Between 1870 and 1899, only twelve Black cadets were admitted to the US military academy at West Point, and of those twelve, only three went on to graduate. Of the Black cadets who persevered, all faced relentless racial prejudice, hazing, ostracism, and silent treatment from their white peers. Today, Lindsay is joined by Lieutenant Colonel Rory McGovern to share stories of the early Black cadets who went through hell to try and obtain the prize of becoming an officer in the United States Army. Col. McGovern is the co-editor of Race, Politics, and Reconstruction: The First Black Cadets At Old West Point.

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February 24, 1739. The Persian leader Nader Shah wins a decisive victory in India at the Battle of Karnal. The fallout from the battle shatters the Mughal Empire, leaving the sub-continent vulnerable to later domination by colonial powers.

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History Daily is a co-production of Airship and Noiser.

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On an April morning in 1880, West Point cadet Johnson Chestnut Whittaker failed to appear at 6 a.m. roll call. He had endured continuous abuse from his white classmates and was found unconscious and bloodied after a brutal beating. But as he recounted the story of his attack, he was met with suspicion from West Point officials.

In West Texas, the Army’s first Black commissioned officer faced a court martial over his handling of commissary funds and the buffalo soldiers of the 9th and 10th Cavalries pursued the final resistance of fierce Apache warriors. After years of service, buffalo soldiers would be forced to confront the broken promises of the U.S. government.

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In May 1870, James Webster Smith arrived in West Point, New York, in the hopes of becoming the first Black cadet to attend the U.S. Military Academy. While facing West Point’s famously difficult curriculum, he was forced to endure an onslaught of racial prejudice from his white classmates.

Hundreds of miles to the West, the buffalo soldiers of the 10th Cavalry struggled to keep the peace in Indian Territory, as white merchants and thieves preyed upon Indian tribes. And in the sun-drenched Staked Plains of the Texas Panhandle, a routine mission turned catastrophic.

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February 10, 1972. When his music career begins to stagnate, David Bowie reinvents himself with an alien alter-ego he names Ziggy Stardust.

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History Daily is a co-production of Airship and Noiser.

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In the spring of 1865, with the Civil War finally over, American lawmakers began to debate whether Black soldiers would have a permanent place in the peacetime Army. Some 180,000 Black men had fought in the Union ranks, but never before in the nation’s history had they been allowed regular status in the armed forces.  

In the West, white settlers were clashing with Indian tribes who were determined to protect their land and lives from aggression. Soon, Congress would authorize six new Black Army regiments to support America’s westward expansion. Hundreds of Black men answered the call and set off for remote outposts on the frontier, searching for opportunities denied to them in civilian life. They became known as the first buffalo soldiers.

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In the winter of 1846, Irish immigrants in America began to hear troubling news from their home country: a potato famine was ravaging the countryside and driving desperate farmers and families into the cities. Soon more than 1 million people would perish.

Learning of the horror and despair, Americans became determined to respond to the crisis. In March 1847, a crucial relief mission departed from Boston, carrying hundreds of barrels of food and aid across the Atlantic Ocean directly to the shores of Ireland. 

It would eventually become the first global humanitarian mission of its kind, setting a precedent for America’s growing role in the world, and strengthening the unique bond between Ireland and the U.S.

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January 27, 1944. Soviet forces defeat the German army outside Leningrad, ending an 872-day siege.

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History Daily is a co-production of Airship and Noiser.

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Before the Wright Brothers made their historic flight at Kitty Hawk in December 1903, other air enthusiasts had tried to find the answer to powered, controlled human flight. And once Wilbur and Orville succeeded, many budding aviators flocked to the skies by building on their technology. Soon, despite their best efforts, the Wright Brothers would find it was nearly impossible to maintain a grip on the emerging aviation industry. Today, Lindsay is joined by historian and author Lawrence Goldstone. He’s the author of Birdmen: The Wright Brothers, Glenn Curtiss, and the Battle to Control the Skies. 

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In the summer of 1908, Wilbur Wright amazed crowds in France with his aerobatic flying demonstrations, and Orville made daring flights at a U.S. Army base in Virginia. The press in Europe and America raved and skeptics were silenced. But then, on September 17th, a horrific crash in Virginia left one man dead and Orville seriously wounded, threatening to destroy everything the Wright brothers had built.

Order your copy of the new American History Tellers book, The Hidden History of the White House, for behind-the-scenes stories of some of the most dramatic events in American history—set right inside the house where it happened.

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Listen to American History Tellers on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial today by visiting wondery.com/links/american-history-tellers/ now.

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