Black History is American History

We explore Black History through stories from Dr. Marsha Hardeman, Professor of Africana Studies at the University of New Mexico.

From innovations we use every day to settling of the American West, Dr. Hardeman gives us good reason to wake every day and say “Thank you Black People!” Find the pictures Dr. Hardeman talks about by scrolling down on this page.

We also learn about Civil Rights from our friends at the Earthseed Black Arts Alliance.

Miles from the Earthseed Black Arts Alliance

And, the kids in the Extinction Diaries let us know what’s happening with the world’s rarest bear, the Gobi Bear.

Just a few of the important black inventors mentioned in our show. Find out more about the significant creations black inventors have brought to life to make our lives modern-day easy HERE

Thomas Elkins designed a device that helped with the task of preserving perishable foods by way of refrigeration. Elkins patented this refrigerated apparatus on November 4, 1879. and had previously patented a chamber commode in 1872 and a dining, ironing table and quilting frame combined in 1870.

Shotgun Mary — “Stagecoach Mary,” Mary Fields was the first African-American woman mail carrier in the United States

Willie M. “Bill” Pickett was a cowboy, rodeo, Wild West show performer and actor. In 1989, Pickett was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.

Sarah Boone was an African American dressmaker who made her name by inventing the modern-day ironing board. In her patent application, she wrote that the purpose of her invention was “to produce a cheap, simple, convenient and highly effective device, particularly adapted to be used in ironing the sleeves and bodies of ladies’ garments.

Alexander Mills, inventor of elevator doors — Alexander Miles was an American inventor and business person, best known for being awarded a patent for automatically opening and closing elevator doors. He was awarded U.S. Patent 371,207 on October 11, 1887.

CJ Walker, inventor of the hot comb — Madame C.J. Walker, the First Black American Woman to Be a Self-Made Millionaire. She invented the world’s first hair-straightening formula and/or the hot comb.

Nathaniel Alexander, inventor of folding chairs — Nathaniel Alexander invented and patented the folding chair. According to the history books, Mr. Alexander invented and patented the chair for use in churches and school and group gatherings, including a pocket/holder on the back for people to store their hymnals, school books, etc.

George Franklin Grant, inventor of the golf tee — Dr. George F. Grant, an African American dentist and inventor. Dr. Grant received a U.S. patent No. 638,920, the world’s first patent for a golf tee – a wooden spike with a flexible rubber peg for the ball.

Sarah Good, inventor of the folding bed — Sarah Goode was an entrepreneur and inventor. She was the … Goode invented a folding cabinet bed which helped people who lived in tight housing to utilize their space efficiently.

Philip Downing inventor of the street letter mailbox — Philip B Downing is best known for his patent on the modern day letter box & a mechanical device for operating street railway switches

This episode was written and produced by Katie Stone, with help from the kids on the Kids Crew, and our contributing listeners. We record at the Sunspot Solar Studio in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

title	artist	album	duration	label
Stand Up for Something (feat. Common)	Andra Day	Marshall (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)	03:44	2017 Marshall Film, LLC, under exclusive license to and compilation (c) Warner Records Inc.
Beautiful Welcome	Asheba	In the Kid Zone	03:25	2009 DAVID ASHEBA WILSON ,COV PROD
I Love Everybody	Bunny Hull & Friends	This Little Light	01:18	2010 Dream A World/BrassHeart Music
Mamizolo (feat. Women of Mambazo)	Ladysmith Black Mambazo	Ladysmith Black Mambazo & Friends	00:38	GALLO RECORD COMPANY
I’m Proud	Alphabet Rockers	Rise Shine #Woke	03:18	2017 School Time Music LLC
Texas Two Step	SaulPaul	We Dream in 3D	02:55	2017 ReRoute Music Group
The Entertainer, Joplin	Beethoven’s Wig	Sing Along Piano Classics (feat. Richard Perlmutter)	02:19	2011 Beethoven’s Wig
Welcome Back	Ayanna Gregory	I Dream A World	03:18	Ayanna Gregory
Black Women in History	FYUTCH, Rissi Palmer & Snooknuk	Black Women in History – Single	03:11	2021 Fyusion
Teddy Bears’ Picnic	The Persuasions	Love & Peace: Greatest Hits for Kids	03:10	This Compilation 2010 Music For Little People
I Am the Future of Black History	Culture Queen	I Like the Me I See!	02:04	2016 Culture Queen