Ep. 8: There's more to Hannibal's history than Mark Twain
I went to Hannibal, MO to interview Faye Dant about her book, Hannibal's Invisibles, and her museum, Jim's Journey: The Huck Finn Freedom Center
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Resolve to learn: Make history part of your 2025 resolutions
For the last two weeks, I’ve been both heads-up and heads-down while selecting history books that I, readers, and my podcast listeners can immerse ourselves in this year. It was hard to choose. But it’s such a glorious problem to have as an adult—so many options that tell the real contributions and experiences of Black Americans—instead of opposite problem I had as a kid in elementary school where my textbooks included only slavery and Africa, which were “covered” dismissively and through a white supremacy lens
Negro Leagues baseball, Italian food — experience both at Christopher's in Des Moines
If you’ve ever wondered where to go in Iowa to learn about Negro Leagues Baseball, Christopher’s Italian Restaurant probably isn’t the first place that comes to mind. But that’s exactly what you’ll find there, an exhibit titled “Before Jackie” that features dozens of photos and historical details on Black baseball — from the integrated teams during the Civil War to firsts like Bud Fowler, the first Black player to play in a professional paid game in 1878 and Moses Fleetwood Walker, the first Bla...
Ep. 7: The Lasting Impact of the Freedman's Bank
After the Civil War ended, as more and more formerly enslaved Black Americans began making money, they had nowhere to keep it—until the Freedman's Savings and Trust Company was established in 1865. At its peak, the bank had over 100,000 accounts and $50 million ($1.4 billion today) in deposits. However, the bank's administrators and trustees soon began misusing the depositors' funds, loaning it out to white borrowers—requiring no application and, oftentimes, no collateral—to fund risky ventures,...
Ep. 6: The Black Nurses Who Helped Cure Tuberculosis
My Uniting Through History Book Club read The Black Angels: The Untold Story of the Nurses Who Helped Cure Tuberculosis earlier this year. So I was really excited when author Maria Smilios agreed to be my guest on the Reading with Rachelle podcast.There were so many things to like about this book! First and foremost, of course, is the story of the Black nurses, hired to work at Sea View Hospital on Staten Island, after the white nurses quit. Over the years, Sea View was home to 1,800 tuberculosi...
Ep. 5: Medicine, Science and Making Race with Leslie Schwalm
Today on the Reading with Rachelle podcast, I'm joined by Dr. Leslie A. Schwalm, author of the book Medicine, Science and Making Race in Civil War America. We discuss how the North helped anti-Black racism and white people's belief of Black inferiority beyond the Civil War and into today. This was accomplished by white medical and scientific professionals who used the Civil War as a laboratory and used Black enlisted men and those escaping slavery as objects of study to try to prove that African...
Ep. 4: The Story of The Black Cabinet with Jill Watts
This week, I dive into The Black Cabinet: The Untold Story of African Americans and Politics During the Age of Roosevelt with author Jill Watts. The "Black Cabinet" was a group of independent, self-directed African American economists, lawyers, sociologists and journalists who worked tirelessly behind the scenes during the Roosevelt administration for the inclusion of Black Americans in FDR's New Deal programs.Watts shares the fascinating history of how this unofficial brain trust, significantly...
Ep. 3: Confronting the White Supremacist Script
In this week's episode, I'm happy to be joined by Daniel Henderson to discuss his second book, The Spiritual Journey to Anti-Racism: A Travel Guide for White People. In his new book, Daniel delves into the critical issue of confronting white supremacy and the "white supremacist script" that has infected our culture for centuries. As we explore Daniel's personal journey, he shares how coming to terms with his own white privilege and the hidden ways that racism manifests has been a transformative...
Ep. 2: The Black man who ran for U.S. president in 1904
Did you know George Edwin Taylor, a Black man, ran for president of the United States in 1904 against Theodore Roosevelt? Did you know he ran as a candidate of the newly formed African American party, the National Liberty Party? Did you know that before he joined the National Liberty Party, Taylor was a Democrat when most Black Americans were Republican? Did you know he was living in Ottumwa, Iowa at the time he ran for president?These are just a few things that Erick Nganyange, creator and host...
Ep. 1: Corporatocracy: How to Protect Democracy from Dark Money and Corrupt Politicians
Corporatocracy: How to Protect Democracy from Dark Money and Corrupt Politicians by Ciara Torres-Spelliscy was released yesterday. Its release feels prophetic and/or timely because we need it today.Literally.This excerpt from the back cover resonated with me:So did this:So did the opening of the book, a preface titled, "The Pathetic State of American Democracy," which seems like the perfect title to summarize the belief of many today.I was going to write a long introduction to this book and the...
Listen to the Reading with Rachelle podcast trailer
Finally! The Reading with Rachelle podcast is here! Tomorrow, November 6, 2024, my first episode will feature Professor Ciara Torres-Spelliscy discussing her timely new book (released today!), Corporatocracy: How to Protect Democracy from Dark Money and Corrupt Politicians. But listen to the trailer above today. Here’s the focus of the podcast:Each week on the Reading with Rachelle podcast, Rachelle brings history to life through conversations with authors, experts, and everyday people impacted...
Make flavorful Puerto Rican dishes with this vegan cookbook
My Reading with Rachelle Podcast is coming in November! But as I frantically work on that, I still need to eat. So celebrate National Cookbook Month with me as I cook and eat my way through October with dishes from multicultural plant-based cookbooks.Last month, while reveling in vegan gluttony in Arizona, I bought Black Rican Vegan: Fire Plant-Based Recipes from a Bronx Kitchen by Lyana Blount. Blount opens the book with her story—of Puerto Rican dishes prepared by her grandfather, such as omel...
