The Friend Zone Podcast — “The Lost Histories of Black Inventors”

Hosts: Dustin Ross, Hey Fran Hey (Francesca/Fran), Asante
Date: February 26, 2026
Episode Theme: Preserving and honoring the overlooked contributions of Black inventors, creators, and community leaders, while confronting the historical and ongoing systemic barriers that have suppressed, stolen, or erased Black innovation.

Episode Overview

This Black History Month special unpacks the repeating pattern of Black brilliance and invention being erased, exploited, or sidelined in America. From Mr. Walter Johnson (“Mr. Tenderness”)’s viral barbecue saga to the erased story behind Jack Daniel’s whiskey, and powerful women researchers restoring forgotten histories, the hosts dig into both the past and present, highlighting why archiving and protecting our own stories is critical for Black progress.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Addressing Recent Incidents of Racism & Accountability

[01:47–16:07]

• Dustin addresses two incidents:

  • John Davidson at the BAFTAs:

    • Tourette syndrome activist screamed a racist slur live. While outraged, Dustin describes how a Black girl with Tourettes on TikTok helped him understand the involuntary nature (“it’s not necessarily what they’re thinking…” – Fran, [03:32]), shifting some anger toward the BAFTA producers who allowed the slur to reach the broadcast.
    • “They knew what they were doing…There are people that are responsible for that moment making it to air, just like Fran said. Those are the racists that deserve all of our vitriol.” — Dustin [05:56]

  • Allison Friedman, Hunter College:

    • Caught on a Zoom call making blatantly racist comments about Black students.
    • The crew stresses the dangerous impact of racists in educational positions and the lack of meaningful vetting for educators.
    • “All we can do is do what we can…Call those numbers, email those people, bring it to her. Because we ain’t having that on our watch.” — Dustin [12:25]

  • Fran’s reflection: Racism is so deeply systemic that “this is exactly who [institutions] want.” [13:42]

Black Business of the Week: Ruby Love

[16:16–20:47]

• Fran spotlights Black-owned period apparel brand Ruby Love, designed by Crystal Etienne for Black women and praised by Fran’s Black gynecologist.
• Key Point: The importance of service providers and creators who really “get” Black women’s needs.

Audience Recap and Community Connections

[21:25–44:34]

• The hosts share heartfelt comments sparked by past episodes, especially memories about childhood commutes, archiving family stories, and Black experiences in New York City.
• Beautiful and emotional moments arise, such as a listener preserving voicemails from a deceased parent or the discovery that Dustin’s uncle created a family’s cherished heirloom portrait.
• Quote: “That’s the magic. That’s the shit that made me believe in God for real.” — Dustin [42:02]

News & Culture: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Nominations

[44:34–49:13]

• The crew reacts to this year’s nominees, with special focus on Black artists who should be inducted (Mariah Carey, Lauryn Hill, Wu-Tang, Sade, Luther Vandross, New Edition).
• “Mariah deserves this. Her third time being nominated. So, we gotta push her through. We gotta vote for Mariah, y’all.” — Dustin [48:24]

Main Topic: The Lost Histories of Black Inventors

[55:55–1:26:49]

The Saga of Mr. Tenderness & Black Innovation Being Stolen

[55:55–67:17]

• Fran introduces Walter Johnson (“Mr. Tenderness”), an older Black man whose viral videos built the reputation of Destination Smokehouse, only for the white owner to fire him and trademark “Tenderness” without credit.

  • Keith Lee’s experience: When he tried to tip Johnson, the white owner refused and blocked access.
  • Eventually, rapper Cartel Bo from Houston steps in, offering to open a NEW restaurant for Walter Johnson.

• Hosts connect this to a “familiar pattern” of Black creations being monetized/exploited by others but not shared or credited, referencing:

  The Jack Daniel's/Uncle Nearest Story

  [67:37–81:53]

  • Enslaved Black man Nathan "Nearest" Green developed whiskey-making techniques; Jack Daniel built a world-famous brand from it, gave no credit or partnership, and the wealth never flowed to Green’s family for generations.

  • Only recently, through research by Fawn Weaver and collaboration with Nearest’s descendants, has the real story been told, reparative action taken, and a Black-owned "Uncle Nearest" whiskey brand launched.

  • “Is that enough?” Fran asks, as the gesture, while positive, doesn’t truly restore what was lost [72:34–73:09].

  • Hosts reflect how narrative “friendships” are used to gloss over exploitation:

  • “If it was a friendship, this would not have gone unnoticed for over a century.” – Fran [81:19]

The Law and History: Why So Many Black Inventions Are “Lost”

[84:18–112:42]

• The Patent System as a Tool of Exclusion

  • Black people, especially those enslaved, were categorically excluded from patent laws, so inventions and labor were routinely stolen or exploited.
  • E.g., The Dred Scott decision made it explicit that Black inventors had “no standing”; slaveholders tried (sometimes failed) to patent their creations.
  • Confederate states even attempted to formalize slaveholder “ownership” of Black inventions.
  • Example of Benjamin Montgomery inventing the steamboat propeller, only recognized much later.

