The Unhidden Minute

Josephine Baker, an iconic entertainer, and civil rights activist, played a lesser known yet vital role during World War II. Born in 1906 in St. Louis, Missouri, Baker faced racial discrimination in her early life but found success and fame in Paris. During World War II, she served as a spy for the French military intelligence agency, the Deuxième Bureau. Her status as a performer granted her access to high-ranking officials and social circles, enabling her to gather valuable information about German activities.

Her talents for espionage were instrumental in aiding the French resistance efforts, earning her recognition and gratitude from the French government. Despite the risks involved, Baker's courage and resourcefulness made her an invaluable asset in the fight against the German occupation.

Baker's contributions to the war effort marked the beginning of her lifelong dedication to social justice and equality. Following the war, she continued to use her platform to challenge racial segregation and advocate for civil rights, becoming an international symbol of resistance and empowerment.

The Joy Trip Project celebrates the enduring legacy of Black American History. The Unhidden Minute is part of the Unhidden Podcast Project supported through a National Geographic Explorer Grant from the National Geographic Society, with the cooperation of the National Park Service. This series elevates the untold stories of Black American historical figures, events and cultural contributions.

#unhiddenblackhistory #NationalParkService #yourparkstory #NationalGeographic #unhiddenminute

Henry Johnson was a Black American soldier who served with distinction during World War I. Born in 1892 in North Carolina, Johnson was assigned to the 369th Infantry Regiment, also known as the Harlem Hellfighters. His unit was one of the few Black American combat divisions in the U.S. Army at the time. On May 14, 1918, while on sentry duty in the Argonne Forest in France, Johnson and his fellow soldier Needham Roberts came under attack by a large German raiding party. Despite being outnumbered and having sustained multiple injuries, Johnson fought valiantly, using his rifle, grenades, and even his bare hands to repel the enemy and protect his comrade.

Johnson's heroic actions saved Roberts' life and prevented a potential breach of the American line. He sustained 21 wounds during the battle but continued to fight until reinforcements arrived. His bravery earned him the nickname "Black Death" and made him one of the first Americans to receive the French Croix de Guerre with a golden palm, one of France's highest military honors. Unfortunately, because of his race, Johnson would be denied formal honors for his courage in U.S. until he was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama in 2015.

The Joy Trip Project celebrates the enduring legacy of Black American History. The Unhidden Minute is part of the Unhidden Podcast Project supported through a National Geographic Explorer Grant from the National Geographic Society, with the cooperation of the National Park Service. This series elevates the untold stories of Black American historical figures, events and cultural contributions.

#unhiddenblackhistory #NationalParkService #yourparkstory #NationalGeographic #unhiddenminute

Mary McLeod Bethune was a prominent Black American educator, civil rights leader, and political activist. Born in 1875 to formerly enslaved parents in South Carolina, Bethune overcame poverty and discrimination to become one of the most influential figures of the 20th century.

Driven by her belief in the power of education to uplift communities, Bethune founded the Daytona Educational and Industrial Training School for Negro Girls in 1904, which later merged with the Cookman Institute to become Bethune-Cookman University. She emphasized the importance of practical skills alongside academics, providing opportunities for African American women to gain independence and empowerment through education.

Bethune was a tireless advocate for civil rights and gender equality. In 1935 she  founded the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) in New York City, and served as an advisor to four U.S. presidents, including Franklin D. Roosevelt. She was the highest-ranking Black American woman in the federal government as director of the Division of Negro Affairs of the National Youth Administration. Mary McLeod Bethune's indomitable spirit and dedication to service continue to inspire people around the world.

The Joy Trip Project celebrates the enduring legacy of Black American History. The Unhidden Minute is part of the Unhidden Podcast Project supported through a National Geographic Explorer Grant from the National Geographic Society, with the cooperation of the National Park Service. This series elevates the untold stories of Black American historical figures, events and cultural contributions.

#unhiddenblackhistory #NationalParkService #yourparkstory #NationalGeographic #unhiddenminute

Become a paid subscriber to the Unhidden Minute Podcast for one year and receive a copy of The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors 10th Anniversary Edition by James Edward Mills.

During World War I the 369th Infantry Regiment, was an Black American military unit known as the Harlem Hell Fighters. Established in 1913 as a National Guard unit based in New York City, the regiment was one of the few Black American units to serve in combat during the war due to racial segregation in the U.S. military.

Led by Colonel William Hayward, the Harlem Hellfighters were deployed to France in 1918 and served under French command as they were not allowed to fight alongside white American troops. Despite facing discrimination from their own countrymen, the Hellfighters displayed exceptional bravery and combat prowess on the front lines.

Their valor earned them numerous accolades, including the French Croix de Guerre for their valiance in battle.

Despite their heroism and sacrifice, the Harlem Hellfighters returned home to face continued racial discrimination and segregation. However, their service paved the way for future Black American military units and played a significant role in the ongoing struggle for civil rights in the United States.

