Podcast
Black History, For Real
Hosted by Audible · EN
The first woman on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorist List was a Black Panther. The richest person of all time, an African king, gave away so much gold that it caused Cairo's economy to crash. A 109 year old Black woman fights for reparations for her neighborhood that was burned to the ground when she was a child. On Wondery’s history series Black History, For Real, hosts Franchesca Ramsey and Conscious Lee go beyond the stories you already know to drop you right in the mix. It’s a no-nonsense, unwhitewashed account of history’s most overlooked moments, with a mix of narrative storytelling and candid conversation. We’ll even spill the occasional historical tea! It’s all facts, no cap.
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10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
43 | My President Is Black | It’s the Senate, and We in It
Nov 18, 202400:44:14Tap to summarizeKamala Harris, the daughter of immigrants, once dreamed of justice on the streets of Oakland. Barack Obama, born to a Kenyan father and a Kansas mother, found his voice on Chicago's South Side. Against the odds, both rose from the margins to the Senate, ultimately shattering ceilings in the White House. But with the 2024 election looming, Harris stands on the precipice of another historic leap. The path Obama carved is now shadowed by fierce divisions and disillusionment. In a nation wrestling with the fallout of Obama’s legacy and the fierce resistance that followed, can Harris carry the torch forward? Or will America’s appetite for change be extinguished just as she steps forward?Listen to Black History, For Real on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/black-history-for-real/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →42 | Outsiders On The Inside | It’s the Senate, and We in It
Nov 11, 202400:45:26Tap to summarizeIt's 1978, and Senator Edward Brooke is fighting for his political life. As the first Black U.S. Senator elected by popular vote, Ed broke barriers and reached the heights of power. But scandal and betrayal threaten to bring it all crashing down. Meanwhile, a young Carol Moseley Braun faces her own trials as she begins her journey to become the first Black woman in the Senate. From backroom deals to civil rights battles, two trailblazing Black senators navigate racism, party politics, and inner turmoil in their attempt to shape American democracy.Listen to Black History, For Real on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/black-history-for-real/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →41 | Lord Give Me a Sign | It’s the Senate, and We in It
Nov 4, 202400:38:53Tap to summarizeThe Civil War’s over, countless Black people are making their way in a new and dangerous world, and their fight for equality and representation ain’t over. Two Black men – preacher Hiram Revels and the formerly enslaved Blanche Bruce – rise up during U.S. Reconstruction with different ideas about gaining and maintaining power. One, leans on his faith and his God, the other on his wiles as he escapes near death. Both men come from two completely different walks of life, but their eyes are set on winning the same prize: becoming the first Black senators in the United States’ Congress. But, the nation’s politics are strained, and even if they win their seats, taking real power ain’t gonna be easy.Listen to Black History, For Real on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/black-history-for-real/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →39 | Made You Look | For Real, For Real
Oct 28, 202400:34:22Tap to summarizeBlackness is more than skin deep. This thing is cultural, and culture moves beyond what we can see. Franchesca and Conscious dive into the nuances between race and ethnicity while celebrating the contributions of Afro Latino people to Black history. And, because we ain’t gonna let Halloween pass us by without touching on the spooky, our hosts chat about the resurgence of Voodoo in some Afro Latino communities and its connection back to the African continent.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →40 | NYPD's Secret Story | For Real, For Real
Oct 23, 202400:42:21Tap to summarizeWoop! Woop! That’s the sound of da police! Conscious and Frankie welcome Dr. Chenjerai Kumanyika – host of Empire City: The Untold Origin Story of the NYPD. Dr. Kumanyika’s podcast is a deeply personal tale of his relationship to policing, the history of the NYPD and its long reaching impact in police departments across the nation. Are the police truly functioning as designed? Does their origin begin and end as slave catching patrols? Today’s conversation brings humor and depth to the exploration of that fraught history. Listen to Black History, For Real on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/black-history-for-real/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →38 | My Mic Sounds Nice | Gwen Ifill’s Rise
Oct 21, 202400:42:27Tap to summarizeAs a child, Gwen Ifill watches the flickering images of 1960s America dance across her television screen. Journalists and news anchors covering the turbulent era look and sound nothing like Gwen, but she’s determined to leave her mark. From her internship at the Boston Herald American, to debate stages holding powerful politicians to account and town halls creating space for Black America’s pain and rage – Gwen Ifill carves a path all her own to the top of legacy media.Listen to Black History, For Real on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/black-history-for-real/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →37 | The King | Pelé: Dios Del Football
Oct 14, 202400:36:57Tap to summarizeThe famous Brazilian footballer Pelé should never have climbed to the pinnacle of his sport. Young Edson, the kid who would become Pelé, grows up in poverty kicking around a football made of socks. And he lives in a country uncomfortable with his Black skin. Born with a dream too large for his small village to hold and the relentless determination to become the best footballer in the world, Pelé climbs from obscurity on the pitch and becomes the national treasure of his country and the game.Listen to Black History, For Real on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/black-history-for-real/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →36 | ¡Azúcar! | Celia Cruz: The Queen of Salsa
Oct 7, 202400:45:37Tap to summarizeCelia Cruz, dubbed the "Queen of Salsa" is one the the biggest Latin music stars of all time. From her humble beginnings in Cuba to her rise as a global icon, Celia’s voice and energy changed the game for Latin music. Fran and Conscious explore her journey, the racial barriers she broke, and the vibrant spirit she left behind. We’ll also dig into her strong stance against Fidel Castro, why she never returned to Cuba, and how that shaped her life and songs. ¡Azúcar!Listen to Black History, For Real on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/black-history-for-real/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →35 | Hate It Or Love It | For Real, For Real
Sep 30, 202400:37:59Tap to summarizeBlack people’s accomplishments aren’t usually celebrated without creating some discomfort in the white cultural zeitgeist. There’s something about Black Excellence that often leads to knee jerk criticisms. From the complicated Jack Johnson, to the modern-day struggles of Serena Williams and Colin Kaepernick, this question in sports keeps popping up: why do Black athletes often have to fight for their humanity as much as they do for victory? This deep dive with Franchesca and Conscious unpacks the weight Black sports icons carry as they navigate notoriety, racism, and activism in a world that loves their talent but resists their truth.Listen to Black History, For Real on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/black-history-for-real/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →34 | The G.O.A.T | Serena Williams: Love The Serve
Sep 23, 202400:41:56Tap to summarize“Luck has nothing to do with it, because I have spent many, many hours, countless hours, on the court working for my one moment in time, not knowing when it would come.” Serena Williams said those words knowing how many perceived a young Black girl in a predominantly white sport. Her career might appear defined by luck on the outside, but the kid who grew up slamming tennis balls on Compton’s Courts always believed she’d be the G.O.A.T. Her journey to the top is filled with failures and disappointments but surprisingly little self-doubt. When the tennis world turns on Serena and her sister Venus, the legend in the making steps onto Arthur Ashe Court at the US Open, and turns her gaze to the future of the sport and her budding legacy.Listen to Black History, For Real on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/black-history-for-real/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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