Kamala Harris, the daughter of immigrants, once dreamed of justice on the streets of Oakland. Barack Obama, born to a... more

It's 1978, and Senator Edward Brooke is fighting for his political life. As the first Black U.S. Senator elected by... more

The Civil War’s over, countless Black people are making their way in a new and dangerous world, and their fight... more

Blackness is more than skin deep. This thing is cultural, and culture moves beyond what we can see. Franchesca and... more

Woop! Woop! That’s the sound of da police! Conscious and Frankie welcome Dr. Chenjerai Kumanyika – host of Empire City:... more

As a child, Gwen Ifill watches the flickering images of 1960s America dance across her television screen. Journalists and news... more

The famous Brazilian footballer Pelé should never have climbed to the pinnacle of his sport. Young Edson, the kid who... more

Celia Cruz, dubbed the "Queen of Salsa" is one the the biggest Latin music stars of all time. From her... more

Black people’s accomplishments aren’t usually celebrated without creating some discomfort in the white cultural zeitgeist. There’s something about Black Excellence... more

“Luck has nothing to do with it, because I have spent many, many hours, countless hours, on the court working... more

Jack Johnson, the Galveston Giant, is known for two things: his brutal fists and fearless audacity. Before Muhammad Ali, Johnson... more

Witnessing someone achieve greatness in multiple areas of life is pretty rare. Paul Robeson’s a rare type of man. Almost... more

Football season’s back, and it’s still missing one of the game’s best quarterbacks: Colin Kaepernick. Colin grows up loving athletes... more

You ever see someone laugh so hard it makes you crack a smile? Even though you’ve got no idea what... more

You never think a simple day by the water can turn deadly. Young Eugene Williams never thought his day at... more

Summertime, and the livin’s easy. Unless you’re Black, and trying to hit up the beach, in early 19th-century America. Beaches,... more

“I’ll sleep when I die.” That’s usually the sentiment of a laborer on the perpetual grind. Sure, hard work pays... more

Martin Luther King, Jr. is dead, and Samuel L. Jackson’s taken the entire Morehouse College Board of Trustees hostage. This... more

Samuel L. Jackson’s got big plans when he arrives at Morehouse College in the late 1960s. He loves movies and... more

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Fannie Lou Hamer had her voting rights and reproductive rights... more

After getting arrested by racist police and being beaten to near death, Fannie puts her fight for voting rights into... more

Fannie Lou Hamer’s been a fighter her entire life. Growing up as a poor Black girl in Jim Crow Mississippi... more

Motown has finally found its groove. The Jackson Five add their bubblegum soul to the company’s more traditional sound. And... more

The Civil Rights Movement is at its peak. Trouble’s brewing in the streets and inside Motown and Stax records. Stax... more

Motown and Stax are on the come up. Acts like Diana Ross and Isaac Hayes are helping redefine what it... more

Before Michael Jackson became the King of Pop, or Otis Redding claimed his place as one of the greatest singer-songwriters... more

When it comes to works of art, “Picasso” is synonymous with brilliance and innovation. Spanish painter and sculptor Pablo Picasso... more

Black culture is a pivotal pillar of broader American culture. From fashion, to language, to being the sonic foundation to... more

The Tulsa Race Massacre is by far one of the most horrific events in American history. Although it took place... more

In the spring of 1921, a racially integrated group of moviegoers were enjoying a night out at the Black-owned Dreamland... more

In 1906, entrepreneurs Ottawa Gurley and J.B. Stradford purchased parcels of government land in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They had dreams of... more

After nearly two years, Mansa Musa finally completes his pilgrimage to Mecca. The trip is filled with tribulations, but the... more

Feeling immense shame and regret for killing his mother, Mansa Musa seeks counsel from his Imam. The religious leader advises... more

Had there been a version of the Forbes list in the early 14th century, a 20-something-year-old Malian king would reign... more

W.E.B. Du Bois and Countee Cullen were, no question, pivotal pillars during the Harlem Renaissance. Du Bois’s philosophy of race... more

As Countee Cullen tries to recover from his divorce from Yolande DuBois, his career begins to falter. The Great Depression... more

To save his public image, Countee Cullen marries W.E.B. Dubois’ daughter, Yolande. The wedding is the merger of the century.... more

In the early 1900’s, Harlem Renaissance poet Countee Cullen went from an orphan to one of the most celebrated literary... more

In the early 1900s, NAACP co-founder W.E.B. DuBois is at the top of his game, as the first Black person... more

As the first ever woman in the Black Panther Party’s decision-making body, Kathleen Cleaver played a large role in shaping... more

After many of her comrades are killed, imprisoned, and forced into exile, Elaine Brown rises the ranks to be tapped... more

At only 23 years old, Afeni Shakur defended herself and 20 other Black Panther comrades in the famous Panther 21... more

In her 20s, Assata Shakur became a target for government forces aiming to discredit Black liberation movements. Soon, she would... more

Join Franchesca Ramsey and Conscious Lee every week as they go beyond the stories of Black History you already know... more