00:00
Once Upon A Time In Black History

Tamara Shiloh

Once Upon A Time In Black History

This educational podcast will inform listeners about notable African Americans who have made great contributions to the history of the United States and the world.

Parent info: Once Upon A Time In Black History is recommended for ages 6-10 and 11 plus. Made in the USA, it's about Culture and History for kids. Launched in 2022, it has 2 seasons.

There are 68 episodes

Episodes
The most recent appears first.

  • Dr. Charles Drew, The Man Who Changed Blood Medicine

    9 min Episode 68 6 July 2026

    Who made modern blood banks possible? The answer is Dr. Charles Richard Drew, a pioneering physician, scientist, and educator whose groundbreaking research transformed emergency medicine and has saved millions of lives around the world.…

  • Abe Hawkins: The Black Prince of American Horse Racing

    12 min Episode 67 15 June 2026

    Known as The Black Prince and The Slayer of Lexington, Abe Hawkins rose to become one of the most celebrated jockeys in 19th-century America. He defeated the greatest horse of his era, helped revolutionize riding techniques, and achieved national fame despite …

  • The Sound of Innovation: The Life of James Edward West

    8 min Episode 66 2 June 2026

    Some inventions change the world quietly.…

  • Breaking Barriers at NASA: The Inspiring Journey of Mary Jackson

    5 min Episode 65 19 May 2026

    In this episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, Tamara Shiloh shares the inspiring story of Mary Jackson — the first Black female engineer at NASA.…

  • Marie Clark Taylor: Lighting the Way in Plant Science

    6 min Episode 64 5 May 2026

    In this episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh highlights the groundbreaking legacy of Marie Clark Taylor—a pioneering scientist who transformed how we understand plant growth. From her early curiosity in Pennsylvania to becoming the …

  • The Man Who Made Ice Cream Easy: The Genius of Alfred L. Cralle

    5 min Episode 63 20 April 2026

    In this episode, discover the story of Alfred L. Cralle, the brilliant mind behind the modern ice cream scoop. At a time when serving ice cream was messy and frustrating, Cralle’s clever invention in 1897 made it आसान, clean, and efficient with a simple one-ha…

  • Dr. Gladys West and the Map of the World

    8 min Episode 62 6 April 2026

    In this inspiring episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh shares the remarkable story of Dr. Gladys Mae Brown West—a brilliant mathematician whose groundbreaking work helped shape the GPS technology we rely on every day.…

  • Sarah Rector – The Richest Black Girl in America

    7 min Episode 61 23 March 2026

    In this episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh shares the extraordinary true story of Sarah Rector, a young girl whose life changed in ways no one could have imagined.…

  • Claudette Colvin: The 15-Year-Old Who Refused to Give Up Her Seat

    7 min Episode 60 10 March 2026

    Before Rosa Parks made history, a brave 15-year-old girl named Claudette Colvin refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. In this episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh shares the powerful and often overl…

  • Andrew Jackson Beard: The Inventor Who Made Trains Safer

    6 min Episode 59 16 February 2026

    In this inspiring episode of Once Upon A Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh shares the remarkable life story of Andrew Jackson Beard—a formerly enslaved man whose brilliance and determination forever changed railroad safety.…

  • Granville Woods: The Genius Who Kept Trains Talking

    4 min Episode 58 2 February 2026

    In this episode of Once Upon A Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh explores the remarkable life of Granville Woods—a self-taught inventor whose brilliance helped transform railroad safety and modern communication.…

  • Harriet Tubman: The Bravest Guide on the Underground Railroad

    5 min Episode 57 22 December 2025

    Born into slavery, Harriet refused to believe that her life was meant to be lived in chains. After escaping to freedom herself, she made a bold and dangerous choice: she went back. Again and again. As a conductor on the Underground Railroad, Harriet guided ens…

  • Thomas Fuller — The African Mathematical Genius

    7 min Episode 56 8 December 2025

    In this episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, we explore the extraordinary life of Thomas Fuller, the enslaved West African man known as “The Virginia Calculator.” Kidnapped at 14 and denied any formal education, Fuller astonished everyone with his abi…

  • Phillip Bell Downing: The Man Behind the Mailbox

    6 min Episode 55 17 November 2025

    In this episode of Once Upon A Time in Black History, Tamara Shiloh uncovers the story of Phillip Bell Downing — the African American inventor who transformed communication with his secure, weather-proof “street letter box.”…

