

Black History Year
PushBlack
Learning your history makes you - and your people - stronger.
As Black people, we know we’re often left out of the history books. That media images are skewed. That we need access to experts, information, and ideas so we can uplift our community.
The Black History Year feed connects you to the history, thinkers, and activists that are usually excluded from mainstream conversations, through must-hear interviews and 2-Minute Black History stories. You might not agree with everything you hear, but we’re always working toward one goal: uniting for the best interests of Black people worldwide.
BHY is produced by PushBlack, the nation’s largest non-profit Black media organization - contact us at BlackHistoryYear.com.
As Black people, we know we’re often left out of the history books. That media images are skewed. That we need access to experts, information, and ideas so we can uplift our community.
The Black History Year feed connects you to the history, thinkers, and activists that are usually excluded from mainstream conversations, through must-hear interviews and 2-Minute Black History stories. You might not agree with everything you hear, but we’re always working toward one goal: uniting for the best interests of Black people worldwide.
BHY is produced by PushBlack, the nation’s largest non-profit Black media organization - contact us at BlackHistoryYear.com.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 13, 2025 • 47min
From Jim Crow to AI: The History of Anti-Black Surveillance with Journalist Zain Murdock
We’re always being watched. And it’s often with suspicion when you’re Black. In this episode of Black History Year, host Darren and poet & abolitionist journalist Zain Murdock expose how centuries-old tactics — like lantern laws and branding — live in today’s AI policing and data mining. Through personal stories and expert insights, they reveal how so-called “safety” masks control and what fighting Big Brother looks like.
To learn more about Zain’s work, find her at zainmurdock.com.
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Explore what it means to adapt and evolve together.
Check out Say More with Tulaine Montgomery wherever you find podcasts
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This podcast is brought to you by PushBlack, the nation’s largest non-profit Black media company. You make PushBlack happen with your contributions at BlackHistoryYear.com. Most folks do 5 or 10 bucks a month, but truly, anything helps. Thanks for supporting the work.
With production support from Brooke Brown, Black History Year is produced by Cydney Smith, Leslie Taylor-Grover, Darren Wallace, and Len Webb, who also edits the show. Lilly Workneh is our Executive Producer and Black History Year’s host is Darren Wallace. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 12, 2025 • 3min
This Toy Was So Racist It Was Illegal To Have One
It may have been just a simple child’s toy on the outside, but an inside look at its history reveals exactly why other countries have outlawed it._____________2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. PushBlack exists to amplify the stories of Black history you didn't learn in school. You make PushBlack happen with your contributions at BlackHistoryYear.com — most people donate $10 a month, but every dollar makes a difference. If this episode moved you, share it with your people! Thanks for supporting the work.The production team for this podcast includes Cydney Smith and Len Webb. Our editors are Lance John and Avery Phillips from Gifted Sounds Network. Lilly Workneh serves as executive producer. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 11, 2025 • 4min
Her Artistry Was So Powerful, Police Arrested Her
Faith Ringgold was known for interpreting political movements and their struggles through art, from narrative quilts to paintings. But in 1970, the police thought she’d gone too far - and arrested her for making this powerful and possibly illegal statement._____________2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. PushBlack exists to amplify the stories of Black history you didn't learn in school. You make PushBlack happen with your contributions at BlackHistoryYear.com — most people donate $10 a month, but every dollar makes a difference. If this episode moved you, share it with your people! Thanks for supporting the work.The production team for this podcast includes Cydney Smith and Len Webb. Our editors are Lance John and Avery Phillips from Gifted Sounds Network. Lilly Workneh serves as executive producer. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 10, 2025 • 3min
Top Three Lies About ‘40 Acres And A Mule’
40 Acres and a Mule is the U.S.'s most famous attempt at reparations. Thousands of freed people actually received their 40 acres, but the government snatched it back quicker than they could say heehaw. What happened?_____________2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. PushBlack exists to amplify the stories of Black history you didn't learn in school. You make PushBlack happen with your contributions at BlackHistoryYear.com — most people donate $10 a month, but every dollar makes a difference. If this episode moved you, share it with your people! Thanks for supporting the work.The production team for this podcast includes Cydney Smith, Len Webb, and Lilly Workneh. Our editors are Lance John and Avery Phillips from Gifted Sounds Network. Julian Walker serves as executive producer." To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 9, 2025 • 4min
The Dark, Secret Black History Of Colleges And Universities
