Once Upon A Time In Black History

Step into the often-overlooked history of the American West as we explore the remarkable story of Black cowboys and cowgirls. From formerly enslaved men who became skilled ranch hands and cattle drivers to legendary figures like Nat Love and Bill Pickett, this episode reveals the vital role Black Americans played in shaping the cowboy tradition.

Discover how Bill Pickett revolutioni...

In this episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh explores the remarkable life and legacy of Blind Lemon Jefferson, one of the pioneers of recorded blues and a key figure in the development of Texas blues.

Born in rural Texas and blind or nearly blind from an early age, Jefferson became a gifted guitarist and powerful singer. From performing on the streets of ...

How did a NASA engineer invent one of the most iconic toys in history?

In this episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh explores the remarkable life of Lonnie Johnson, the brilliant inventor of the Super Soaker. From growing up in segregated Alabama to building an award-winning robot, working on NASA space missions, and accidentally creating the world's most ...

Who made modern blood banks possible? The answer is Dr. Charles Richard Drew, a pioneering physician, scientist, and educator whose groundbreaking research transformed emergency medicine and has saved millions of lives around the world.

In this episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh explores the extraordinary life of the man known as the "Father of the Bloo...

Known as The Black Prince and The Slayer of Lexington, Abe Hawkins rose to become one of the most celebrated jockeys in 19th-century America. He defeated the greatest horse of his era, helped revolutionize riding techniques, and achieved national fame despite living under slavery.

In this episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh explores the remarkable life of a man whose talent, courage, and determination c...

Some inventions change the world quietly.

A voice on a phone call. A hearing aid helping someone reconnect with conversation. A microphone capturing music, memories, and history.

Behind many of these everyday moments is James Edward West, an inventor whose groundbreaking work transformed the way we hear and communicate.

In this episo...

In this episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, Tamara Shiloh shares the inspiring story of Mary Jackson — the first Black female engineer at NASA.

From overcoming segregation in Hampton to helping shape America’s space program alongside Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson’s journey is a powerful reminder that courage and determination can change history.

Inspired by the story featured in Hidden Figures.

Visit M...

In this episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh highlights the groundbreaking legacy of Marie Clark Taylor—a pioneering scientist who transformed how we understand plant growth. From her early curiosity in Pennsylvania to becoming the first Black woman to earn a Ph.D. in botany from Fordham University, and later chairing the Botany Department at Howard University, Taylor broke barriers at every turn. ...

In this episode, discover the story of Alfred L. Cralle, the brilliant mind behind the modern ice cream scoop. At a time when serving ice cream was messy and frustrating, Cralle’s clever invention in 1897 made it आसान, clean, and efficient with a simple one-handed mechanism.

Despite facing barriers that prevented him from fully benefiting from his invention, his impact is still felt today in every scoop.

Tune in for a sweet a...

In this inspiring episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh shares the remarkable story of Dr. Gladys Mae Brown West—a brilliant mathematician whose groundbreaking work helped shape the GPS technology we rely on every day.

From her humble beginnings on a farm in rural Virginia to becoming a pioneering computer programmer for the U.S. military, Dr. West&r...

In this episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh shares the extraordinary true story of Sarah Rector, a young girl whose life changed in ways no one could have imagined.

Born in 1902 in what would become Oklahoma, Sarah was given land that many believed was worthless. But at just 11 years old, everything changed when oil was discovered beneath her property—transforming her into one of the wealthiest yo...

Before Rosa Parks made history, a brave 15-year-old girl named Claudette Colvin refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. In this episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh shares the powerful and often overlooked story of Claudette’s courageous stand in 1955 and how it helped lead to the court case that ended bus segregation. Discover how one young voice helped move the Civ...

In this inspiring episode of Once Upon A Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh shares the remarkable life story of Andrew Jackson Beard—a formerly enslaved man whose brilliance and determination forever changed railroad safety.

Born into slavery in Alabama, Beard taught himself multiple trades and became an inventor who refused to accept the dangers around him as “just the way things were.” After losing a leg ...

In this episode of Once Upon A Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh explores the remarkable life of Granville Woods—a self-taught inventor whose brilliance helped transform railroad safety and modern communication.

Born in 1856 during a time of extreme racial barriers, Granville Woods never let limited access to formal education stop him. Through curiosity, hands-on learning, and relentless experimentation, he became a p...

Born into slavery, Harriet refused to believe that her life was meant to be lived in chains. After escaping to freedom herself, she made a bold and dangerous choice: she went back. Again and again. As a conductor on the Underground Railroad, Harriet guided enslaved people through darkness, forests, rivers, and fear—using the North Star, secret songs, and unwavering faith to lead them to freedom.

You will learn how Harriet car...

In this episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, we explore the extraordinary life of Thomas Fuller, the enslaved West African man known as “The Virginia Calculator.” Kidnapped at 14 and denied any formal education, Fuller astonished everyone with his ability to perform massive calculations entirely in his mind.

Abolitionists later tested him with enormous math problems to disprove racist beliefs about African inte...

In this episode of Once Upon A Time in Black History, Tamara Shiloh uncovers the story of Phillip Bell Downing — the African American inventor who transformed communication with his secure, weather-proof “street letter box.”

Discover how a simple idea from a determined postal worker in the 1890s made sending mail safer, more accessible, and more reliable for everyone. Downing’s invention still stands on stre...

In this episode of Once Upon A Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh shines a light on Valerie L. Thomas, the brilliant mind behind NASA’s “Illusion Transmitter” — a groundbreaking invention that paved the way for 3D imaging technology.

From her childhood curiosity in Baltimore to becoming one of NASA’s most innovative scientists, Valerie’s journey is one of persistence, imagination, and quie...

In this episode, we celebrate the ingenuity of J.W. Smith—also known as Joseph H. Smith—the African-American inventor who transformed home gardening with the creation of the modern lawn sprinkler. In 1897, Smith patented the first rotary head lawn sprinkler, a simple yet revolutionary device that made watering lawns more efficient and accessible for homeowners and gardeners alike.

Discover how Smith’s invention no...