The Homance Chronicles

Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman to be elected to the U.S. Congress and earned the nickname "Fighting Shirley."

From her humble beginnings in Brooklyn, New York, to her historic achievements as the first African American woman elected to the United States Congress, Shirley Chisholm's journey is one of resilience, courage, and unwavering commitment to justice.

We get into her groundbreaking presidential campaign in 1972, where she shattered barriers as the first African American major-party candidate and the first woman to seek the Democratic Party's nomination for president.

Throughout her career, Shirley Chisholm fearlessly advocated for marginalized communities, championing issues such as civil rights, women's rights, and education reform. As we reflect on her legacy, we examine Shirley's enduring impact on American politics and her legacy as a tireless advocate for equality and representation.

From her famous words, "If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair," to her lasting influence on the next generation of leaders, Shirley Chisholm's legacy continues to resonate today.

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Phyllis Wheatley was a young African woman who defied the odds of her time to become one of America's most celebrated poets. Born in West Africa and enslaved at just seven years old, Phyllis Wheatley's trajectory is a testament to resilience and the power of the human spirit. Despite the harsh realities of slavery, Phyllis's intellect and poetic talent shone brightly. Her remarkable abilities caught the attention of her enslavers, who recognized her extraordinary potential.

As we unravel Phyllis's life, we uncover the complexities of her experiences as an enslaved person in 18th-century America. From her early years of learning to read and write in secret, to the publication of her groundbreaking poetry collection, her story is one of triumph over adversity.

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From her early days as a mathematics prodigy to her groundbreaking work at NASA, Margaret Hamilton's story is one of perseverance, innovation, and dedication to advancing technology.

We explore how her innovative approach to software development and her insistence on rigorous testing. Both helped ensure the success of the Apollo 11 moon landing, solidifying her place in history.

We uncover the challenges and triumphs that shaped Margaret Hamilton's career, from navigating a male-dominated industry to advocating for greater recognition of software engineering as a critical component of space exploration. We also examine her later work in software development, including her pioneering efforts in the field of systems programming and her contributions to the advancement of software engineering practices.

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Lucille Ricksen, a luminary of the silent film era whose promising trajectory was cut short by tragedy. Born in Chicago in 1909, Ricksen's entrance into the world of entertainment was early and marked by exceptional talent. We trace her journey from child actress to leading lady, exploring her significant contributions to the burgeoning film industry.

Lucille's early success, including notable collaborations with renowned directors such as Marshall Neilan, solidified her status as one of the rising stars of silent cinema. However, her life takes a somber turn when she has a nervous breakdown and witnesses her mother's early passing. The episode carefully navigates through the final chapter of Lucille Ricksen's life, exploring the circumstances surrounding her untimely death at the age of 14.

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Nail polish dates all the way back to Babylonian times starting in Egypt, then making it's way to China and India. It didn't make it's way to Europe and the United States until the 1800's. Throughout history it was used as an identifier of wealth, royalty, and the upper class. Often times, certain colors depicted which class of people you were. The first nail salon opened in Paris in the late 19th century. Mrs. Mary E. Cobb was from America, but visiting France when she learned the art of manicuring. She made edits to their process when she came back to New York and turned manicuring into a full-on business. She branced out across the nation and added other services like hairdressing and skincare to her salons. She took the nail industry to new heights with her innovative techniques and products. Her and her ex-husband invented the emery board and red and pink nail polishes. They had the market cornered. Mary became one of the most successful businesswomen in the world.

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Bessie Coleman, a trailblazing aviator who defied racial and gender barriers to become the first African American woman to hold a pilot's license. Join us as we explore Bessie's humble beginnings in Texas, her determination to overcome obstacles, and her relentless pursuit of a dream that would change aviation history.

From working as a manicurist to save money for flying lessons to traveling to France to earn her pilot's license when no American flight school would admit her, Bessie's story is one of resilience and perseverance. We delve into the challenges she faced in a segregated and male-dominated industry, and how she used her platform to advocate for equality and inspire future generations.

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Women have dominated the real estate industry in recent years, but it definitely didn't start out that way. For a long time women couldn't buy or own property in their name. They couldn't join the National Association of Realtors. They couldn't get financing without their husband.

There a handful of women we highlight in this episode who said f*ck you to the patriarchy and made it possible for women to take over in the real estate industry today. However, the facts and figures still show a disparity between the payoff of owning real estate for men and women. Single women have bought more homes than sinlge men every year since at least 1981, but their homes are somehow worth less. I know... it pisses us off too.

Here's just a few of the early pioneers who defied societal norms:

Corrine Simpson

Catherine Bauer

Ebby Halliday

Dorcas Helfant-Browning

Bridget "Biddy" Mason

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Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler was the first African American woman in the United States to earn a medical degree.

Dr. Crumpler's journey began in a society where racial and gender inequalities were deeply entrenched. Born in 1831, she faced formidable obstacles as an African American woman aspiring to become a physician. Yet, against all odds, Dr. Crumpler demonstrated extraordinary resilience and determination.

She made significant contributions to the medical field, such as her groundbreaking book, "A Book of Medical Discourses," which remains a testament to her commitment to advancing medical knowledge. Her accomplishments extended beyond personal success; Dr. Crumpler dedicated her career to providing medical care to underserved communities, especially during the Civil War.

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It's Christmastime, so we're talking about the iconic, Donna Reed. She played Mary Bailey (the wife) in the timeless classic, "It's a Wonderful Life."

As a natural born beauty she was quickly identified by Hollywood producers and started appearing in films at just 20 years old. During World War II, she quickly became a leading lady in Hollywood. She was typecast into playing the "girl next door" and tried to break this image that was crafted for her by taking on a character who was a sex worker. Unfortunately, she didn't break free of her typecasting, but she did win an Academy Award.

She ultimately decided to play by her own rules and create her own sitcom called, "The Donna Reed Show." Her and her husband at the time produced it and she starred in it. It was a sleeper hit, but eventually was nominated and won awards.

Beyond the screen, Donna became a peace activist during the Vietnam War, co-chairing the anti-war group, Another Mother for Peace. Uncover the personal struggles she faced, including a divorce and her battle with pancreatic cancer, all while maintaining her grace and resilience.

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Minerva Parker Nichols is one of the first feamle architects and was the first woman to own her own architecture firm. From her early years as a trailblazer in education to her groundbreaking work as a pioneering suffragist, Minerva Parker Nichols defied societal norms and shattered glass ceilings. In addition to create success for herself she was also determined to empower other women and contribute to the disenfranchised. Many of the buildings she designed over 100 years ago still stand today.

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