Gettin’ Grown | “Living Through History” (feat. Toya from Harlem)

Podcast: Gettin’ Grown (Loud Speakers Network)
Release Date: March 4, 2025
Guests: Toya Coleman a.k.a. Toya from Harlem
Hosts: Dr. Keia and Jade (“Cheska Lee”)

Overview:

This energizing episode centers on legacy, preservation, and the everyday power of Black history. Keia and Jade are joined at the Kitchen Table by historian and podcaster Toya from Harlem for a spirited, reflective, and joyous discussion about the ways Black history lives around (and through) us. The trio emphasize the vital importance of everyday historical awareness, honoring lesser-known pioneers, celebrating each other’s milestones, and practical ways to nurture future generations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Celebrating Black Excellence: Recent Losses and Everyday Victories

• Opening (01:00–04:20): The hosts commemorate the passing of Roberta Flack, reflecting on her profound musical impact and the intertwining of Black History and Women’s History every day.
  • “She was born in North Carolina, grew up in Arlington…a DMV girly…studied at Howard. Classical. An HU Queen.” (Cheska Lee, 03:39)
• Regular check-in: gratitude, self-preservation, the balancing act of adulting, parenting, and community care.
  • “It’s self-preservation mode around here…Grateful, hard body T over here.” (Cheska Lee, 04:42; Dr. Kia, 04:47)

2. Black History in Everyday Life – Cooking, Dancing & Legacy

• Black History Month at School (05:00–12:50):
  • Dr. Kia’s approach to a Black History Month school talk: centering on food history, including cookouts and the origins of iconic American dishes rooted in Black culinary innovation (e.g., ice cream, mac and cheese, barbecue).
  • The social and historical value of cookouts and line dancing (Electric Slide, Tamiya dance), recounted with laughter and affection.
  • “All the classic American cuisine originated in communities of color to the tune of ice cream, mac and cheese, fried chicken…” (Cheska Lee, 07:29)
  • The importance of passing down culture, not just through stories, but through shared experiences and traditions.
• Parenting Triumphs:
  • Dr. Kia’s pride in her daughter, Noah, taking autonomy in caring for her braids—a marker of independence, self-care, and the passing on of essential cultural knowledge (13:06–14:58).

3. Community Triumphs and Millennial Self-Awareness

• Multi-generational celebration: Academic and personal milestones of nieces and nephews, reinforcing pride in Black children’s achievements in STEM, the arts, and culture (15:00–16:27).
• Realities of adulting: seeking silence, honoring rest, intergenerational parenting patterns, and relatable moments of parental exasperation (16:50–21:12).
  • “Parenting is a trip, boy. You just don’t even realize that you are full-throttle in the thing, and sometimes doing the things where you used to hate the things.” (Dr. Kia, 22:56)

4. Uplifting Black Historians: Kitchen Table Talk with Toya from Harlem

[Start: 27:51]

Introduction of Guest:

• Toya from Harlem – a historian, podcaster (“That Wasn’t In My Textbook”), writer, and advocate of everyday Black history.
• Her mission: make Black history accessible, relevant, and fun, especially for millennials and Gen Z.

The Vision and Journey (30:35–36:30):

• Raised in Harlem by Black teachers in Black-run schools, Toya discovered her upbringing was unique only after moving through majority-white spaces.
• The motivation: “archive Black history that was being erased in the name of gentrification.”
• Began as a hyperlocal blog (“Harlem and Beyond”) and evolved into a podcast where guests—always people of color—share overlooked history.

Making History Approachable (36:30–38:00):

• Toya’s strategy: Theme-based episodes (e.g., Black history of food, cowboys, cannabis, Barbie).
• Accessibility: “You don’t have to go in any order. Listen to what interests you.”
• Building connections between past, present, and future—“history is happening every second.”

Why These Histories Matter (40:15–41:51):

• For Black people’s self-esteem and forward movement: “We have survived and we’ve thrived. So, okay, this sucks, but we’re going to be okay.”
• The importance of learning how current struggles and activism fit into the larger historical context.

Mini History Lessons: The Origins of Black & Women’s History Months

• Black History Month – From Negro History Week (Carter G. Woodson, 1926) to a full month, first expanded by Kent University students and made official in 1971.
  • “Black History started out as a week…Carter Woodson is known as the father of Black History…First Negro history week was 1926…Then, in 1970, Kent University students expanded it.” (Toya from Harlem, 41:51–43:34)
• Women’s History Month – Starting as a week in 1978 California, made a full month by Congress in 1987.
  • “Started as a week in 1978…Jimmy Carter proclaimed Women’s History Week in 1980…By ‘87, it became a full month.” (Toya from Harlem, 56:09–56:51)

Black Futures: Elevating (Young) Unsung Pioneers

• Toya uplifts lesser-known contemporary Black women:
  • Alyea Eastman (Parkland shooting survivor and anti-gun violence activist)
  • Shanti Davis (climate change activist)
  • Dr. Patricia Bath (pioneering ophthalmologist, revolutionized cataract detection and laser removal at just 19)
  • “We always think about people like MLK…but there’s a lot of young people making change that get overlooked.” (Toya, 54:00–55:35)

The Importance of Everyday Archiving & Representation

• Toya describes her approach as inviting the community to learn together (“I’m like your librarian or your greeter…We are learning together” 44:50–45:45).
• The lack of Black women in the podcast history space.
• Critique of respectability politics: making it okay to show up as one’s authentic self in educational content (46:08–47:10).

