Exciting Podcasts about Notable African Americans in history past and present. Learn about folks you know and didn’t know! We have a great selection of Black History topics for your listening pleasure and education.
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Sep 28, 2026 · 8:17
In this episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, Tamara Shiloh introduces us to Martha Jones, a Black woman from Virginia who, in 1868, received U.S. Patent No. 77,494 for…
Sep 14, 2026 · 9:02
In this episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, Tamara Shiloh tells the story of Powell Johnson, an African American inventor from Alabama who patented an innovative…
Aug 24, 2026 · 8:31
Step into the often-overlooked history of the American West as we explore the remarkable story of Black cowboys and cowgirls. From formerly enslaved men who became skilled ranch…
Aug 10, 2026 · 8:53
In this episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh explores the remarkable life and legacy of Blind Lemon Jefferson, one of the pioneers of recorded blues…
Jul 20, 2026 · 8:58
How did a NASA engineer invent one of the most iconic toys in history? In this episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh explores the remarkable life of…
Jul 6, 2026 · 9:20
Who made modern blood banks possible? The answer is Dr. Charles Richard Drew, a pioneering physician, scientist, and educator whose groundbreaking research transformed emergency…
Jun 15, 2026 · 12:16
Known as The Black Prince and The Slayer of Lexington, Abe Hawkins rose to become one of the most celebrated jockeys in 19th-century America. He defeated the greatest horse of…
Jun 2, 2026 · 8:47
Some inventions change the world quietly. A voice on a phone call. A hearing aid helping someone reconnect with conversation. A microphone capturing music, memories, and history.…
May 19, 2026 · 5:43
In this episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, Tamara Shiloh shares the inspiring story of Mary Jackson — the first Black female engineer at NASA. From overcoming…
May 5, 2026 · 6:01
In this episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh highlights the groundbreaking legacy of Marie Clark Taylor—a pioneering scientist who transformed how we…
Apr 20, 2026 · 5:37
In this episode, discover the story of Alfred L. Cralle, the brilliant mind behind the modern ice cream scoop. At a time when serving ice cream was messy and frustrating,…
Apr 6, 2026 · 8:54
In this inspiring episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh shares the remarkable story of Dr. Gladys Mae Brown West—a brilliant mathematician whose…
Mar 23, 2026 · 7:55
In this episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh shares the extraordinary true story of Sarah Rector, a young girl whose life changed in ways no one could…
Mar 10, 2026 · 7:24
Before Rosa Parks made history, a brave 15-year-old girl named Claudette Colvin refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. In this episode of Once…
Feb 16, 2026 · 6:03
In this inspiring episode of Once Upon A Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh shares the remarkable life story of Andrew Jackson Beard—a formerly enslaved man whose…
Feb 2, 2026 · 4:41
In this episode of Once Upon A Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh explores the remarkable life of Granville Woods—a self-taught inventor whose brilliance helped transform…
Dec 22, 2025 · 5:58
Born into slavery, Harriet refused to believe that her life was meant to be lived in chains. After escaping to freedom herself, she made a bold and dangerous choice: she went…
Dec 8, 2025 · 7:01
In this episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, we explore the extraordinary life of Thomas Fuller, the enslaved West African man known as “The Virginia Calculator.”…
Nov 17, 2025 · 6:37
In this episode of Once Upon A Time in Black History, Tamara Shiloh uncovers the story of Phillip Bell Downing — the African American inventor who transformed communication with…
Nov 4, 2025 · 8:03
In this episode of Once Upon A Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh shines a light on Valerie L. Thomas, the brilliant mind behind NASA’s “Illusion Transmitter” — a…
Oct 20, 2025 · 4:57
In this episode, we celebrate the ingenuity of J.W. Smith—also known as Joseph H. Smith—the African-American inventor who transformed home gardening with the creation of the…