  • A Mirror to the Future: The Valerie Thomas Story

    8 min Episode 54 4 November 2025

    In this episode of Once Upon A Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh shines a light on Valerie L. Thomas, the brilliant mind behind NASA’s “Illusion Transmitter” — a groundbreaking invention that paved the way for 3D imaging technology.…

  • J.W. Smith: The Spark Behind the Sprinkler Revolution

    4 min Episode 53 20 October 2025

    In this episode, we celebrate the ingenuity of J.W. Smith—also known as Joseph H. Smith—the African-American inventor who transformed home gardening with the creation of the modern lawn sprinkler. In 1897, Smith patented the first rotary head lawn sprinkler, a…

  • Seneca Village: The Hidden Community Beneath Central Park

    5 min Episode 52 6 October 2025

    Before Central Park became the iconic green heart of New York City, a thriving community once stood there — Seneca Village, a settlement founded by free African Americans in the 1820s. In this episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh un…

  • Fort Mose – America’s First Free Black Settlement

    7 min Episode 51 15 September 2025

    In this episode of Once Upon A Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh takes us back to the 1700s and the remarkable story of Fort Mose—America’s first legally sanctioned free Black settlement. Just north of St. Augustine, Florida, Fort Mose offered freedom,…

  • Patricia Cowings – The Baroness of Barf

    8 min Episode 50 1 September 2025

    In this episode of Once Upon A Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh takes us into the world of space science with Dr. Patricia S. Cowings—the first African American woman trained as a scientist astronaut by NASA. Affectionately nicknamed the “Baroness of …

  • First African Baptist Church: A Sacred Legacy

    5 min Episode 49 18 August 2025

    In this episode of Once Upon A Time in Black History, we travel to Savannah, Georgia, to uncover the story of the First African Baptist Church — one of the oldest continuously operating Black churches in North America.…

  • Eugene Bullard: The Black Swallow of Death

    6 min Episode 48 5 August 2025

    Meet Eugene Bullard — boxer, war hero, spy, and the world’s first African American military pilot. In this episode, we follow his incredible journey from the Jim Crow South to the skies over France during World War I. Nicknamed “The Black Swallow of Death,” Bu…

  • John Berry Meachum and the Floating Freedom School

    6 min Episode 47 21 July 2025

    In this powerful episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh uncovers the extraordinary story of John Berry Meachum, a formerly enslaved man who defied racist laws to educate Black children in antebellum America.…

  • Capturing Harlem´s Heart: James Van Der Zee

    5 min Episode 46 7 July 2025

    Born in 1886 in Lenox, Massachusetts, Van Der Zee’s journey began with a simple camera he won at age fourteen. That small gift would launch a lifetime of visual storytelling that documented the rise of Harlem during its cultural renaissance. From weddings and …

  • Stuff Smith: Jazz’s Electrifying Violinist

    5 min Episode 45 16 June 2025

    In this episode of Once Upon A Time in Black History, we plug into the vibrant, swinging world of Stuff Smith—jazz’s electrifying violinist. Born Hezekiah Leroy Gordon Smith in 1909, Stuff defied expectations and redefined what a violin could do in jazz. From …

  • Florence Beatrice Price: A Classical First

    7 min Episode 44 3 June 2025

    In this episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh spotlights Florence Beatrice Price, the first African American woman to have a symphony performed by a major U.S. orchestra. Born in 1887 in Little Rock, Arkansas, Price overcame racism, …

  • Pantry of the Past: The Hidden Life of Hercules Posey, America’s First White House Chef

    6 min Season 1 Episode 43 19 May 2025

    In today’s episode, we’re opening the Pantry of the Past to spotlight Hercules Posey, the first known White House chef. Enslaved by George Washington but celebrated for his culinary brilliance, Hercules wasn’t just a cook—he was a man of impeccable skill, styl…

  • Raye Montague: The Hidden Figure Who Revolutionized Naval Engineering

    5 min Episode 42 6 May 2025

    In the pre-dawn quiet of the U.S. Navy’s David Taylor Model Basin, a young Black woman sat behind a computer, quietly rewriting history. This is the story of Raye Montague—engineer, innovator, and a hidden figure whose brilliance transformed naval ship design.…

