have the opportunity to make a name for themselves in the big leagues. It took courage from outstanding people to break barriers and change the norm. Join me as we shine a historical spotlight on the legendary Jackie Robinson and the impact he had on baseball.

Entrepreneurship is an amazing tool if you have the lifestyle, work ethic, and perseverance to support it. Black Americans have always faced difficulties in owning businesses simply because of the unjust system that permeates society. There have been individuals here and there that have gotten ahead and built successful organizations over the years, but they were oftentimes sabotaged to their demise. Join me as we shine a historical spotlight on businessman A.G. Gaston and the impact he had on the local Birmingham community.

Many people think of February as one of the most important months for Black Americans since it’s Black History Month. While it’s definitely an important time to look back on the inventions, advancements, and struggles of our ancestors, it’s only one part of our overarching history. Join me as we shine a historical spotlight on our true independence day, Juneteenth.

Black Americans have participated in and made numerous contributions to sports throughout history. Oftentimes, athletic progress and achievement for Black Americans has come from “breaking the color barrier” in professional leagues to force widespread cultural change. However, there’s a long history of racism, segregation, and discrimination that most Black athletes have had to endure. Join me as we shine a historical spotlight on one of the greatest running backs of all time, James Nathaniel Brown.

With Memorial Day right around the corner, many people are planning festivities to honor the brave men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.They took an oath of allegiance to the country and stood to protect the strength of our nation. The American Flag and Star-Spangled Banner are perceived differently across all segments of the population depending on historical implications, social status, and other factors. Join me as we shine a historical spotlight on the origins of the U.S. Flag and the original lyrics of the national anthem.

I’ve always loved pancakes. My mom would always make me one big fluffy pancake and she would very rarely burn them. Even now that I’m older, I either make pancakes or waffles for breakfast every single weekend as a tradition in my household. Aunt Jemima pancake mix has always been a trusted go-to for perfectly fluffy and golden pancakes. Join me as we shine a historical spotlight on the racial implications of the famous brand.

Popular shows like Yellowstone, Westwood, Bonanza, and many others pay homage to the cowboys of the Wild West. While most of them feature Caucasian actors, it’s actually estimated that 25% of cowboys from 1866 to 1886 were actually Black Americans. Despite being underrepresented in popular society, the Black cowboys played a vital role in settling the untouched land of the West. Join me as we shine a historical spotlight on the Black ranchers, cowboys, and settlers that helped shape the nation.

Women’s college basketball has exploded in popularity over the last few years. The sport has seen phenomenal teams and athletes really put everything on the line to beat opponents and make their sport more relevant. With the guidance of their coach, the University of South Carolina Gamecocks won this year’s NCAA championship game against Iowa and put a cherry on top of a perfect undefeated season. Join me as we shine a historical spotlight on the great legend Dawn Staley.

As a proud alumna of the University of Georgia, I spent many years in Athens growing and developing into a young adult. I attended sporting events, played a vital role in my housing community as a Resident Assistant, and even met my husband while taking a journalism class. The very dorm I lived in for three years, unbeknownst to me, was actually a catalyst for decimating an entire thriving Black neighborhood not even 100 years ago. Join me as we shine a historical spotlight on Linnentown.

Black Americans have always had to fight for equal rights and treatment in America. Whether the fight was on a plantation, in a courtroom, or even at a place of education, there have been many brave and courageous people who have stood up against the massive bloodshed, treachery, and thievery experienced by the Black community. Join me as we shine a historical spotlight on John Brown, one of the few white abolitionists in the 1800’s who fought against slavery and the unfair treatment of Black people.

When I enrolled in college at the University of Georgia, I aspired to become a journalist. I enjoyed writing and envisioned myself delivering impactful stories for the millions of people who would watch me on TV. After going through my collegiate program, however, I quickly realized the journalism life wasn’t something I wanted to pursue long term. Black American heroes like Delilah Beasley broke the barrier for Black people to pursue the journey of journalism. Join me as we shine a historical spotlight on Delilah’s 50 year career and the impact she left on society.

Happy Black History Month! When we think of Jim Crow Laws, Segregation, and The Civil Rights Movement, it’s sometimes easy to automatically assume it happened so long ago. However, when you really take a look at the dates, it’s astounding that most Black Americans fought for the freedoms we know today within the last 100 years. Join me as we shine a historical spotlight on some of the protests during the Civil Rights Movement that eventually led to change and improvements for Black Americans in society.

Online gaming is a hobby enjoyed by millions around the world. Some fanatics enjoy consoles like PlayStation and Xbox while others prefer handheld systems like the Nintendo Switch or even something more powerful like a gaming PC. No matter what games and devices you’ve played, you have one man to thank for inventing the very first gaming console in 1976. Join me as we shine a historical spotlight on Jerry Lawson.

Good entertainment is more than just fun distraction from reality. It’s engaging, informative, and a well rounded body of content. It can also open your mind to new ideas or even teach you something that you never learned in history class. While watching a recent YouTube video by Phillip Scott, I was prompted to do some research after he mentioned a historical event that I had never heard of before. Join me as we shine a historical spotlight on the Parsley massacre and the long standing ramifications that continue to impact the region to this very day.

The holiday season in today’s day and time is usually filled with sparkling lights, warm cheer, beautifully wrapped presents, and multiple reasons to give thanks and be grateful. It’s a stark difference from the experiences our enslaved ancestors had to endure during this time of the year. Join me as we shine a Historical FBA Spotlight on Christmas.