Once Upon A Time In Black History

Phillip Bell Downing: The Man Behind the Mailbox

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.”
Discover how a simple idea from a determined postal worker in the 1890s made sending mail safer, more accessible, and more reliable for everyone. Downing’s invention still stands on street corners today, quietly shaping how we connect.
Tune in and be inspired by the brilliance behind the everyday blue mailbox.
 
#BlackHistory #OnceUponATimeInBlackHistory #PhillipDowning #BlackInventors#AfricanAmericanHistory #STEMHeroes #HiddenFigures #HistoryPodcast #InnovationHistory #PostalServiceHistory #EverydayInventors #19thCenturyHistory#UnsungHeroes #TamaraShiloh #EducationalPodcast
 

A Mirror to the Future: The Valerie Thomas Story

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.
From her childhood curiosity in Baltimore to becoming one of NASA’s most innovative scientists, Valerie’s journey is one of persistence, imagination, and quiet revolution. As one of the few women—and even fewer Black women—in physics during the 1960s, she not only helped translate satellite data into vital Earth imagery but also reimagined how humans could see and share information.
Discover how Valerie’s creativity helped shape the world of imaging—on Earth and beyond—and how her legacy continues to inspire future generations of scientists and dreamers alike.
 
#ValerieThomas #BlackWomenInSTEM #NASA #3DImaging #STEMEducation #BlackHistory #WomenInScience #Innovation #IllusionTransmitter #TamaraShiloh #OnceUponATimeInBlackHistory

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

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 simple yet revolutionary device that made watering lawns more efficient and accessible for homeowners and gardeners alike.
Discover how Smith’s invention not only saved time, effort, and water but also became a staple in homes, parks, and gardens across America. Though much of his personal story remains untold, his innovation stands as a testament to the creativity and perseverance of Black inventors whose contributions continue to shape our everyday lives.
🎧 Tune in to learn how one man’s idea changed the way we care for our lawns—and helped make our communities greener, one invention at a time.
#OnceUponATimeInBlackHistory #TamaraShiloh #BlackInventors #JWSmith #JosephHSmith #LawnSprinkler #Innovation #BlackHistory #STEM #InventionsThatMatter #UnsungHeroes

Seneca Village: The Hidden Community Beneath Central Park

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 uncovers the story of this remarkable neighborhood — a place where Black families, along with Irish and German immigrants, built homes, churches, and schools, and created a safe, self-sustaining community in a time of deep racial inequality.
Learn how Seneca Village gave its residents not only a home, but also the right to vote and a sense of dignity — until the city’s plan for Central Park brought it all to an end. Though erased for more than a century, the legacy of Seneca Village endures through the artifacts, stories, and memories that continue to resurface today.
Join us as we rediscover this lost piece of history and honor the resilience of those who made Seneca Village a symbol of hope and self-determination.
#BlackHistory #SenecaVillage #CentralPark #TamaraShiloh #OnceUponATimeInBlackHistory #HiddenHistory #NYCHistory

Fort Mose – America’s First Free Black Settlement

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, safety, and community to those who escaped slavery in the British colonies and found refuge under Spanish rule.
Discover how formerly enslaved Africans built lives as free men and women, defended their settlement with courage during war, and left behind a legacy that challenges the very foundation of slavery in America. From its beginnings in 1738 to its rediscovery centuries later, Fort Mose stands as a testament to resilience, hope, and the enduring fight for freedom.
 
 
#FortMose #BlackHistory #AmericanHistory #AfricanAmericanHistory #OnceUponATimeInBlackHistory #TamaraShiloh #FirstFreeBlackSettlement #FloridaHistory #StAugustineHistory #SpanishFlorida #FreedomFighters #BlackMilitia #FranciscoMenendez #BloodyMose #HistoricFortMose #BlackHeritage #UntoldHistory #ResilienceAndHope #HiddenHistory #NationalHistoricLandmark

Patricia Cowings – The Baroness of Barf

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 Barf,” Dr. Cowings revolutionized astronaut training by developing biofeedback techniques that helped astronauts conquer space motion sickness—one of the most dangerous challenges in orbit.
From her upbringing in the Bronx to breaking barriers at NASA, Dr. Cowings’ journey is a story of brilliance, resilience, and determination. Discover how she turned skepticism into respect, opened doors for future scientists, and proved that education and perseverance can take you all the way to the stars.
Join us as we celebrate the groundbreaking career of Patricia Cowings—scientist, pioneer, and trailblazer.

First African Baptist Church: A Sacred Legacy

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.
Founded in 1773 by George Liele and formally organized in 1788 under Andrew Bryan, the church stood as both a sanctuary of worship and a center of resistance. From serving as a stop on the Underground Railroad, to educating freed African Americans after emancipation, to hosting meetings during the Civil Rights Movement, its impact reaches far beyond its walls.

Eugene Bullard: The Black Swallow of Death

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,” Bullard defied racism, dodged bullets, and danced with legends in Jazz Age Paris — only to return to an America that refused to see his worth. Discover the remarkable, untold story of a man whose life embodied resilience, courage, and the unshakable pursuit of freedom.
 
#OnceUponATimeInBlackHistory #EugeneBullard #BlackSwallowOfDeath #UnsungHeroes #BlackHistoryPodcast #HiddenBlackHistory #HistoryUntold #BlackAviator #WWIHero
#AfricanAmericanHistory #MilitaryHistory #WWIHistory #WWIIHistory #FrenchForeignLegion #TuskegeeBeforeTuskegee #JazzAgeParis #FrenchResistance
#LearnBlackHistory #MulticulturalVoices #StorytellingPodcast #EducateToLiberate
 

John Berry Meachum and the Floating Freedom School

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.
Born into slavery in 1789, Meachum purchased his freedom and became a preacher, carpenter, and educator in St. Louis, Missouri. When the state outlawed teaching Black people to read and write, Meachum refused to surrender. His ingenious solution? A Floating Freedom School—a steamboat classroom anchored in the Mississippi River, beyond the reach of oppressive laws.
This is a story of resistance, ingenuity, and unshakable belief in liberation through education. Meachum’s legacy reminds us that freedom isn’t given—it’s fought for, built, and sometimes, it floats.
Listen, learn, and be inspired by a man who turned a river into a pathway to freedom.
🔗 Visit Multicultural Bookstore for more stories of courage and resilience.
#BlackHistory #FreedomSchool #EducationAsResistance

Capturing Harlem´s Heart: James Van Der Zee

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 community events to portraits of icons like Marcus Garvey, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, and Joe Louis, Van Der Zee’s images reflected elegance, dignity, and the vibrant pride of African American life.
Though his fame dimmed in the 1950s, a major exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1969 brought him back into the spotlight, introducing his work to new generations. By the time of his passing in 1983 at the age of 96, James Van Der Zee had created a visual archive of Black life that remains essential to understanding 20th-century American culture.
Join us as we explore the legacy of a man who turned every photograph into a work of pride, beauty, and resistance. Subscribe and discover more untold stories that shaped Black history.
Now imagine that!