Responding to Erasure & Banned Books

• In the face of banned books and curriculum erasure, Toya creates downloadable “green book”-inspired guides—beginning with a Black-owned cafe list in NYC—to keep history accessible.
  • “The move is to create your own resources—PDFs, guides. They can erase your website, but not your files.” (49:52–51:08)

Rebellion and Resilience: Inspiration from Black History

• Haiti’s revolution and its costs (61:12–62:03), and the foundational, youth-led activism of the Black Panther Party and Fred Hampton (21 at his assassination).
  • “The Black Panther Party was a national organization…they were really doing community self-care.” (Toya, 62:03–63:56)
• The real meaning of self-care: not simply an individual luxury, but a revolutionary act and a practice of community care.

Everyday History: Practical Learning Tips for Adults/Kids

• “Expose young people to documentaries, music, and history woven into their passions.” (67:40–69:38)
• Books, yes, but also films, television, museums, and singing/listening parties sometimes foster a deeper historical curiosity.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On why cultural competence matters:
  • “You can’t pigeonhole us into one area…black contribution is infused in absolutely everything.” (Cheska Lee, 38:03)
• On self-preservation through history:
  • “Knowing the past…helps you combat some of the b.s. we’re dealing with right now.” (Toya from Harlem, 41:06)
• On archiving as resistance:
  • “Just try to create our own resources…they can erase your website but not your PDF.” (Toya, 50:36)
• On bringing history to young people:
  • “Making them watch A Different World now that it’s on Netflix…whatever they like, find Black history in that.” (Toya, 67:40)
• On music, culture, and passing down traditions:
  • “I realize now I have to be intentional about making sure [my daughter] knows the Electric Slide!” (Dr. Kia, 12:51)
• On self-care and community:
  • “Taking care of yourself, yes, but self care was not just about yourself. It was about taking care of community.” (Toya, 63:43)
• On owning your voice:
  • “How do you actually talk, though?…This is how history is. I’m gonna give you three facts. You look up the rest.” (Toya, 46:18)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Tribute to Roberta Flack / Black History as Everyday Life: 01:00–04:20
• Black History Month School Speech Brainstorm & Food History: 05:00–12:50
• Line Dances, Parenting, Family Milestones: 13:02–16:27
• Parenting as Intergenerational Comedy/Drama: 16:50–22:56
• [Kitchen Table] Introduction to Toya from Harlem: 27:51–31:04
• Toya’s Origin Story & History Podcast Approach: 31:04–36:30
• Representation, Teaching, & Thematic Episodes: 36:30–41:06
• Why Black History (and Telling Our Own) Matters: 40:22–41:51
• Origins of Black & Women’s History Months: 41:51–46:04, 56:09–56:51
• Young Black Activists & Pioneers: 53:16–55:47
• Strategies Against Erasure & Censorship: 49:35–51:08
• Everyday Archiving (Listener Tips): 74:00–76:58
• Practical Tips for Raising Historically Literate Kids: 67:40–69:38
• Collective Joy – Book Fairs, Black-Owned Business Shoutouts: 70:13–87:24
• Celebrating Black Women’s Solidarity (Joy Ann Reid & Francesca): 79:37–83:33
• Petty Peeves (Work Meetings, Brain Fog): 88:10–92:31
• Takeaways & Sign-off: 93:35–94:15

Episode Tone

• Warmth, humor, and camaraderie: The conversation is peppered with laughter, witty banter, and the familiarity of women who have built and maintained community.
• Affirming and unapologetic: Unfiltered language is used for emphasis—reflecting the podcast’s authentic and Black-centered tone.

Takeaways & Action Steps

• Protect and retell our history, especially as it is actively being erased.
• Reframe and celebrate everyday victories as historical moments in our own lives.
• Make history approachable—through food, music, play, and curiosity.
• Preserve family artifacts (photos, stories) through intentional archiving.
• Model to young people the importance (and fun!) of honoring Black history 365 days a year.

Where to Find More

• Toya from Harlem:
  • Instagram: @toyafromharlem
  • Podcast: That Wasn’t in My Textbook (thatwasntinmytextbook.com)
• Dr. Keia & Jade:
  • Gettin’ Grown
• Episode Resources:
  • Downloadable Black-owned business guides, recommended books/documentaries, and archival tips (see episode description on your podcast platform).