• Research on Segregation, Violence, and Innovation:

  • Economist Lisa D. Cook proved how violence from the Plessy v. Ferguson era and events like the Tulsa massacre correlated with steep drops in Black patenting — a legacy that persists today [104:11–107:29].

  • Quote: “Violence limits innovation, and in turn, economic activity for us and our families.” — Fran, quoting Lisa D. Cook [108:46]

• Systemic Effects:

  • Even after slavery, Jim Crow laws and exclusion from spaces like libraries and patent attorneys compounded barriers—“There wasn’t a Black patent attorney until the 1970s!” – Fran [105:09]
  • The importance of not just “fixing the laws,” but changing the workplaces, environments, and networks where innovation happens.

On Black Archiving and Ownership

[111:52–117:15]

• The Smithsonian and Lemelson Center are working to repair the erasure by holding events and supporting research on the “hidden histories” of Black invention—but still must contend with political forces and institutional bias.
• Dustin: “We need a secondary, reliable, secure method of archiving history and content and protecting it so that… it is not at risk of erasure.” [112:42]
• The future: Collective economics, self-run archiving, and children’s literature (“What Color is My World?” by Kareem Abdul Jabbar) as tools for restoring and protecting Black legacy.

Where Cultural Innovations Get Overlooked

[117:15–121:44]

• Many Black inventions are not seen as “deserving” of patents because they’re rooted in culture or survival rather than profit (e.g., Grandmaster Flash turning turntables into an instrument).
• There’s a call for the patent office to recognize and protect cultural innovation and impact, not just “machines for commerce.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Black stories being erased and reclaimed:
  • “That was the draw. You should have given him equity in the business. You should have made him a partner… Now that [his story] is out, we’re not gonna support [Destination Smokehouse] the same.” — Dustin ([64:47]–[65:51])
• On atonement and history:
  • “When you’re in a position of atonement, you have to atone for something you did. We don’t need anything missed, no details, none of that.” — Dustin [80:28]
• On patterns of exploitation:
  • “Ain’t it something for this parallel to be from an enslaved Black man… and then we’re talking about 2026? That to me was the part that I was like, I need to sit with this for a second.” — Fran [83:17]
• On archiving and legacy:
  • “The show reconnected you with a childhood acquaintance who was long separated from you… This is the magic. That’s the shit that made me believe in God for real.” — Dustin [42:02]

Notable Timestamps

• 01:47 — Discussion of BAFTA incident and production accountability
• 06:55 — Hunter College’s Allison Friedman incident
• 16:16 — Highlight: Ruby Love Black-owned period products
• 43:54 — Recapping community comments on Black history, archiving
• 44:34 — Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Black nominees
• 55:55 — Main Topic starts: Mr. Tenderness’ story
• 67:37 — The Uncle Nearest / Jack Daniel’s whiskey history
• 81:53 — Parallels between past & present exploitation
• 84:18 — Patent system history and Black exclusion
• 95:13 — Systemic roots of exploitation, need for partnership in wealth-building
• 104:11 — Lisa D. Cook: How violence, segregation cut off Black innovation
• 112:42 — Archiving and the dangers of institutional erasure
• 117:15 — The Lemelson Center and spaces for Black inventors
• 120:07 — The need to patent/protect cultural innovation
• 121:44 — Children’s literature: Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s book
• 122:53 — Final reflections: resilience, community self-reliance

“This Week in Wellness”

[129:07–133:41]

• Fran spotlights Chloe Foster, a young Black innovator with a patent-pending hair product (“Lengthen Lock” by Moonlit Ringlets) that stretches curls without heat.
• A real-world example of Black woman-driven innovation for the community.

“Music Man” & TV Segments

[133:49–165:52]

• Asante recaps musical milestones from Mary J. Blige’s My Life to Frank Ocean’s Blonde and elevates new artists.
• Dustin offers reality-TV updates, housewives news, and reminders of the power of creating and sustaining Black-owned media platforms.

Conclusion

[122:19–126:49...] The episode closes by circling back to the core lesson: even when institutions, laws, and power structures exclude, exploit, or marginalize Black inventors and culture shapers, the community innovates, archives, and collectively lifts each other up.

“As creatives and innovators continue to be unheralded, we have to take it upon ourselves to document it, to circulate it... feed it to the younger children so that they don’t get stifled or limited... whether the law recognizes us or not.” – Fran [122:19]

Solidarity, collective economics, and self-archiving are perpetual forms of mental wealth and mental hygiene — a recurring theme that powers The Friend Zone’s vision for Black history and the future.

Additional Resources from the Episode

• Uncle Nearest Whiskey: uncle nearest.com
• Moonlit Ringlets (Lengthen Lock): moonlitringlets.com
• Ruby Love: rubylove.com
• Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s children’s book: “What Color is My World: The Lost History of African-American Inventors”
• Lemelson Center (Smithsonian): invention.si.edu

Bottom Line

If you missed this episode, you missed a passionate, research-rich exploration of how Black creativity endures and why safeguarding our stories, honoring our inventors, and liberating our history from other people’s hands is essential, not optional.