Freedom's Promise

Episode 08: Ruby Bridges & Barbara Jordan

Teen Zach Thomas and his mom, professor and author Duchess Harris, focus this time on some black girl magic. They tell the stories of Ruby Bridges, who in 1960 at age 6 integrated New Orleans schools, and Barbara Jordan who, at the same time was breaking down barriers facing black women in the US Congress. Making this all relevant to 2019, they discuss Ilhan Omar, US Congresswoman from Minnesota, who became one of the first to wear her hijab on the House floor. More info: For more information about the Freedom's Promise books and the Duchess Harris Collection, visit http://www.abdobooks.com/duchess-harris-collection For more information about Duchess Harris, visit http://www.duchessharris.com/ To request a text-document transcription of this episode, email barry@fireonthebluff.com Freedom's Promise, podcast and radio series credits Duchess Harris: Writer and host Zach Thomas: Co-host Barry Madore, Fire on the Bluff Productions: Producer, recording engineer, editor Opening and closing music: "Black cat Funky" by reusenoise — http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/reusenoise/56513 — (c) copyright 2017 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license Freedom's Promise Show page: http://freedomspromise.libsyn.com

Episode 07: The Scottsboro Boys

Teen Zach Thomas and his mom, professor and author Duchess Harris, explore the story of the arrest in 1931 of nine falsely accused black teen boys in Scottsboro Alabama and the impact of the trials – spanning decades – that followed. More info: For more information about the Freedom's Promise books and the Duchess Harris Collection, visit http://www.abdobooks.com/duchess-harris-collection For more information about Duchess Harris, visit http://www.duchessharris.com/ To request a text-document transcription of this episode, email barry@fireonthebluff.com "Strange Fruit," Billie Holiday, (c) 2009 UMG Recordings, Inc. Freedom's Promise, podcast and radio series credits Duchess Harris: Writer and host Zach Thomas: Co-host Barry Madore, Fire on the Bluff Productions: Producer, recording engineer, editor Opening and closing music: "Black cat Funky" by reusenoise — http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/reusenoise/56513 — (c) copyright 2017 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license Freedom's Promise Show page: http://freedomspromise.libsyn.com

Episode 06: Oney Judge

In this episode of Freedom's Promise, Duchess and Zach continue their exploration of slavery in the United States. This time they talk about U.S. Presidents who owned slaves focusing specifically on the story of Oney Judge who was owned by our first president George Washington and his wife Martha and who used her ingenuity to escape. More info: For more information about the Freedom's Promise books and the Duchess Harris Collection, visit http://www.abdobooks.com/duchess-harris-collection For more information about Duchess Harris, visit http://www.duchessharris.com/ To request a text-document transcription of this episode, email barry@fireonthebluff.com Freedom's Promise, podcast and radio series credits Duchess Harris: Writer and host Zach Thomas: Co-host Barry Madore, Fire on the Bluff Productions: Producer, recording engineer, editor Opening and closing music: "Black cat Funky" by reusenoise — http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/reusenoise/56513 — (c) copyright 2017 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license Freedom's Promise Show page: http://freedomspromise.libsyn.com

Episode 05: The Grand Contraband Camp

Zach takes over as host to interview his mom, Duchess Harris, about her book The Grand Contraband Camp. They discuss the various ways slaves gained their own freedom prior to the Emancipation Proclamation and relate the rarely told story of the Grand Contraband Camp where previously enslaved blacks lived freely in the South during the Civil War. More info: For more information about the Freedom's Promise books and the Duchess Harris Collection, visit http://www.abdobooks.com/duchess-harris-collection For more information about Duchess Harris, visit http://www.duchessharris.com/ "Follow the Drinking Gourd" with Taj Mahal, Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir appears on the recording, Shakin' A Tailfeather, (c) 1997 Music for Little People To request a text-document transcription of this episode, email barry@fireonthebluff.com Freedom's Promise, podcast and radio series credits Duchess Harris: Writer and host Zach Thomas: Co-host Barry Madore, Fire on the Bluff Productions: Producer, recording engineer, editor Opening and closing music: "Black cat Funky" by reusenoise — http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/reusenoise/56513 — (c) copyright 2017 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license Freedom's Promise Show page: http://freedomspromise.libsyn.com

Episode 04: Hidden Heroes -- The Human Computers of NASA

Duchess Harris and her son Zach present the story of the black women "hidden human computers" of NASA. Duchess' own grandmother -- Zach's great grandmother -- Miriam Daniel Mann was one of these amazing women who made significant contributions to NASA from the 1940s to the 1960s. They connect their personal family story to the history of the "space race" and discuss the obstacles blacks -- especially women -- faced in achieving a math and science education. More info: For more information about the Freedom's Promise books and the Duchess Harris Collection, visit http://www.abdobooks.com/duchess-harris-collection For more information about Duchess Harris, visit http://www.duchessharris.com/ "Whitey on the Moon" originally appeared on Gill Scott Heron's album Small Talk at 125th and Lenox, 1970, (c) The Flying Dutchman Productions, Ltd. Full video of Nichelle Nichols' promotional film for NASA available on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lca9_EDMcX0 To request a text-document transcription of this episode, email barry@fireonthebluff.com Freedom's Promise, podcast and radio series credits Duchess Harris: Writer and host Zach Thomas: Co-host Barry Madore, Fire on the Bluff Productions: Producer, recording engineer, editor Opening and closing music: "Black cat Funky" by reusenoise — http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/reusenoise/56513 — (c) copyright 2017 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license Freedom's Promise Show page: http://freedomspromise.libsyn.com