  • Lisa Gelobter: From GIFs to government tech: this is what happens when you go STEM

    5 min Season 1 Episode 41 22 April 2025

    Despite making major strides in tech, Black women remain underrepresented in STEM. Lisa Gelobter defied the odds—helping pioneer internet video, shaping the GIF, launching Hulu, and leading digital innovation in the Obama administration. In this episode, we ex…

  • George Washington Williams: The Man Who Told the Truth About the Congo

    4 min Season 1 Episode 40 7 April 2025

    George Washington Williams turned experience into history. Soldier, preacher, politician, and pioneering historian — he was a man determined to tell the truth no matter the cost. Best known for exposing King Leopold II’s brutal reign in the Congo, Williams use…

  • James Hemings: The Forgotten Pioneer of American Cuisine

    5 min Episode 39 18 March 2025

    Join host Tamara Shiloh as we uncover the remarkable story of James Hemings, a culinary pioneer whose influence on American cuisine has been largely overlooked. Born into slavery in 1765 and owned by Thomas Jefferson, James became a master of French cooking, t…

  • George Beckett & The Invention That Changed Mail Delivery

    4 min Episode 38 3 March 2025

    In this episode, we dive into the history of a small yet impactful invention—the house door letterbox. Before the convenience of secure mail slots, postal carriers had to knock and wait for someone to answer the door. But thanks to George Beckett, that all cha…

  • Joseph Winters: Climbing the Ladder of Innovation

    5 min Season 2 Episode 37 18 February 2025

    In this episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, we explore the remarkable story of Joseph Richard Winters, the inventor whose fire escape innovations saved countless lives. From his early days in Virginia to his groundbreaking patents in Chambersburg, Pe…

  • Defying Expectations: The Trailblazing Journey of Jane Matilda Bolin

    5 min Episode 36 4 February 2025

    Discover the inspiring story of Jane Matilda Bolin, the first Black woman judge in the U.S. Born in 1908, Jane overcame racial discrimination and societal barriers to graduate from Yale Law School and serve 40 years as a family court judge. A fierce advocate f…

  • Mother Hale: The Angel of Harlem

    5 min Episode 35 21 January 2025

    A selfless pioneer in childcare and community support, Clara opened her Harlem home to infants born into the most challenging circumstances—children of mothers battling addiction and, later, those affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Discover how her love for ch…

  • Jan Ernst Matzeliger

    4 min Episode 34 14 January 2025

    Jan Ernst Matzeliger was a biracial Surinamese-American inventor whose automated lasting machine brought significant change to the manufacturing of shoes.

  • George Franklin Grant

    4 min Episode 33 7 January 2025

    In this episode, discover the fascinating journey of Dr. George Franklin Grant, a trailblazing dentist, Harvard faculty member, and inventor of the first wooden golf tee. Learn how his passion for innovation and golf left a lasting mark on the sport.

  • George Crum, the man who invented the potato chip...

    5 min Episode 32 31 December 2024

    On today's episode of Once upon A Time In Black History we learn about George Crum, the man who invented the potato chip!

  • Marie Van Brittan Brown

    7 min Episode 31 24 December 2024

    Marie Van Brittan Brown was an American nurse and innovator. In 1966, she invented a video home security system along with her husband Albert Brown, an electronics technician.

  • Elijah, The Real McCoy

    7 min Season 1 Episode 30 17 December 2024

    Elijah McCoy (May 2, 1844–October 10, 1929) was a Black American inventor who received more than 50 patents for his inventions during his lifetime. His most famous invention was a cup that feeds lubricating oil to machine bearings through a small tube. Machini…

  • Strings of Legacy: The Trailblazing Journey of Joseph Douglass

    7 min Episode 29 9 December 2024

    Join host Tamara Shiloh as she takes you on an inspiring journey into the life and legacy of Joseph Henry Douglass,…

  • Carter G. Woodson: The Father of Black History

    7 min Episode 28 25 November 2024

    In this episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, we delve into the remarkable life and legacy of Carter G. Woodson, the man celebrated as the "Father of Black History." Born to formerly enslaved parents in 1875, Carter overcame incredible odds to become a…