College graduation is a huge milestone. When we walk across that stage to get our degree, we walk for ourselves and our ancestors who weren’t allowed in as students. But that doesn't mean they weren’t there._____________2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. PushBlack exists to amplify the stories of Black history you didn't learn in school. You make PushBlack happen with your contributions at BlackHistoryYear.com — most people donate $10 a month, but every dollar makes a difference. If this episode moved you, share it with your people! Thanks for supporting the work.The production team for this podcast includes Cydney Smith, Len Webb, and Lilly Workneh. Our editors are Lance John and Avery Phillips from Gifted Sounds Network. Julian Walker serves as executive producer." To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 8, 2025 • 3min
The Secret Black Network Created During The Montgomery Bus Boycott
You’ve heard of Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat on a bus and the boycott that followed. But what’s left out of the history books is the thriving network our people created when riding public transportation wasn’t an option._____________2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. PushBlack exists to amplify the stories of Black history you didn't learn in school. You make PushBlack happen with your contributions at BlackHistoryYear.com — most people donate $10 a month, but every dollar makes a difference. If this episode moved you, share it with your people! Thanks for supporting the work.The production team for this podcast includes Cydney Smith, Len Webb, and Lilly Workneh. Our editors are Lance John and Avery Phillips from Gifted Sounds Network. Julian Walker serves as executive producer." To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 4, 2025 • 54min
What the Death Penalty Really Means with Activist William C. Anderson
The United States' history with the death penalty runs from colonial gallows to modern lethal injections. Under Trump's presidency, understanding history is more important than ever.
In this episode, we’re sitting down with William C. Anderson, the activist, writer, and author of "The Nation on No Map," to unpack why capital punishment still grips this nation and what’s at stake for us all.
To find out more about William and his work, please visit https://williamcanderson.info
_____________________________________________________________
Explore what it means to adapt and evolve together.
Check out Say More with Tulaine Montgomery wherever you find podcasts
_____________________________________________________________
—
This podcast is brought to you by PushBlack, the nation’s largest non-profit Black media company. You make PushBlack happen with your contributions at BlackHistoryYear.com. Most folks do 5 or 10 bucks a month, but truly, anything helps. Thanks for supporting the work.
With production support from Leslie Taylor-Grover and Brooke Brown, Black History Year is produced by Cydney Smith, Darren Wallace, and Len Webb, who also edits the show. Lilly Workneh is our Executive Producer, and Black History Year's host is Darren Wallace. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 3, 2025 • 3min
3 Ways Octavia Butler Predicted Our Life With Police Today
Once detained by police herself, Octavia Butler put her powerful observations of the world into her Parables series set in 2024 and 2032. How do her three predictions of what policing would be like today match up to our reality and future?_____________2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. PushBlack exists to amplify the stories of Black history you didn't learn in school. You make PushBlack happen with your contributions at BlackHistoryYear.com — most people donate $10 a month, but every dollar makes a difference. If this episode moved you, share it with your people! Thanks for supporting the work.The production team for this podcast includes Cydney Smith, Len Webb, and Lilly Workneh. Our editors are Lance John and Avery Phillips from Gifted Sounds Network. Julian Walker serves as executive producer." To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 2, 2025 • 3min
The Powerful Reason Frankie Beverly Always Wore White On Stage
You can’t have a family barbecue without some Frankie Beverly and Maze playing. And while our outdoor grills were hot, there’s something even more sizzling about this white-hot symbolism Beverly displayed._____________2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. PushBlack exists to amplify the stories of Black history you didn't learn in school. You make PushBlack happen with your contributions at BlackHistoryYear.com — most people donate $10 a month, but every dollar makes a difference. If this episode moved you, share it with your people! Thanks for supporting the work.The production team for this podcast includes Cydney Smith, Len Webb, and Lilly Workneh. Our editors are Lance John and Avery Phillips from Gifted Sounds Network. Julian Walker serves as executive producer." To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 1, 2025 • 3min
The ‘Nitty Gritty’ Behind These Phrases That Have Racist Origins
It's pretty wild to think about how the language we use daily can be traced back to some messed-up stuff. We use many of these words so casually that we don’t even notice. How many of these words have you used?_____________2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. PushBlack exists to amplify the stories of Black history you didn't learn in school. You make PushBlack happen with your contributions at BlackHistoryYear.com — most people donate $10 a month, but every dollar makes a difference. If this episode moved you, share it with your people! Thanks for supporting the work.The production team for this podcast includes Cydney Smith, Len Webb, and Lilly Workneh. Our editors are Lance John and Avery Phillips from Gifted Sounds Network. Julian Walker serves as executive producer." To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices


