Black Is America OWLS, LLC

In this special Memorial Day presentation of the Black Is America podcast, we explore the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of Doris "Dorie" Miller. From his humble beginnings in Waco, Texas, to his decision to join the Navy during a time of racial segregation, Dorie's story captivates and inspires.
 We first set the stage for his extraordinary path. Next, we delve into the events leading up to World War II and examine the impact of his choices. Then we highlight his heroic actions during the attack on Pearl Harbor, showcasing his bravery and resilience in the face of adversity. Lastly, we explore the recognition he received and the ultimate sacrifice he made aboard the USS Liscome Bay. We also introduce you to Charles Jackson French and his heroic actions aboard the USS Gregory during the attack. There's also the exploration of a "what if" scenario with Jackie Robinson at Pearl Harbor (yep, he was there too!)
This Memorial Day, we pay tribute to Dorie Miller's unwavering courage and honor his legacy as an American defender. Join us for this powerful and enlightening episode of the Black Is America podcast.
More information on what happened to Jesse Washington
The Black Is America podcast, a presentation of OWLS Education, was created and is written, researched, and produced by Dominic Lawson.
Executive Producer: Kenda Lawson
Cover art was created by Alexandria Eddings of Art Life Connections. 
Sources to create this episode include Naval History and Heritage Command, CBS News, Infographics Show, ESPN’s Down and Distance Podcast with Ivan Maisel,  the Brookings Institute, Waco History.com
Scenes from the movie Peal Harbor are courtesy of Touchstone Films and Jerry Bruckheimer Films and is distributed by Buena Vista Pictures.
Be sure to Like, review and subscribe to the Black Is America Podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, where ever you like to listen to podcasts. Also, let people know about the podcast, we would appreciate that very much. 
For a full transcript of this episode and other resources, go to www.blackisamericapodcast.com. There you can read our blog, leave us a review, or you can leave a voicemail where you can ask a question or let us know what you think about the show that we may play in an episode. 
 
 

In the #BlackHistoryMonthFinale, host Dominic Lawson tells the inspiring story of Sergeant Henry Johnson, the first American hero of World War I. Johnson was a member of the 369th Infantry Regiment, an all-black unit known as the Harlem Hellfighters, and his bravery and sacrifice in battle helped to establish the United States as a military superpower firmly. Despite facing racism and discrimination at home, Johnson and his fellow soldiers fought courageously for their country and paved the way for future generations of African American soldiers.
Key Points:
Sergeant Henry Johnson was the first American hero of World War I and a member of the all-black 369th Infantry Regiment, known as the Harlem Hellfighters. Johnson's bravery and battle sacrifice helped establish the United States as a military superpower. Despite facing racism and discrimination at home, Johnson and his fellow soldiers fought courageously for their country. Johnson was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 2015, and efforts are underway to rename a military base in his honor. The story of Sergeant Henry Johnson and the Harlem Hellfighters is an important part of African American and United States history. Show Notes:
Background on the 369th Infantry Regiment and the Harlem Hellfighters Discussion of racism and discrimination faced by African American soldiers during World War I Detailed account of Sergeant Henry Johnson's bravery in battle and the many injuries sustained while defending his fellow soldiers Discussion of the posthumous honors and awards given to Johnson, including the Medal of Honor and the Purple Heart Information on efforts to rename a military base in honor of Johnson and the Harlem Hellfighters Analysis of the question of why African Americans continue to fight for a country that does not always love them back Quotes from Johnson and other African American leaders Conclusion and call to action for listeners to support the Black Is America Podcast and continue learning about important moments in African American history. Zimmermann Telegram | Facts, Text, & Outcome | Britannica
 
Sources:
White house.gov History.com Smithsonian Magazine The Department of Defense The National Museum of African American History and Culture The National Archives CSPAN Website: www.blackisamericapodcast.com

Introduction: In this episode, we delve into the life and legacy of Sylvia Robinson, the music executive and producer who brought hip hop to the masses and changed the music landscape forever. Sylvia was the founder of Sugar Hill Records and was responsible for producing some of the biggest hip hop hits of all time.
Segment 1:
Ed Anderson, a DJ at the station, was asked to play the song during the last hour of his show. The song became an instant hit and went viral, with people calling the station to ask what it was. The song was a commercial success and peaked at number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100, number one in Canada and the Netherlands, and number three in the UK. Segment 2:
Sylvia changed the name of her label from All Platinum to Sugar Hill Records after the success of the Sugar Hill Gang. She went on to sign successful acts such as the Treacherous Three, Funky Four Plus One, and others. Sylvia even produced some of the music videos for her artists, including working with a young Spike Lee. She signed Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five to create the hit song "The Message", which was considered one of the greatest songs of all time by Time Magazine. Segment 3:
Despite the success of Sugar Hill Records, not everyone was happy about it. The originators of hip-hop didn't understand how three inexperienced MCs not from the birthplace of hip-hop could create its first commercial success. Sylvia knew that for the evolution of hip hop, she had to put out fun and great music, but she also had to get out what was going on in the streets. Segment 4:
Sugar Hill Records fell on hard times due to competition, and financial and legal problems. Many of the founding hip-hop pioneers were going commercial, and new players in the game, including LL Cool J, Run DMC, and the Beastie Boys, were entering the scene. Sylvia and her husband Joe would divorce, and Sylvia would create a new label with a group from New Jersey called the New Style. The group would resurface two years later under a new name, Naughty by Nature. Conclusion:
Sylvia passed away in 2011 due to heart failure and was 76 years old. In 2022, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame due to her contribution of bringing hip hop to the masses. The Black Is America podcast, a presentation of OWLS Education, was created and is written, researched, and produced by Dominic Lawson.
Executive Producer Kenda Lawson
Alexandria Eddings of Art Life Connections created cover art. 
Sources to create this episode include National Public Radio, St. Louis Public Radio, BBC 4, American Masters, Billboard .com, and more. For a complete list, look in the show note of your podcast player or our website www.blackisamericapodcast.com.
Be sure to Like, review, and subscribe to the Black Is America Podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, where ever you like to listen to podcasts. Also, let people know about the podcast,we would appreciate that very much. 
For a full transcript of this episode and other resources, go to www.blackisamericapodcast.com. There you can read our blog, leave us a review, or you can leave a voicemail where you can ask a question or let us know what you think about the show that we may play in an episode. You can also hit the donation button if you like what you heard which helps us to create more educational content like this. 
 

The award-winning podcast returns with all-new stories of great African Americans. 
In this preview, we share audience reviews and how the show faired during award season. We also share the opening for the season 2 premiere of Doris Miller: The American Defender. Lastly, we pay tribute to civil rights legend and historian Carl Westmoreland.
 
Season 2 of the Black Is America podcast debuts on Feb. 1, 2023. 

In the season one finale of Black Is America, we share the story of Tom Lee. On May 8, 1925, when the M.E. Norman steamer suffered a catastrophic failure, Tom Lee saved thirty-two people from the Mississippi River. Fellow Memphian and historian Terri Stephens comes along for the ride to tell the tale of the humble hero. 
 
In this episode, you will hear:
Why was Tom Lee on the river that day? Why was it dangerous for Tom to attempt the rescues? Why is May a fun time in Memphis? How did Memphis repay his good deed?   
Sources to create this episode come Memphis Magazine.com and Michael Finger beautiful piece be sure to read it as it has additional information about what happened that day. We have a link there in the show notes. NBC Olympics.com, WREG Memphis, WCNC Charlotte, GilderLehrman.org, History.com, and more. For a complete list, look in the show note of your podcast player or our website www.blackisamericapodcast.com.
Be sure to Like, review and subscribe to the Black Is America Podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, where ever you like to listen to podcasts. Also, let people know about the podcast. We would appreciate that very much. 
For a full transcript of this episode and other resources, go to www.blackisamericapodcast.com. There you can read our blog, leave us a review, or you can leave a voicemail where you can ask a question or let us know what you think about the show that we may play in an episode. You can also hit the donation button if you like what you heard which helps us to create more educational content like this. 

In August 1963, people traveled far and wide to Washington DC to advocate for civil rights. They took planes, trains, and automobiles. However, one man traveled there in a different way. 
 
To commemorate the 59th anniversary of the March on Washington For Jobs and Freedom, we lace up our skates to tell the story of Ledger “Roller Man” Smith and his almost 700-mile journey to Washington DC. 
 
In this episode, you will hear:
Why Ledger Smith went to the March On Washington on roller skates Why Dr. King thought it was essential for Civil Rights to desegregate places of leisure Ledger Smith route from Chicago to Washington DC Why media was essential to the Civil Rights movement More about an unlikely ally in the Civil Rights movement The Children's March and Kelly Ingram park Notable figures mentioned in this episode:
Martin Luther King Jr.
John Lewis
Mamie Chalmers
Bayard Rustin 
A.G. Gaston
A. Phillip Randolph
President John F. Kennedy 
Attorney General Robert Kennedy
President Barack Obama
The Black Is America podcast, a presentation of OWLS Education, was created and is written, researched, and produced by me, Dominic Lawson.

Executive Producer Kenda Lawson
Cover art was created by Alexandria Eddings of Art Life Connections. Credit for this episode's cover art: The Baltimore Afro American
Sources to create this episode come from The National Civil Rights Museum, History.com, The New York Times, The Baltimore Afro American,  The National Museum of African American History & Culture, WAMU National Public Radio in DC
Scenes from United Skates are courtesy of Vice and HBO Documentary Films, a Warner Brothers Discovery Company.  
Mamie Chalmers audio courtesy of Comcast NBCUniversal's Voices of the Civil Rights Movement
David Vann and A.G. Gaston audio courtesy of the Youtube Channel curated by Geoff Hiron (Note: The host could not locate the original source of audio)
"Beat It" is written and performed by Michael Jackson and produced by Michael Jackson & Quincy Jones for Epic Records. 
"I'm On My Way" performed by Mamie Brown & Choir from "Lest We Forget, Vol. 2: Birmingham, Alabama, 1963 - Mass Meeting" from Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.
Audio of Martin Luther King Jr. courtesy of Martin Luther King Jr Research and Education Institute at Stanford University
Audio of John Lewis courtesy of the National Archives
Audio of President Barack Obama courtesy of BBC News
Be sure to Like, review and subscribe to the Black Is America Podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, where ever you like to listen to podcasts. Also, let people know about the podcast. We would appreciate that very much. 

For a full transcript of this episode and other resources, go to www.blackisamericapodcast.com. You can read our blog, leave us a review, or leave a voicemail where you can ask a question or let us know what you think about the show we may play in an episode. You can also hit the donation button if you like what you heard, which helps us to create more educational content like this.