  • Oscar Micheaux: Trailblazer of Black Cinema

    7 min Episode 27 19 November 2024

    In this episode, we dive into the groundbreaking life and career of Oscar Devereaux Micheaux, a pioneering African-American filmmaker whose passion for storytelling broke Hollywood’s barriers. Micheaux’s debut film, The Homesteader (1919), captivated audiences…

  • Alice Dunnigan: First Black Woman of the White House Press Corps

    4 min Season 1 Episode 26 12 November 2024

    Alice Allison Dunnigan was an American journalist, civil rights activist and author. Dunnigan was the first African-American female correspondent to receive White House credentials, and the first black female member of the Senate and House of Representatives p…

  • Cathay Williams: The First Black Female Buffalo Soldier

    8 min Episode 25 4 November 2024

    In this episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh tells the remarkable story of Cathay Williams, a young woman who defied the odds to become the first documented African-American woman to serve in the U.S. Army. Born into slavery and con…

  • The Untold Story of Alexandre Dumas

    7 min Episode 24 21 October 2024

    Did you know Dumas was of mixed race? We trace his story from his father, General Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, the highest-ranking Black officer in a European army, to Alexandre’s prolific literary career in 19th-century France. Along the way, we uncover the challe…

  • Escaping the Washingtons: The Bold Flight of Ona Judge

    6 min Episode 23 7 October 2024

    In this episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, we delve into the incredible story of Ona Judge, an enslaved woman who made a daring escape from President George Washington’s household. Despite the harsh reality of slavery, Ona’s courage and determinatio…

  • Pedaling Through History: Black Innovators and the Bicycle Revolution

    7 min Episode 22 17 September 2024

    In this episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, we explore the significance of the bicycle during the Jim Crow era and highlight the contributions of African American inventors like Matthew A. Cherry and Isaac R. Johnson. The bicycle symbolized freedom f…

  • The Green Book

    5 min Season 1 Episode 1 2 September 2024

    In this episode of "Once Upon a Time in Black History," host Tamara Shiloh explores the history and legacy of "The Green Book." This essential travel guide provided African-American travelers with safe and welcoming locations during the Jim Crow era. Learn how…

  • Once Upon A Time In Black History: Lewis Latimer

    5 min Season 1 Episode 1 19 August 2024

    On this episode of Once Upon A Time In Black History, we'll explore the life of Lewis Latimer, an American inventor whose innovations significantly improved lightbulb filaments, air conditioning, and made notable contributions in other fields.…

  • Once Upon A Time In Black History: Myrtis Dightman

    7 min 22 January 2024

    On this episode of Once Upon A Time In Black History, we'll explore the life of Joseph Douglas. He was a concert violinist and the grandson of abolitionist, Frederick Douglas.

  • Once Upon A Time In Black History: Myrtis Dightman

    6 min 11 January 2024

    On this episode of Once Upon a Time In Black History, we dive into the story of professional rodeo bull rider, Myrtis Dightman.

  • Once Upon A Time In Black History: JINGLE JANGLE

    21 min 6 October 2023

    On this episode of Once upon a Time in Black History we learn about the movie Jingle Jangle as we get ready for the approaching Holidays.

  • Once Upon A Time In Black History: David Harris & Marlon Green

    8 min 16 September 2023

    On this episode of Once Upon A Time in Black History we will be learning about the first African American male pilots in the United States, David Harris & Marlon Green who paved the way for those to come.

  • Once Upon A Time In Black History: Bessie Coleman

    10 min 16 September 2023

    In this episode of Once Upon A Time In Black History we learn about Bessie Coleman who was the first African American and Native American woman. to become a pilot!

  • Once Upon A Time In Black History: Dorothy Bolden

    4 min Episode 13 21 August 2023

    On today's episode of once upon a time in black history we learn about Dorothy Lee Bolden who was the founder of the National Domestic Worker's Union of America and worked to fight for women's rights and bring segregation to an end. Bolden began working as a d…

  • Once Upon A Time In Black History: Mansa Musa

    6 min Season 1 Episode 13 18 August 2023

    On today's episode of Once Upon A Time In Black History wow learn about Mansa Musa was the 9th ruler of the Mali Empire, which reached its territorial peak during his reign. Musa is known for being the wealthiest man in the world.