The Joy Trip Project celebrates the enduring legacy of Black American History. The Unhidden Minute is part of the Unhidden Podcast Project supported through a National Geographic Explorer Grant from the National Geographic Society, with the cooperation of the National Park Service. This series elevates the untold stories of Black American historical figures, events and cultural contributions.

#unhiddenblackhistory #NationalParkService #yourparkstory #NationalGeographic #unhiddenminute

Become a paid subscriber to the Unhidden Minute Podcast for one year and receive a copy The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors 10th Anniversary Edition by James Edward Mills.

Eugene James Bullard (October 9, 1895 – October 12, 1961), was the first black American military pilot. Born in Columbus Georgia, Bullard fled to Europe in 1912 shortly after the death of his mother and the attempted lynching of his father. If order to escape the horrors of the Jim Crow South, he made a life for himself overseas in France. He earned a living as prize fighter and a Vaudeville entertainer. When the World War I broke out he volunteered for the French Foreign Legion in the 170th Infantry a unit called “The Swallows of Death”  Bullard was wounded in the Battle of Verdun in 1916 and received the Croix de guerre for his acts of valor. After recovering from his injuries Bullard received training as pilot from the Aéro-Club de France  and joined 269 American aviators at the Lafayette Flying Corps. He fought in more than 20 arial combat missions and shot down one or two German planes. In 1994 Bullard was posthumously commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force.

The Joy Trip Project celebrates the enduring legacy of Black American History. The Unhidden Minute is part of the Unhidden Podcast Project supported through a National Geographic Explorer Grant from the National Geographic Society, with the cooperation of the National Park Service. This series elevates the untold stories of Black American historical figures, events and cultural contributions.

#unhiddenblackhistory #NationalParkService #yourparkstory #NationalGeographic #unhiddenminute

Sojourner Truth, born Isabella Baumfree in 1797, transcended the confines of an enslaved person to become an indomitable force in the abolitionist and women's rights movements of the 19th century. Escaping slavery in 1826, she embarked on a transformative journey, adopting the name Sojourner Truth in 1843 to reflect her mission as a teller of truth and an itinerant preacher.

Known for her powerful oratory and unwavering commitment to justice, Truth became an influential advocate for the abolition of slavery and women's rights. Her most famous speech, "Ain't I a Woman?" delivered at the 1851 Women's Rights Convention in Ohio, challenged prevailing notions of gender and race, highlighting the intersectionality of oppression faced by Black American women.

In 1850, Truth dictated her memoir, "The Narrative of Sojourner Truth," providing a firsthand account of her life and the brutal realities of slavery. She collaborated with prominent abolitionists like Frederick Douglassand William Lloyd Garrison, leaving her indelible mark on the fight against systemic injustice.

The Joy Trip Project celebrates the enduring legacy of Black American History. The Unhidden Minute is part of the Unhidden Podcast Project supported through a National Geographic Explorer Grant from the National Geographic Society, with the cooperation of the National Park Service. This series elevates the untold stories of Black American historical figures, events and cultural contributions.

#unhiddenblackhistory #NationalParkService #yourparkstory #NationalGeographic #unhiddenminute

Become a paid subscriber to the Unhidden Minute Podcast for one year and receive a copy The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors 10th Anniversary Edition by James Edward Mills.

Matthew Alexander Henson (August 8, 1866 - March 9,1955) was a Black American explorer who was the first person to stand on the North Pole. Born in 1866, Henson began is travels as cabin boy on a tall sailing ship at the age of 12. He became the personal assistant to Captain Robert Peary to begin an exploration of Nicaragua in the hopes of finding a potential route for what ultimately became the Panama Canal. From 1891-1892 Henson served with Peary as navigator and craftsman through several expeditions to the Arctic regions of Greenland. He mastered a variety of skills including dog mushing and sled building. There he became fluent in the Inuit language and was known as “Matthew The Kind One” to the native people.

After several failed attempts Henson and Peary reached the North Pole supported by four Inuits named Ooqueah, Ootah, Egingwah, and Seegloo on April 6, 1909. As he was in the lead sled it was Henson’s feet that first pressed the spot at the top of the world, where the team planted an American flag.

Henson’s evolvement in the expedition was mostly ignored by the general public, giving all credit to Peary for the accomplishment. But in 1954 Henson was invited to the White House by President Dwight Eisenhower to receive a special commendation for his early work as an explorer on the behalf of the United States of America. Henson’s final resting place is at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington D.C. where a bronze plaque commemorates his achievements.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/article/the-legacy-of-arctic-explorer-matthew-henson

The Joy Trip Project celebrates the enduring legacy of American History. The Unhidden Minute is part of the Unhidden Podcast Project supported through a National Geographic Explorer Grant from the National Geographic Society, with the cooperation of the National Park Service. This series elevates the untold stories of Black American historical figures, events and cultural contributions.

