Trey's Table

This episode is dedicated to my gay and lesbian brothers and sisters and in particular those who served in the military. 🌈

Let’s talk about the untold number of black Americans who at one point passed for white and the one courageous black American actress who refused to do so.

In 1937, an 8-year-old Lorraine Hansberry narrowly dodged a brick thrown through her family’s Chicago home by a white mob. Their crime? Moving into a “whites-only” neighborhood. This trauma—and her father Carl Hansberry’s landmark Supreme Court case (Hansberry v. Lee)—would fuel her masterpiece, A Raisin in the Sun the first Broadway play by a Black woman .

The Hansberrys’ battle mirrored the Younger family’s in Raisin both defied racist housing covenants that confined Black families to overcrowded, overpriced slums. Though Carl won his case on a technicality (the covenant lacked enough signatures), the ruling didn’t end segregation—just as the Youngers’ victory over Clybourne Park’s buyout offer couldn’t erase systemic racism .

Hansberry’s genius was turning her family’s story into art that exposed Northern liberalism’s hypocrisy. As she wrote, Raisin wasn’t just about “buying a house” but “the ghetto’s violence, deferred dreams, and the cost of dignity” .

Tune in to explore how housing discrimination shaped Hansberry’s radical vision—and why her fight still resonates today. #ARaisinInTheSun #HousingJustice #BlackHistory"

Let’s explore the connections between Black Americans and Filipino Americans.

https://youtu.be/PcPS-21ZVMw?s...

Trey’s Table Episode 311: The Shirley Card


# How the Shirley Card Introduced Racial Bias Into Photography | Trey’s Table Ep. 311

I’m Trey Smith, host of Trey’s Table, where we explore African-American history, politics, and culture. In Episode 311, we examine the Shirley Card—a tool that embedded racial bias into photography for decades.

## The Problem With the Shirley Card
Used by photo labs to calibrate skin tones, the Shirley Card (named after a white model) set lighter skin as the default standard.

As a result, darker complexions were often poorly rendered—too dark, washed out, or lacking detail. This wasn’t just technical oversight; it reflected systemic exclusion.

## Why It Still Matters
The Shirley Card’s legacy persists today, from **facial recognition struggles** with darker skin to **uneven social media filters**. Understanding this history reveals how bias shapes even everyday technology.

## Listen to the Episode
We discuss:
✅ The origins and impact of the Shirley Card
✅ How Black professionals challenged these standards
✅ The fight for equity in modern imaging tech

🎧 **Stream now** on [Apple Podcasts](link), [Spotify](link), or your preferred platform.

Have thoughts? Connect with me via email at [email protected]

Trey’s Table Episode 310: Remember Fort Pillow

"How Black Soldiers Won the Civil War"

The Civil War wasn't just fought for Black freedom—it was fought by Black freedom fighters.

In this week's episode of #TreysTable, we break down:
🔥 Why Lincoln resisted enlisting Black troops (at first)
💥 The game-changing assault of the 54th Massachusetts
⚡ How 200,000+ Black soldiers became the Union's secret weapon

Spoiler: The Confederacy FEARED these men for a reason.

🎧 Tap the link in bio to listen NOW! #BlackHistory #CivilWar #USCT

Remember Frank’s Place?

The 1987 Tim Reid show had:
✔️ No laugh tracks
✔️ Real Black New Orleans culture
✔️ An episode calling out colorism (*with a PAPER BAG TEST plot!*)
✔️ Emmy-winning writing

...and CBS STILL canceled it after 1 season.

New *Trey’s Table* ep explains why this gem mattered—and how it changed TV. Tap the link in bio! #BlackPodcasts

Trey’s Table Episode 308: Slavery Wasn’t Cool

Episode 308: Doug Wilson, Pete Hegseth, and the Intersection of Christian Nationalism & Power

What happens when far-right Christian nationalism meets the highest levels of U.S. defense policy? In Episode 308 of Trey’s Table, I dive into the troubling ties between Pastor Doug Wilson a prominent Christian nationalist—and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth

From Wilson’s controversial theology to his political influence, this conversation unpacks the dangerous implications of their relationship for Black communities, democracy, and the future of American governance.

🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts—and let me know your thoughts. Is this an alliance we should all be worried about?

#TreysTable #ChristianNationalism #BlackPolitics #Podcast #StayWoke

The CIA. A Black spy. A guerrilla revolution. And a cover-up. 🕵🏾♂️💥

The Spook Who Sat by the Door* (1969) wasn’t just a book—it was a warning. The 1973 film adaptation was yanked from theaters weeks after release. Coincidence? Or suppression?

Decades later, Tim Reid (legendary actor & activist) tracked down the last surviving copy and brought it back to the people.

New Trey’s Table ep dives into:
- Why this story terrified the establishment
- How it mirrors today’s struggles
- Why preserving radical Black art MATTERS

🎧 Listen now [link] & reply with your take:
Can liberation ever be ‘polite’?

#BlackFilm #ConspiracyOrFact #ResistanceCinema

The Forgotten Massacre: Oscarville, Georgia (1912) – Episode 306 of Trey’s Table"

In 1912, the thriving Black community of Oscarville in Forsyth County, Georgia, was violently destroyed. After the rape and murder of a white woman, two Black men were lynched without trial, and white mobs terrorized Black families—burning homes, churches, and schools. Over 1,000 Black residents were forced out, and Forsyth County became an all-white "sundown county" for generations.

On Episode 306 of Trey’s Table, we uncover this buried history: Who benefited from the stolen land? How did lies and silence shape the county’s future? And why does Oscarville’s story still matter today?

https://www.npr.org/2016/09/15...

Listen now (link in bio) and join the conversation. #BlackHistory #HiddenHistory #TreysTable