Reading with Rachelle: Connecting with History through Storytelling, a Book Club Podcast with Rachelle Chase

 In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. William S. Morris to discuss his new book, In Defense of the Nation: Black Iowans at War, which chronicles the contributions and trailblazing feats of Black soldiers from the Civil War to the first Persian Gulf War.

Listen in as we discuss the contributions of Black soldiers—along with those of trailblazing African American women in the military—during and after their service, highlighting how their military roles helped pave the way for civil rights advancements and professional success in numerous fields. Dr. Morris’ passion for American history shines through and you’ll want to listen with pen and paper on hand to jot down all the names of the notable people in history that he shares.

For more information:

* Reading with Rachelle host, Rachelle Chase -

https://rachellechasewrites.com

* Subscribe to Reading with Rachelle for podcast news and articles - https://rachellechase.substack.com

* Dr. William S. Morris -

https://williamsmorris.org

* The book In Defense of the Nation: Black Iowans at War - https://bookshop.org/a/108387/9781982174323 (Affiliate link)

* Music by 5XBeatz at Pixabay - https://pixabay.com/users/5xbeatz-39481357/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rachellechase.substack.com

 In this episode, I'm joined by author Dr. Judith Giesberg to discuss her new book, Last Seen: The Enduring Search by Formerly Enslaved People to Find Their Lost Families, which follows 10 individuals as they search for family and friends from whom they were separated during America's domestic slave trade.

Listen in as we discuss the resilience and determination of formerly enslaved African Americans in their search for their families despite the many obstacles they faced; the challenges formerly enslaved veterans faced in proving their service and injuries to qualify for pensions; the impact of family separation on children—here's a horrific fact: 30% of nearly 4 million enslaved African Americans were younger than 10 when the Civil War began—and more.

For more information:

* Reading with Rachelle host, Rachelle Chase - https://rachellechasewrites.com

* Subscribe to Reading with Rachelle for podcast news and articles - https://rachellechase.substack.com

* Dr. Judith Giesberg - https://informationwanted.org

* The book "Last Seen: The Enduring Search by Formerly Enslaved People to Find Their Lost Families" - https://bookshop.org/a/108387/9781982174323 (Affiliate link)

* Music by 5XBeatz at Pixabay - https://pixabay.com/users/5xbeatz-39481357/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rachellechase.substack.com

In this episode, I joined John Busbee on his show, The Culture Buzz. Listen in, as we discuss the book The Stories They Hear: Expecting Greatness as the Key to Success with the author, Dr. William A. Keyes.

We also discuss Dr. Keyes’ incredible 22-year-old organization, The Institute for Responsible Citizenship, which has helped some of the best and brightest African American male college students in the country go on to become Rhodes Scholars, Fulbright Scholars, PhDs, MDs, and JDs. They’ve also paved the way for others and “most importantly, have continued to be the thoughtful, caring men they were in college.”

For more information:

* Reading with Rachelle host, Rachelle Chase - https://www.rachellechasewrites.com/

* Subscribe to Reading with Rachelle for podcast news and articles - https://rachellechase.substack.com/

* John Busbee, host of The Culture Buzz - https://theculturebuzz.com/

* The Stories They Hear: Expecting Greatness as the Key to Success - https://bookshop.org/a/108387/9781646871834 (Affiliate link)

* Dr. William A. Keyes and the Institute for Responsible Citizenship - https://theinstitute.net/

* Music by 5XBeatz at Pixabay - https://pixabay.com/users/5xbeatz-39481357/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rachellechase.substack.com

In this episode, I'm joined by Denise Greer Jamerson to discuss the book, We Are Each Other's Harvest: Celebrating African American Farmers, Land, and Legacy by Natalie Baszile.

Lyles Station is the last remaining Black settlement in Indiana. Denise’s family has been farming in the Lyles Station community since 1855, and her father, Norman Greer, has been recognized by the Smithsonian Institution as one of the last remaining African American farmers still farming land that's been in their family since before the Civil War.

We discuss the fascinating history of Lyles Station, the challenges faced and the legacy created by Black farmers, along with Denise’s organization, Legacy Taste of the Garden, and their work to empower farmers in Indiana.

While we touch upon We Are Each Other's Harvest, this episode isn't a direct discussion of the book. Instead, it supplements the book by providing a glimpse into the experiences of a Black farming family in the Midwest. A book review will be provided soon.

For more information:

* We Are Each Other's Harvest: Celebrating African American Farmers, Land, and Legacy - https://www.harpercollins.com/products/we-are-each-others-harvest-natalie-baszile?variant=33007650766882

* Denise Greer Jamerson and Legacy Taste of the Garden: https://www.legacytasteofthegarden.com/

* Upcoming book review of We Are Each Other's Harvest: https://rachellechase.substack.com

* Todd Western III, a sixth generation farmer in Iowa who's part of Western Family Farms and helped create the Iowa Farmers of Color Conference: https://www.westernfamilyfarms.com/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rachellechase.substack.com

DEI is being used as an excuse to get rid of race-based scholarships, cut funding, eliminate initiatives that encourage the hiring of qualified Black teachers, ban books, erase Black history, and much more. It's going to take all of us to change things for the better.
 
"Living the Legacy of African American Education: A Model for University and School Engagement" offers one possible solution: A program called Teaching in the Urban South (TITUS). TITUS explores the basic premise that if the strategies used by Black educators during Jim Crow were successful in educating millions of students, then why not try some of these strategies today?
 
