Our Ancestors Were Messy

In 1920, Emperor Jones was a bona fide Broadway hit. The controversial play’s lead is Charles Gilpin, the first Black man to head up an integrated cast on the Great White Way. Gilpin enjoys fame, accolades, and universal acclaim…but he does have a note for his playwright Eugene O’Neil. A note that will make and break careers and change the course of Black history! Starring Dr. Chioke I'anson and Amaya.

• Support this independent production and access bonus content at https://ourancestorsweremessy.supercast.com
• Stay in touch at [email protected]
• Follow the show on Instagram at @ourancestorsweremessy
• Follow the show on TikTok at @ourancestorsweremessy
• Learn more about the show at https://ourancestorsweremessy.com
• Listen on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@OurAncestorsWereMessy 

SOURCES

1. The Emperor Jones by Eugene O'Neil
2. Preserving African-American Cinema: The Case of The Emperor Jones by Jennie Saxena with contributions from Ken Weissman and James Cozart
3. "The Truth About Haiti: An NAACP Investigation" by James Weldon Johnson
4. Charles Gilpin. The Kennedy Center
5. Jackson Ward and its Black Wall Street. National Park Service
6. Beyond Tulsa: The Historic Legacies and Overlooked Stories of America's Black Wall Streets. Time Magazine
7. The Richmond Planet is digitized and stored at The Library of Congress.

In the summer of 1932, Anna and Percy learn that their scandalous love affair has been exposed on the front page of the most popular Black newspaper in DC. They were on their way to making history but now that the secret’s out, their futures hang in the balance. Starring Nygel Turner.

• Support this independent production and access bonus content at https://ourancestorsweremessy.supercast.com
• Stay in touch at [email protected]
• Follow the show on Instagram at @ourancestorsweremessy
• Follow the show on TikTok at @ourancestorsweremessy
• Learn more about the show at https://ourancestorsweremessy.com
• Listen on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@OurAncestorsWereMessy 

SOURCES

1. Julian the Trailblazer by Peter Tyson
2. Forgotten Genius. Nova. PBS
3. "Reclaiming a Black Research Scientist's Forgotten Legacy" by Felicia R. Lee
4. "DuSable Exhibit Highlights Juilan 'Power Couple'" by Robert Felton
5. You can read the Washington Afro American newspaper which is still in print and holds the distinction of being one of the oldest continuously published Black newspapers in America
6. You can support the archiving and sharing of this newspaper at Afro Charities

Host Nichole Hill shares how listeners can support the show and a sneak peek at next week's episode.

To learn more about the show and keep in touch, check out https://ourancestorsweremessy.com

To access bonus content and support this independent production visit  https://ourancestorsweremessy.supercast.com

To stay in touch email [email protected] or follow the show @ourancestorsweremessy on Instagram

Correction: An earlier version of this story cited events as having happened in 1970 that occured throughout that decade.

Zora Neale Huston and Langston Hughes finally set to work writing their play but outside influences and crossed wires spell trouble for this historic pair. Starring Alicia Walters.

SOURCES

Host Nichole Hill shares how listeners can support the show and a sneak peek at next week's episode.

To learn more about the show and keep in touch, check out https://ourancestorsweremessy.com

To access bonus content and support this independent production visit  https://ourancestorsweremessy.supercast.com

To stay in touch email [email protected] or follow the show @ourancestorsweremessy on Instagram

It's the summer of 1927 and Zora Neale Huston and Langston Hughes are driving across the South searching for folklore, swapping stories, and enjoying being the newfound stars of the Harlem Renaissance. Starring Alicia Walters.

SOURCES

Host Nichole Hill shares a research tip, updates for the Household aka the donor community, where to find bonus material, and a sneak peek at next week's episode.

To learn more about the show and keep in touch, check out https://ourancestorsweremessy.com

To access bonus content and support this independent production visit  https://ourancestorsweremessy.supercast.com

To stay in touch email [email protected] or follow the show @ourancestorsweremessy on Instagram

THE A-TEAM
The show is hosted by Nichole Hill (https://www.nicholelhill.com/)
Executive Producer A.A. Hernandez
Story Producer Martina Abrahams Ilunga (@m_tina)
Research Producer Chioke I'Anson (https://www.chiokeianson.com/)
Story Editing by Shonte Hill 
Show art by Aseloka Smith (@naturallyherown)  

BONUS STORY

• To access the bonus story check out this article: Black history emerges from 1897 time capsule.
   

Episodes release bi-weekly. 

Nichole, Zakiya and Emmanuel read three drama-filled love stories from historic Black newspapers and select the one that they believe could stand the test of time. Starring Zakiya Gibbons and Emmanuel Dzotsi.

• Support this independent production and access bonus content at https://ourancestorsweremessy.supercast.com
• Stay in touch at [email protected]
• Follow the show on Instagram at @ourancestorsweremessy
• Follow the show on TikTok at @ourancestorsweremessy
• Learn more about the show at https://ourancestorsweremessy.com
• Listen on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@OurAncestorsWereMessy 

SOURCES

1. Support the reporting done by the legendary Oklahoma Eagle still in print today!
2. Check out The Colorado Statesman, archived at the Library of Congress.

Host Nichole Hill shares listener mail, an update for the Household aka the donor community, and a sneak peek at next week's episode.

To learn more about the show and keep in touch, check out https://ourancestorsweremessy.com

To access bonus content and support this independent production visit  https://ourancestorsweremessy.supercast.com

To stay in touch email [email protected] or follow the show @ourancestorsweremessy on Instagram

THE A-TEAM
The show is hosted by Nichole Hill (https://www.nicholelhill.com/)
Executive Producer A.A. Hernandez
Story Producer Martina Abrahams Ilunga (@m_tina)
Research Producer Chioke I'Anson (https://www.chiokeianson.com/)
Story Editing by Shonte Hill 
Show art by Aseloka Smith (@naturallyherown)  

Episodes release bi-weekly. 

At the turn of the century, Oscar Micheaux - a dreamer from Smallville - makes his way to the big city searching for fame, fortune...and a change to his single status! What he finds is a wife he loves, a father-in-law he hates, and a path into Black history he could have never imagined. Starring Dr. Ray Christian.

• Support this independent production and access bonus content at https://ourancestorsweremessy.supercast.com
• Stay in touch at [email protected]
• Follow the show on Instagram at @ourancestorsweremessy
• Follow the show on TikTok at @ourancestorsweremessy
• Learn more about the show at https://ourancestorsweremessy.com
• Listen on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@OurAncestorsWereMessy 
   

SOURCES

1. The Conquest: The Story of a Negro Pioneer by Oscar Micheaux
2. Oscar Micheaux Homestead National Historical Park, Pullman National Historic Park, National Park Service
3. Sully County Black Homesteader Community, Homestead National Historical Park, National Park Service
4. Oscar Micheaux, NAACP
5. Oscar Micheaux: The Superhero of Black Filmmaking
6. "The life and times of Oscar Micheaux" by Mary Beth Roderick for the Southern Illinoisan
7. Check out The Chicago Defender digitized and stored at The Library of Congress
8. Read the archives at The Chicago Defender Archives.