Oct 6, 2025 · 5:21
Before Central Park became the iconic green heart of New York City, a thriving community once stood there — Seneca Village, a settlement founded by free African Americans in the…
Sep 15, 2025 · 7:47
In this episode of Once Upon A Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh takes us back to the 1700s and the remarkable story of Fort Mose—America’s first legally sanctioned free…
Sep 1, 2025 · 8:22
In this episode of Once Upon A Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh takes us into the world of space science with Dr. Patricia S. Cowings—the first African American woman…
Aug 18, 2025 · 5:23
In this episode of Once Upon A Time in Black History, we travel to Savannah, Georgia, to uncover the story of the First African Baptist Church — one of the oldest continuously…
Aug 5, 2025 · 6:09
Meet Eugene Bullard — boxer, war hero, spy, and the world’s first African American military pilot. In this episode, we follow his incredible journey from the Jim Crow South to…
Jul 21, 2025 · 6:56
In this powerful episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh uncovers the extraordinary story of John Berry Meachum, a formerly enslaved man who defied…
Jul 7, 2025 · 5:20
Born in 1886 in Lenox, Massachusetts, Van Der Zee’s journey began with a simple camera he won at age fourteen. That small gift would launch a lifetime of visual storytelling that…
Jun 16, 2025 · 5:58
In this episode of Once Upon A Time in Black History, we plug into the vibrant, swinging world of Stuff Smith—jazz’s electrifying violinist. Born Hezekiah Leroy Gordon Smith in…
Jun 3, 2025 · 7:25
In this episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh spotlights Florence Beatrice Price, the first African American woman to have a symphony performed by a…
May 19, 2025 · 6:27
In today’s episode, we’re opening the Pantry of the Past to spotlight Hercules Posey, the first known White House chef. Enslaved by George Washington but celebrated for his…
May 6, 2025 · 5:23
In the pre-dawn quiet of the U.S. Navy’s David Taylor Model Basin, a young Black woman sat behind a computer, quietly rewriting history. This is the story of Raye…
Apr 22, 2025 · 5:24
Despite making major strides in tech, Black women remain underrepresented in STEM. Lisa Gelobter defied the odds—helping pioneer internet video, shaping the GIF, launching Hulu,…
Apr 7, 2025 · 4:46
George Washington Williams turned experience into history. Soldier, preacher, politician, and pioneering historian — he was a man determined to tell the truth no matter the cost.…
Mar 18, 2025 · 5:39
Join host Tamara Shiloh as we uncover the remarkable story of James Hemings, a culinary pioneer whose influence on American cuisine has been largely overlooked. Born into slavery…
Mar 3, 2025 · 4:28
In this episode, we dive into the history of a small yet impactful invention—the house door letterbox. Before the convenience of secure mail slots, postal carriers had to knock…
Feb 18, 2025 · 5:32
In this episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, we explore the remarkable story of Joseph Richard Winters, the inventor whose fire escape innovations saved countless lives.…
Feb 4, 2025 · 5:09
Discover the inspiring story of Jane Matilda Bolin, the first Black woman judge in the U.S. Born in 1908, Jane overcame racial discrimination and societal barriers to graduate…
Jan 21, 2025 · 5:13
A selfless pioneer in childcare and community support, Clara opened her Harlem home to infants born into the most challenging circumstances—children of mothers battling addiction…
Jan 14, 2025 · 4:46
Jan Ernst Matzeliger was a biracial Surinamese-American inventor whose automated lasting machine brought significant change to the manufacturing of shoes.
Jan 7, 2025 · 4:38
In this episode, discover the fascinating journey of Dr. George Franklin Grant, a trailblazing dentist, Harvard faculty member, and inventor of the first wooden golf tee. Learn…
Dec 31, 2024 · 5:21
On today's episode of Once upon A Time In Black History we learn about George Crum, the man who invented the potato chip!
Dec 24, 2024 · 7:53
Marie Van Brittan Brown was an American nurse and innovator. In 1966, she invented a video home security system along with her husband Albert Brown, an electronics technician.
