Once Upon A Time In Black History

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 intelligence. Fu...

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 street corners today, quietl...

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 quiet revolution. As one of the few wome...

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 not only saved time,...

Before Central Park became the iconic green heart of New York City, a thriving community once stood there — Seneca Village, a settlement founded by free African Americans in the 1820s. In this episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh uncovers the story of this remarkable neighborhood — a place where Black families, along with Irish and German immigrants, built homes, churches, and schools, and created a safe...

In this episode of Once Upon A Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh takes us back to the 1700s and the remarkable story of Fort Mose—America’s first legally sanctioned free Black settlement. Just north of St. Augustine, Florida, Fort Mose offered freedom, safety, and community to those who escaped slavery in the British colonies and found refuge under Spanish rule.

Discover how formerly enslaved Africans built lives as free me...

In this episode of Once Upon A Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh takes us into the world of space science with Dr. Patricia S. Cowings—the first African American woman trained as a scientist astronaut by NASA. Affectionately nicknamed the “Baroness of Barf,” Dr. Cowings revolutionized astronaut training by developing biofeedback techniques that helped astronauts conquer space motion sickness—one of the most dangerous challe...

In this episode of Once Upon A Time in Black History, we travel to Savannah, Georgia, to uncover the story of the First African Baptist Church — one of the oldest continuously operating Black churches in North America.

Founded in 1773 by George Liele and formally organized in 1788 under Andrew Bryan, the church stood as both a sanctuary of worship and a center of resistance. From serving as a stop on the Underground Railroad, to ed...

Meet Eugene Bullard — boxer, war hero, spy, and the world’s first African American military pilot. In this episode, we follow his incredible journey from the Jim Crow South to the skies over France during World War I. Nicknamed “The Black Swallow of Death,” Bullard defied racism, dodged bullets, and danced with legends in Jazz Age Paris — only to return to an America that refused to see his worth. Discover the remarkable, untold st...

In this powerful episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh uncovers the extraordinary story of John Berry Meachum, a formerly enslaved man who defied racist laws to educate Black children in antebellum America.

Born into slavery in 1789, Meachum purchased his freedom and became a preacher, carpenter, and educator in St. Louis, Missouri. When th...

Born in 1886 in Lenox, Massachusetts, Van Der Zee’s journey began with a simple camera he won at age fourteen. That small gift would launch a lifetime of visual storytelling that documented the rise of Harlem during its cultural renaissance. From weddings and community events to portraits of icons like Marcus Garvey, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, and Joe Louis, Van Der Zee’s images reflected elegance, dignity, and the vibrant pride of...

In this episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh spotlights Florence Beatrice Price, the first African American woman to have a symphony performed by a major U.S. orchestra. Born in 1887 in Little Rock, Arkansas, Price overcame racism, sexism, and personal hardships to become a groundbreaking classical composer. Her music—rooted in African-American spirituals and European traditions—brought a fresh voice to ...

In today’s episode, we’re opening the Pantry of the Past to spotlight Hercules Posey, the first known White House chef. Enslaved by George Washington but celebrated for his culinary brilliance, Hercules wasn’t just a cook—he was a man of impeccable skill, style, and quiet resistance.

From commanding the president’s kitchen in Philadelphia to making a bold escape for freedom, Hercules’ story is as complex as it is courageous. Join u...

In the pre-dawn quiet of the U.S. Navy’s David Taylor Model Basin, a young Black woman sat behind a computer, quietly rewriting history. This is the story of Raye Montague—engineer, innovator, and a hidden figure whose brilliance transformed naval ship design. Born in Jim Crow-era Little Rock, Arkansas, Montague dreamed of becoming an engineer after glimpsing a World War II submarine at age seven. Denied access to engineering schoo...

George Washington Williams turned experience into history. Soldier, preacher, politician, and pioneering historian — he was a man determined to tell the truth no matter the cost. Best known for exposing King Leopold II’s brutal reign in the Congo, Williams used his voice and pen to challenge injustice across the globe. But long before that, he was a 14-year-old boy lying about his age to fight in the Civil War.

In this episode, we ...

Join host Tamara Shiloh as we uncover the remarkable story of James Hemings, a culinary pioneer whose influence on American cuisine has been largely overlooked. Born into slavery in 1765 and owned by Thomas Jefferson, James became a master of French cooking, training in Paris under elite chefs. He introduced iconic dishes like macaroni and cheese, crème brûlée, and French-style whipped potatoes to America. Despite his immense contr...

In this episode, we dive into the history of a small yet impactful invention—the house door letterbox. Before the convenience of secure mail slots, postal carriers had to knock and wait for someone to answer the door. But thanks to George Beckett, that all changed. Tune in to learn how this 19th-century innovation revolutionized mail delivery, reflecting broader societal changes and making communication more accessible for everyone...