  • Once Upon A Time In Black History: Stage Coach Mary

    5 min Season 1 Episode 12 18 August 2023

    In this episode of Once Upon A Time in Black history we learn about Mary Fields, also known as Stagecoach Mary and Black Mary. She was the first African American female star route mail carrier in the United States!

  • Once Upon A Time In Black History: Blind Tom Wiggins

    6 min Season 1 Episode 11 6 January 2023

    In this episode of Once upon a time in black history, we discuss Tom Wiggins, an African American man who was born into slavery but became a great pianist, all the while being blind!

  • Once Upon A Time in Black History: Onesimus

    5 min Season 1 Episode 10 6 January 2023

    Onesimus (late 1600s–1700s) was an African man who was instrumental in the mitigation of the impact of a smallpox outbreak in Boston, Massachusetts. His birth name is unknown. His birth name is unknown. He was enslaved in 1706 and was given to the New England …

  • Once Upon A Time In Black History: The Silent Parade

    5 min Season 1 Episode 9 6 January 2023

    The Silent Parade, was a silent march of about 10,000 African Americans along Fifth Avenue starting at 57th Street in New York City on July 28, 1917. The event was organized by the NAACP, church, and community leaders to protest violence directed towards Afric…

  • Once Upon A Time In Black History: Nat Love

    5 min Season 1 Episode 8 6 January 2023

    Nat Love was an American cowboy and former slave in the period following the American Civil War. His exploits have made him one of the most famous heroes of the Old West. Despite slavery-era statutes that outlawed black literacy, he learned to read and write…

  • Once Upon A Time In Black History : Edward Dwight

    6 min Season 1 Episode 7 8 September 2022

    On this episode of Once upon a time in black history we talk about Edward Joseph Dwight Jr. He is an American sculptor, author, and former test pilot. He is the first African American to have entered the Air Force training program from which NASA selected astr…

  • Once Upon A Time In Black History: Henry ”Box” Brown

    5 min Season 1 Episode 6 9 August 2022

    Henry "Box" Brown was the man who mailed himself to freedom during slavery after being enslaved at birth. Later in his life Henry became an abolitionist who later shared his story and testimony to inspire others in similar situations to seek freedom.

  • Once Upon A Time In Black History: Frederick McKinley Jones

    6 min Season 1 Episode 5 26 July 2022

    Frederick McKinley Jones was an American inventor, entrepreneur, engineer, winner of the National Medal of Technology, and an inductee of the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Jones invented mobile refrigeration technology, enabling the long-haul transportation…

  • Once Upon A Time In Black History: Juneteenth

    7 min Season 1 Episode 4 12 July 2022

    June 19th marks the day of emancipation, the day slavery ended and Black people were set free. This holiday became our very own Black Independence Day. tune in to this episode to learn more about the history of Juneteenth in America.

  • Once Upon A Time In Black History Bessie Blount

    6 min Season 1 Episode 3 30 June 2022

    Bessie Blount was an ingenious inventor and nurse who created tools to assist disabled patients and allow them to feed themselves.

  • Once Upon A Time in Black History introduces Maggie Lena Walker, the First Black Female Bank Owner in the U.S.

    9 min Season 1 Episode 2 30 June 2022

    As part of Women's History Month, this "Once Upon A Time in Black History" episode introduces to listeners Maggie Lena Walker, who was the first African American woman to charter a bank in the U.S. Walker was an African-American businesswoman and teacher who …

  • Thomas Jennings, the first Black man to receive a U.S. patent. Also, this episode features his daughter, Elizabeth who was the first Black woman to he...

    18 min Season 1 Episode 1 30 June 2022

    Thomas Jennings was the first Black man to receive a U.S. patent. He was a skilled tailor and eventually he discovered a unique way to dry clean clothes. It's the system we still use today.…

Content, Artwork and advertising within this podcast is not owned or affiliated with Sound Carrot.

Find your next favourite Podcast

Sound Carrot is your source for Family Podcast Discovery. Verified awesome, 0% boring.

Privacy Focused

Distraction free website, no flashing banners or adverts to steal your attention.
(Some shows do contain their own ads however).

Kid verified

At first I made this site for my kids, but like any dad I got a little over excited. I hope you find it as useful as they do.

Family Friendly

Whether you want to listen to them together in the car, or alone in your room - the content is all safe for younger ears.