Dec 17, 2024 · 7:11
Elijah McCoy (May 2, 1844–October 10, 1929) was a Black American inventor who received more than 50 patents for his inventions during his lifetime. His most famous invention was…
Dec 9, 2024 · 7:48
Join host Tamara Shiloh as she takes you on an inspiring journey into the life and legacy of Joseph Henry Douglass, a groundbreaking African-American concert violinist and…
Nov 25, 2024 · 7:21
In this episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, we delve into the remarkable life and legacy of Carter G. Woodson, the man celebrated as the "Father of Black History." Born…
Nov 19, 2024 · 7:55
In this episode, we dive into the groundbreaking life and career of Oscar Devereaux Micheaux, a pioneering African-American filmmaker whose passion for storytelling broke…
Nov 12, 2024 · 4:51
Alice Allison Dunnigan was an American journalist, civil rights activist and author. Dunnigan was the first African-American female correspondent to receive White House…
Nov 4, 2024 · 8:32
In this episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh tells the remarkable story of Cathay Williams, a young woman who defied the odds to become the first…
Oct 21, 2024 · 7:52
Did you know Dumas was of mixed race? We trace his story from his father, General Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, the highest-ranking Black officer in a European army, to Alexandre’s…
Oct 7, 2024 · 6:01
In this episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, we delve into the incredible story of Ona Judge, an enslaved woman who made a daring escape from President George…
Sep 17, 2024 · 7:08
In this episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, we explore the significance of the bicycle during the Jim Crow era and highlight the contributions of African American…
Sep 2, 2024 · 5:45
In this episode of "Once Upon a Time in Black History," host Tamara Shiloh explores the history and legacy of "The Green Book." This essential travel guide provided…
Aug 19, 2024 · 5:55
On this episode of Once Upon A Time In Black History, we'll explore the life of Lewis Latimer, an American inventor whose innovations significantly improved lightbulb filaments,…
Jan 22, 2024 · 7:48
On this episode of Once Upon A Time In Black History, we'll explore the life of Joseph Douglas. He was a concert violinist and the grandson of abolitionist, Frederick Douglas.
Jan 11, 2024 · 6:30
On this episode of Once Upon a Time In Black History, we dive into the story of professional rodeo bull rider, Myrtis Dightman.
Oct 6, 2023 · 21:33
On this episode of Once upon a Time in Black History we learn about the movie Jingle Jangle as we get ready for the approaching Holidays.
Sep 16, 2023 · 8:39
On this episode of Once Upon A Time in Black History we will be learning about the first African American male pilots in the United States, David Harris & Marlon Green who paved…
Sep 16, 2023 · 10:06
In this episode of Once Upon A Time In Black History we learn about Bessie Coleman who was the first African American and Native American woman. to become a pilot!
Aug 21, 2023 · 4:48
On today's episode of once upon a time in black history we learn about Dorothy Lee Bolden who was the founder of the National Domestic Worker's Union of America and worked to…
Aug 18, 2023 · 6:56
On today's episode of Once Upon A Time In Black History wow learn about Mansa Musa was the 9th ruler of the Mali Empire, which reached its territorial peak during his reign. Musa…
Aug 18, 2023 · 5:31
In this episode of Once Upon A Time in Black history we learn about Mary Fields, also known as Stagecoach Mary and Black Mary. She was the first African American female star…
Jan 6, 2023 · 6:13
In this episode of Once upon a time in black history, we discuss Tom Wiggins, an African American man who was born into slavery but became a great pianist, all the while being…
Jan 6, 2023 · 5:29
Onesimus (late 1600s–1700s) was an African man who was instrumental in the mitigation of the impact of a smallpox outbreak in Boston, Massachusetts. His birth name is unknown.…
Jan 6, 2023 · 5:34
The Silent Parade, was a silent march of about 10,000 African Americans along Fifth Avenue starting at 57th Street in New York City on July 28, 1917. The event was organized by…
Jan 6, 2023 · 5:29
Nat Love was an American cowboy and former slave in the period following the American Civil War. His exploits have made him one of the most famous heroes of the Old West. Despite…
Sep 8, 2022 · 6:31
On this episode of Once upon a time in black history we talk about Edward Joseph Dwight Jr. He is an American sculptor, author, and former test pilot. He is the first African…
Aug 9, 2022 · 5:52
Henry "Box" Brown was the man who mailed himself to freedom during slavery after being enslaved at birth. Later in his life Henry became an abolitionist who later shared his…
Jul 26, 2022 · 6:34
Frederick McKinley Jones was an American inventor, entrepreneur, engineer, winner of the National Medal of Technology, and an inductee of the National Inventors Hall of Fame.…
Jul 12, 2022 · 7:00
June 19th marks the day of emancipation, the day slavery ended and Black people were set free. This holiday became our very own Black Independence Day. tune in to this episode to…
Jun 30, 2022 · 6:45
Bessie Blount was an ingenious inventor and nurse who created tools to assist disabled patients and allow them to feed themselves.
Jun 30, 2022 · 9:52
As part of Women's History Month, this "Once Upon A Time in Black History" episode introduces to listeners Maggie Lena Walker, who was the first African American woman to charter…
Jun 30, 2022 · 18:08
Thomas Jennings was the first Black man to receive a U.S. patent. He was a skilled tailor and eventually he discovered a unique way to dry clean clothes. It's the system we still…
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