Listen in as Dr. Sheryl Croft, co-editor of "Living the Legacy of African American Education: A Model for University and School Engagement," shares how TITUS works, its results, and how educators can implement something similar today, plus what non-educators can do to help our students succeed.

Connect with TITUS & Get the Book
Email: [email protected] 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachingintheurbansouth/
Book: https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781475808193/Living-the-Legacy-of-African-American-Education-A-Model-for-University-and-School-Engagement

Connect with Rachelle Chase:
https://www.rachellechasewrites.com/ 
https://rachellechase.substack.com/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rachellechase.substack.com

My guest this week is Robell Awake, author of the book "A Short History of Black Craft in Ten Objects." Robell's book stood out to me because it shines a spotlight on the significant but often unacknowledged contributions of Black artisans and craftspeople throughout history, and how enslaved Black people used their skills and ingenuity as a form of resistance and expression. Robell and I not only discuss some of these innovative examples, but also his work and one of these skilled craftsmen mentioned in the book who has influenced it.

Connect with Robell Awake and get the book:

Robell Awake: https://www.robellawake.com/


Book: https://www.robellawake.com/a-short-history-of-black-craft



Connect with Rachelle Chase:
https://www.rachellechasewrites.com/ 
https://rachellechase.substack.com/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rachellechase.substack.com

This week's book, "Hannibal's Invisibles" by G. Faye Dant, provides a deeper look into the lives and contributions of Black Americans in Hannibal, the boyhood home of Mark Twain.

Faye shares how, until 2013, the only public acknowledgment of Black contributions to Hannibal's history was a 1934 sign welcoming visitors that referenced "the n-word Jim" from Twain's novels. Faye's mission is to preserve this history and give a voice to the Black residents of Hannibal, both before and after the Civil War. Through her museum, Jim's Journey: The Huck Finn Freedom Center, and her book, Faye is uncovering the untold stories of Hannibal's thriving Black community.

Connect with Faye Dant:

https://www.jimsjourney.org/

https://www.facebook.com/jimsjourneyhffc/

Book, Hannibal's Invisibles: https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/products/9781953368768



Connect with Rachelle Chase:
https://www.rachellechasewrites.com/ 
https://rachellechase.substack.com/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rachellechase.substack.com

After the Civil War ended, as more and more formerly enslaved Black Americans began making money, they had nowhere to keep it - until the Freedman's Savings and Trust Company was established in 1865. At its peak, the bank had over 100,000 accounts and $50 million in deposits. However, the bank's white administrators and trustees soon began misusing the depositors' funds, leading to the bank's collapse just 9 years later.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Justene Hill Edwards, author of "Savings and Trust: The Rise and Betrayal of the Freedman's Bank." We discuss the history of this important financial institution, its impact on the Black community, and the lasting ramifications of its failure. Dr. Edwards provides fascinating insights into the economic lives of the enslaved and the financial knowledge they brought with them into freedom.

Connect with Dr. Justene Hill Edwards:
https://www.justenehilledwards.com/

Get the book: "Savings and Trust: The Rise and Betrayal of the Freedman's Bank"
https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324073857

Connect with Rachelle Chase:
https://www.rachellechasewrites.com/ 
https://rachellechase.substack.com/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rachellechase.substack.com

This week, I'm joined by author Maria Smilios to discuss her award-winning book, "The Black Angels: The Untold Story of the Nurses Who Helped Cure Tuberculosis." Smilios' trailblazing book explores the crucial role played by Black nurses in combating the tuberculosis epidemic in 1920s New York. Through meticulous research and powerful storytelling, Smilios brings to life the challenges these nurses faced, from systemic racism to dangerous working conditions, as they risked their lives to care for tuberculosis patients, advance groundbreaking medical trials, and help cure tuberculosis.

Connect with Maria:
https://www.mariasmilios.com/

Get the Book:
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/722957/the-black-angels-by-maria-smilios/

Connect with Rachelle Chase:
https://www.rachellechasewrites.com/ 
https://rachellechase.substack.com/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rachellechase.substack.com

Today, I'm joined by Dr. Leslie A. Schwalm, author of the book "Medicine, Science, and Making Race in Civil War America." We discuss how the North helped anti-Black racism and white people's belief of Black inferiority beyond the Civil War and into today. This was accomplished by white medical and scientific professionals who used the Civil War as a laboratory and used Black enlisted men and those escaping slavery as objects of study to try to prove that African Americans were medically, biologically, and intellectually inferior, all while providing them with substandard health care.

We discuss how, as it states on the back of the book cover:
 
"This mistreatment of Black soldiers and civilians extended after life to include dissection, dismemberment, and disposal of the Black war dead in unmarked or mass graves and medical waste pits. Simultaneously, white medical and scientific investigators enhanced their professional standing by establishing their authority on the science of racial difference and hierarchy."
 
We also discuss the role that the U.S. Sanitary Commission and the Army Medical Museum play in this—and more.

Connect with Leslie & Get the Book:
https://leslieschwalm.com/
https://gwss.uiowa.edu/people/leslie-schwalm
https://uncpress.org/book/9781469672694/medicine-science-and-making-race-in-civil-war-america/

Connect with Rachelle Chase:
https://www.rachellechasewrites.com/ 
https://rachellechase.substack.com/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rachellechase.substack.com