Noire Histoir

“Before the Mayflower” by Lerone Bennett Jr is the ultimate book to read if you’re interested in Black History, especially American Black History. Originally published in 1962, the book covers the history of Black America from 1619 to 1962.   Visit http://noirehistoir.com/blog/before-the-mayflower for show notes and video.

"The Other Wes Moore" explores the lives of two young Black men coming of age during the same era, in similar neighborhoods, and with the same name. (What are the odds?) They both experience adolescent bumps and bruises. But, their lives diverge setting one on the path to prison and the other to becoming a Rhodes Scholar. Show notes and video are available on the Noire Histoir website at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/the-other-wes-moore-book-review.

I had high expectations for "The Coming" by Daniel Black. The book tells the story of a group of Africans being enslaved and enduring the experience of the Middle Passage. Lots of other people thought "The Coming" was a moving experience but the writing style wasn’t my cup of tea. Visit http://noirehistoir.com/blog/the-coming-book-review for show notes and audio.

"The Assassination of Fred Hampton" by Jeffrey Haas is an incredible book about a less celebrated but important Black figure. The details may differ but the story of Fred Hampton is unfortunately not uncommon. Yet, his death stands apart from most others as it was proven to have been the result of a concerted effort by the FBI and Chicago police.  

"The Book of Harlan" by Bernice L. McFadden tells the story of a Black musician from Harlem who travels to Paris around the time the city falls to the Nazis. McFadden uses the main character's life to tie together moments in the Black experience from about the 1920’s to the 1960’s/1970’s. Visit http://noirehistoir.com/blog/the-book-of-harlan-book-review for show notes and video.

Moonlight is a great study in the facade of machismo and hyper-masculinity. It explores the development and suppression of Black boys’ and men’s identities and sexuality. On a basic level, it’s a coming of age story about a gay Black male. Yet, because it’s about that it’s also about so much more. Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/moonlight-movie-review.

"Ain't I a Woman" by Bell Hooks explores the impact of racism and sexism on Black women. Not as separate factors but through the lens of intersectionality. The book charts the history of how “sexism operates both independently of and simultaneously with racism to oppress us” (Black women). Show notes and video are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/aint-i-a-woman-book-review.

"Coming of Age in Mississippi" by Anne Moody is the story of a young Black woman coming of age in rural Mississippi during the 40's and 50's. Moody's introduction to and involvement in the Civil Rights Movement unfolds in a beautifully written story. It was refreshing to read about the development of an activist juxtaposed against a young woman's journey to define herself. Hushed whispers introduce her to the NAACP and lead her to political demonstrations. But, there was something sweet about her scandalous talent show performance, teen crushes, and first kisses. The two facets of Moody's life help to bring balance to "Coming of Age in Mississippi". Visit http://noirehistoir.com/blog/coming-of-age-in-mississippi-book-review for show notes and audio.

"The Book of Negroes" (aka "Someone Knows My Name") by Lawrence Hill is a great work of historical fiction. In this episode I discuss how the author weaves together a gripping story with historical tidbits. Visit http://noirehistoir.com/blog/the-book-of-negroes-book-review for show notes and video.

In some ways, "Manchild in the Promised Land" is about a rambunctious boy and his group of friends coming of age in the 1940s-1950s. In a different place and if Claude were a different race, this could have been an innocent and heart-warming story. But, on the gritty streets of Harlem, Claude's life is rife with violence, crime, and despair from a young age. In this review, I contrast the book's pros and cons with those of "Soul on Ice". Visit http://noirehistoir.com/blog/manchild-in-the-promised-land-book-review for show notes and video.

"Homegoing" by Yaa Gyasi is a work of historical fiction but it’s a good jumping off point for venturing into the history of the Black diaspora. The book charts a timeline of the effect of the slave trade on the people that remained in Africa and the enslaved people who were brought to America. Visit http://noirehistoir.com/blog/homegoing-book-review for show notes and video.

In this episode, I discuss "The Underground Railroad" by Colson Whitehead. The book tells the story of Cora, a young slave woman who makes plans to escape with a fellow slave, Caesar. Show notes and video are available on the Noire Histoir website at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/underground-railroad-colson-whitehead-book-review.

In this episode of the Noire Histoir podcast I discuss "Watch Me Fly" by Myrlie Evers-Williams. "Watch Me Fly" is more than the story of the widow of a civil rights hero. It’s also the story of a rather sheltered woman who struggles to find herself in her thirties after her world is ripped apart. Visit http://noirehistoir.com/blog/watch-me-fly-book-review for show notes and video.

"Freeman" by Leonard Pitts, Jr. follows three main characters at the end of the Civil War. Tilda, a former slave woman freed by the end of the war. Her estranged husband, Sam Freeman, who had been a slave but managed to escape to the North. And Prudence Kent, a White woman from Boston whose father was wealthy. Through these three characters, we get very different perspectives on the time. I enjoyed "Freeman". It was an emotional roller coaster that had me in my feelings at quite a few points. The book was a quick read and I was able to finish it in about a week or two. Visit NoireHistoir.com for show notes and video.

"13th", a documentary by filmmaker Ava DuVernay, explores the history of institutional racism through the lens of the 13th Amendment. In this episode, I discuss the economic motivations for using mass incarceration and the prison-industrial complex to target the Black community. Visit NoireHistoir.com for show notes and video.

Brainwashed: Challenging the Myth of Black Inferiority written by Tom Burrell, is a book about “the greatest propaganda campaign of all time”: the concept of black inferiority. In this episode, I discuss the book's theories on racial stereotypes and its exploration of the lingering effects of slavery on the Black psyche and community. Visit NoireHistoir.com for show notes and video.

"Django Unchained" is a western set two years before the Civil War that tells the story of a slave named Django who works as a bounty hunter to obtain his and his wife's freedom. In this episode I review the movie and discuss the impact of Quentin Tarantino's penchant for visual violence on the film's story and characters. Visit NoireHistoir.com for show notes and video.

"Selma" provides a snapshot of the efforts to end systematic suppression of Black voting and other civil rights in the South. In this episode, I discuss the film's portrayal of Martin Luther King, Jr.; President Lyndon B. Johnson; and other key figures from the Civil Rights Movement. Visit NoireHistoir.com for show notes and video.

"Your Money and Your Man" by Michelle Singletary, offers women financial advice for life in general but mostly focuses on dating/courtship, marriage, and raising kids. In this episode I discuss useful sections of the book along with the points on which I agreed and disagreed with Singletary's views on personal finance. Visit NoireHistoir.com for show notes and video.

In this episode, I discuss "What Happened, Miss Simone?", an award-winning Netflix documentary about the life and career of Nina Simone. Simone put her life and career at risk to join the Civil Rights Movement. She was ostracized by the music industry and abandoned by fans only to later re-emerge as a cultural icon. Visit NoireHistoir.com for show notes and video.