Black History, For Real
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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Our Editor's Take
Black History, For Real is a Black History podcast with a difference. Franchesca Ramsey and Conscious Lee host the show. Together, they discuss factual accounts from 14th-century Africa to the Civil Rights era in America. Each conversation highlights a candid story on Black historical figures.
Franchesca is an American comedian and activist. She first found fame on YouTube, providing commentary on race as "Chescaleigh." Conscious is an American educator, facilitator, and digital storyteller. Like Franchesca, he has also found great success on social media. The cohosts combine narrative storytelling with conversation, social commentary, and archive footage. The result is a nuanced and compelling podcast about race, power, and society.
The podcast tells the story of Assata Shakur in four episodes about women in the Black Panther Party. In 2013, she was the first woman the FBI added to its "Most Wanted Terrorists" list. The story starts at the beginning of Shakur's life, when she went by her married name, Joanne Chesimard.
In her twenties, Joanne discovered activism and joined the Black Panther movement. She changed her name to Assata Shakur in 1971. Two years later, she was involved in a shootout in New Jersey where two state troopers were shot and one died. She was convicted of murder in 1977, but escaped from prison and fled the US. Cuba granted Assata political asylum in 1984. She remains there today, and her name is still on the FBI's "Most Wanted Terrorists" list.
Other stories on Black History, For Real include the tale of Mansa Musa, a 14th-century Malian king. The podcast also tells the histories of the Harlem Renaissance and "Black Wall Street." As storytellers, Franchesca and Conscious have impressive talent. The cohosts' narrative style creates an experience similar to enjoying an audiobook. Some parts of the podcast are like hearing a conversation between friends. It's a powerful combination, and listeners may find themselves drawn into each story as a result.
Black History, For Real might appeal to those who want to learn more about Black History. Listeners who favor narrative storytelling podcasts may also enjoy it. New episodes are available weekly.
Episodes