#unhiddenblackhistory #NationalParkService #yourparkstory #NationalGeographic #unhiddenminute

Support the Matthew Henson Scholarship Fund

To honor the legacy of the innovator of Arctic exploration and winter adventure, Matthew Alexander Henson, this program aims to inspire people of color to embrace cold weather activities and to build the necessary skill set to thrive (not just survive) during extreme low-temperature expeditions. The program focuses on emerging outdoor guides or people with current or future positions of leadership in the outdoor industry.

If you or an institution of your acquaintance would like to support our efforts with a contribution of any amount, please click the link below or write to us at [email protected].

A special thanks to: Baffin, Patagonia, Outdoor Research, Serius, Thermarest, Yeti, Osprey, Sol Alpine, Mountain House, Klean Kanteen

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Become a paid subscriber to the Unhidden Minute Podcast for one year and receive a copy The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors 10th Anniversary Edition by James Edward Mills

George Washington Carver, born into slavery around 1864, was a prominent Black American scientist, educator, and inventor. Through the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Carver dedicated his life to agricultural research and the betterment of Southern farmers. He rose to prominence at the Tuskegee Institute, where he taught and conducted groundbreaking research.

Carver's work primarily focused on crop rotation and soil conservation to address the depletion of nutrients in Southern soils. His innovative use of peanuts, sweet potatoes, and soybeans as alternative crops played a pivotal role in revitalizing agriculture in the South.

Carver also advocated for education and economic independence for Black Americans. His teachings emphasized practical skills and self-sufficiency. Carver's legacy is not only marked by his scientific achievements but also by his commitment to racial equality and academic excellence. His impact on agriculture, particularly in the Southern United States, and his dedication to improving the lives of Black Americans solidify George Washington Carver as a groundbreaking figure in American history.

https://www.nps.gov/gwca/index.htm

The Joy Trip Project celebrates the enduring legacy of Black American History. The Unhidden Minute is part of the Unhidden Podcast Project supported through a National Geographic Explorer Grant from the National Geographic Society, with the cooperation of the National Park Service. This series elevates the untold stories of Black American historical figures, events and cultural contributions.

#unhiddenblackhistory #NationalParkService #yourparkstory #NationalGeographic #unhiddenminute

During the 1920s, Bessie Coleman (1892—1926) gained recognition as an aerial stunt pilot. An original barnstormer, she captivated audiences with aerobatic feats of daring at airshows across the American South. But, prior to achieving this, she faced the challenge of obtaining her pilot's license. As a Black woman no American aviation school was willing to instruct her. Determined, Coleman diligently saved her money and received support from prominent Black Americans in Chicago. With their help she traveled to France for flight training. In 1921, she made history by becoming the first American to acquire an international pilot's license.

Devoted to promoting aviation within the Black community, Coleman aspired to establish her own flight school. Tragically, at the age of 34, she lost her life in a crash during a test flight in 1926. Nevertheless, her legacy endures, inspiring subsequent Black pilots in the next generation of aviation pioneers. Several institutions, including clubs, a flight school, and an airplane manufacturing company, bear her name. To honor her memory, in 2006 Bessie Coleman was posthumously inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.

The Joy Trip Project celebrates the enduring legacy of Black American History. The Unhidden Minute is part of the Unhidden Podcast Project supported through a National Geographic Explorer Grant from the National Geographic Society, with the cooperation of the National Park Service. This series elevates the untold stories of Black American historical figures, events and cultural contributions.

#unhiddenblackhistory #NationalParkService #yourparkstory #NationalGeographic #unhiddenminute

In 1892 a man of mixed heritage named Homer Plessy, who identified as a person of color, refuse to abide to a Louisiana state law that mandated the segregation of railroad passenger cars. Siting the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment of U.S. Constitution, Plessy took his case to court.  At trial his lawyers argued that judge John Howard Ferguson should dismiss the charges on the grounds that the Act was unconstitutional. Ferguson denied the request, and the Louisiana Supreme Court upheld Ferguson's ruling on appeal. Plessy then appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. In a 7-1 decision, the majority, led by Justice Henry Billings Brown, held that the state law was constitutional as long as the separate facilities were equal in quality. This ruling established the legal precedent that racial segregation was permissible as long as the facilities were deemed equal. This ruling established a legal precedent known commonly as the doctrine of separate but equal. The Plessy v. Ferguson decision of 1896 became a symbol of judicial endorsement for racial segregation and began the era of legal oppression in the United States called Jim Crow.

https://www.nps.gov/people/homer-plessy.htm

The Joy Trip Project celebrates the enduring legacy of Black American History. The Unhidden Minute is part of the Unhidden Podcast Project supported through a National Geographic Explorer Grant from the National Geographic Society, with the cooperation of the National Park Service. This series elevates the untold stories of Black American historical figures, events and cultural contributions.

#unhiddenblackhistory #NationalParkService #yourparkstory #NationalGeographic #unhiddenminute