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 immediately, because it's a unique view of the significant but often overlooked contributions of Black artisans and craftspeople throughout history, and how they used their skills and ingenuity as a form of resistance and agency in times of Slavery and oppression. We're not only discussing some of these innovative examples, but also exploring a more nuanced and complex perspective on American history, morality, and racism.

Connect with Robell Awake and get the book:

Connect with Rachelle Chase:

https://www.rachellechasewrites.com/ 

https://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:

Connect with Rachelle Chase:

https://www.rachellechasewrites.com/ 

https://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 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/

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 week, we dive into “The Black Cabinet: The Untold Story of African Americans and Politics During the Age of Roosevelt” with author Jill Watts. The "Black Cabinet" was a group of African American economists, lawyers, sociologists and journalists who worked tirelessly behind the scenes during the Roosevelt administration for the inclusion of Black Americans in FDR's New Deal programs.

Watts shares the fascinating history of how this unofficial brain trust, significantly steered by Mary McLeod Bethune—an educator, civil rights leader, and one the most important American women in the first half of the 20th century—navigated the obstacles and politics of the era to push for change, even as they faced constant racism, roadblocks, and resistance. Through their perseverance and creativity, they were able to secure some key victories and serve as the bridge used by the next generation of civil rights leaders. This is an important and inspiring story that sheds light on a critical chapter of American history and how Black Americans are still fighting for the same things today.

Jill's website: https://jill-watts.com/

Book: https://groveatlantic.com/book/the-black-cabinet/

Connect with Rachelle Chase:

https://www.rachellechasewrites.com/ 

https://rachellechase.substack.com/

In this week's episode, I'm happy to be joined by Daniel Henderson to discuss his second book, "The Spiritual Journey to Anti-Racism: A Travel Guide for White People." In his new book, Daniel delves into the critical issue of confronting white supremacy and the "white supremacist script" that has infected our culture for centuries. As we explore Daniel's personal journey, he shares how coming to terms with his own white privilege and the hidden ways that racism manifests has been a transformative process. 

Daniel is very direct in his hopes for this book: To provide a roadmap for white readers to examine their complicity—even if it is unconscious or unintentional—and rewrite the script. With honesty, vulnerability, understanding, and passion, Daniel inspires readers to embark upon their own journey to anti-racism.

Connect with Daniel & Get the Book:

Connect with Rachelle Chase:

https://www.rachellechasewrites.com/ 

https://rachellechase.substack.com/

This week, I'm excited to have Erick Nganyange, the creator and host of the Iowa Civil Rights History podcast, on my show today. Erick and I are discussing the book For Labor, Race, and Liberty - George Edwin Taylor, His Historic Run for the White House, and the Making of Independent Black Politics by Bruce L. Mouser. This book tells the fascinating story of Taylor, who ran for President of the United States in 1904 as a member of the newly formed African American political party, the National Liberty Party. Erick and I dive into Taylor's remarkable life journey, from being orphaned at a young age to becoming a prominent journalist and labor activist. We explore how his personal experiences shaped his political views and his trailblazing campaign. Erick and I also explore the parallels between the challenges faced by Black political movements in the 19th century and the ongoing struggles for representation and empowerment in the Black community today. We consider the lessons we can learn from historical figures like George Edwin Taylor and how their stories can inspire us to continue the fight for justice and equity.

For Labor, Race, and Liberty: George Edwin Taylor, His Historic Run for the White House, and the Making of Independent Black Politics: https://bookshop.org/p/books/for-labor-race-and-liberty-george-edwin-taylor-his-historic-run-for-the-white-house-and-the-making-of-independent-black-politics-bruce-l-mouser/6632154?ean=9780299249144

Connect with Erick:

Erick Nganyange, Iowa Civil Rights History Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1491550

Connect with Rachelle Chase:

https://www.rachellechasewrites.com/ 

https://rachellechase.substack.com/

In the inaugural episode of the podcast, I am joined by Ciara Torres-Spelliscy, author of the newly released book, Corporatocracy: How to Protect Democracy from Dark Money and Corrupt Politicians. As a professor of law and a Brennan Center fellow, Ciara brings a wealth of expertise to the table as we explore the alarming role corporations play in undermining our democratic process.

From the Nazi party's dark money ties to the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol to modern-day "ghost candidates" siphoning votes and more, Ciara pulls back the curtain on the insidious ways corporations and wealthy individuals are able to wield influence in our elections. We also discuss the campaign finance laws in place to help curb dark money and other abuses, additional reforms needed, and the importance of individual activism.

Connect with Ciara Torres-Spelliscy:

Corporatocracy: How to Protect Democracy from Dark Money and Corrupt Politicians - https://bookshop.org/p/books/corporatocracy-how-to-protect-democracy-from-dark-money-and-corrupt-politicians-ciara-torres-spelliscy/21285152

Ciara's website: https://www.cskllc.net/

Learn more about Ciara: https://www.stetson.edu/law/faculty/home/ciara-torres-spelliscy.php

Connect with Rachelle Chase:

https://www.rachellechasewrites.com/ 

https://rachellechase.substack.com/

Are you interested in history but find the idea of reading a history book overwhelming? Do you want to learn about history you weren't taught in school? I'm Rachelle Chase. I'm a published author of historical nonfiction and fiction books; a journalist whose work has appeared in USA Today, National Geographic, the Des Moines Register and others; and a public speaker. But most importantly, I'm passionate about history, because I still remember what it felt like as a young Black girl sitting in a classroom where no one looked like me, reading textbooks where I never read about anyone that looked like me... except for Slavery.

This has to change. The erasure of Black people from history seeks to continue dividing us. So for the past 15 years, I've used my voice to bring the stories, experiences and achievements of Black Americans to light, and founded a nonprofit, Uniting Through History.

Each week on the Reading with Rachelle podcast, I will pick a book that focuses on history and those who made it and bring this history to life through conversations with authors, experts, and everyday people. Through storytelling, we'll connect with the history we were never taught in school. At a time when history is being used to divide us, let's learn how it unites us, and how Black history is not apart from American history, but how it's a part of American history. 

So click the subscribe button and join me on November 6th, 2024, and let's begin Reading with Rachelle.

Connect with Rachelle Chase:

https://www.rachellechasewrites.com/ 

https://rachellechase.substack.com/