Join the history book club
Banned Books Week ends today. But just like Hispanic Heritage Month (ending 10/15/24), Indigenous Peoples’ Day (coming 10/14/24), LGBT History Month (coming Oct. 2024), Black History Month (ended Feb. 2024), and countless others, these days and months shine the spotlight on books, people, history, and subjects we need to continue learning about every day. That's why I started Uniting Through History in 2020. To invite people to learn and connect with Black history—not just in February, but all ye...
Reveling in vegan gluttony in Arizona
It's challenging being vegan in Iowa, which isn’t surprising given that Iowa is the top U.S. hog “producer” and fourth in beef cattle. When dining out with friends, I can usually find something I can eat—like a salad or a veggie burger or an entré the chef is kind enough to modify, though once it’s stripped of butter, cheese, eggs, meat, and/or fish, the result is edible, but unsatisfying. I have more choices at Asian and Ethiopian restaurants, with Thai Flavors and Gursha being my Des Moines fa...
The End of Love: Racism, Sexism, and the Death of Romance
This week, I’m discussing The End of Love: Racism, Sexism, and the Death of Romance by Sabrina Strings, Ph.D. I recently had the honor of co-hosting an episode of The Culture Buzz on KFMG 98.9 FM with John Busbee. John’s weekly program (every Wednesday, 11:00-1:00 CT) spotlights talented creatives, plus he produces an informative weekly newsletter listing practically everything that’s happening culturally in the Des Moines area. (Check out...
The Texas history behind Juneteenth
Juneteenth is on my mind. Namely because the federal holiday is coming up on June 19, 2024 and I will be participating in the following Juneteenth events:
• None June 18, 2024, 6:00 - 7:30 PM—Author Talk and Book Signing with fellow author Jim Tillman at the African American Museum of Iowa
• None June 19, 2024, 12:30 - 9:30 PM—Emceeing and sharing history, plus working a puppet in Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre’s “Remembering Buxton” show, at Ottumwa’s “Unity in the Community” Juneteenth celebratio
• None June 18, 2024, 6:00 - 7:30 PM—Author Talk and Book Signing with fellow author Jim Tillman at the African American Museum of Iowa
• None June 19, 2024, 12:30 - 9:30 PM—Emceeing and sharing history, plus working a puppet in Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre’s “Remembering Buxton” show, at Ottumwa’s “Unity in the Community” Juneteenth celebratio
“James” may be your favorite book this year
In real life, I fall in love with the wrong men. But in my literary life, I always fall for the right ones. Recently, I fell in love with Percival Everett. I mean, his brain. Or more specifically, his writing. And even more specifically, his new book, James.
In James, we get Jim’s story, not as Huck saw him in the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, but in Jim’s—James’—own voice.
In James, we get Jim’s story, not as Huck saw him in the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, but in Jim’s—James’—own voice.
Pioneering historian LuLu Merle Johnson fought Jim Crow in Iowa
"We're just trying to serve the unique needs of the youth and community and give them a better outlook on life," says Big Guard U…
Don't delete your social media accounts
It’s strange to launch a new column with a post about the joys of not posting. On March 5, 2024, when I—along with 500,000+ Facebook users and 70,000+ Instagram users—was kicked off both platforms, I had a fleeting sense of joy. Wouldn’t that be great if they were gone? I thought. Then I’d have a valid excuse for my sporadic posts. And when they both came back up, I thought, Wouldn’t it be great to pretend they hadn’t?
Martin Luther King and Malcolm X only met once. Here’s the story behind an iconic image.
On March 26, 1964, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X met for the first and only time.
The men were two of the most influential Black activists of the 20th century—and had long been pitted against each other in the media. They had both come to the U.S. Senate for the outcome of the vote on the Civil Rights Act.
For King, this was a big moment. In January, he’d been named Time magazine’s “Man of the Year.” In October, he would be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize “for his non-violent struggle fo
The men were two of the most influential Black activists of the 20th century—and had long been pitted against each other in the media. They had both come to the U.S. Senate for the outcome of the vote on the Civil Rights Act.
For King, this was a big moment. In January, he’d been named Time magazine’s “Man of the Year.” In October, he would be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize “for his non-violent struggle fo
Opinion: Iowa private school benefits from school choice; wish there were more like them
Over the past couple of months, as I watched an expansive school choice program implemented in Iowa, I kept thinking about a 2004 study co-authored by Anita Fleming-Rife, whom I’d interviewed for another column. The article was titled, “The More Public School Reform Changes, the More It Stays the Same: A Framing Analysis of the Newspaper Coverage of Brown v. Board of Education.”
The study points out that, during the 1950s, after the Brown decision enforced the integration of public schools, cha
The study points out that, during the 1950s, after the Brown decision enforced the integration of public schools, cha
Trailblazers & Trendsetters: Bri Martin launched a successful travel agency — during COVID
Rachelle Chase started Trailblazers & Trendsetters, an occasional feature in the Des Moines Register, to shine the spotlight on Iowans who are taking charge and making a difference in their own way.
At a time when most people make their own travel arrangements, a personalized travel service probably isn’t the first start-up business that pops into one’s mind.
It wasn’t the first idea for Bri Martin, either. Martin founded Alexander’s Retreat, “a travel agency specializing in honeymoon and dest
At a time when most people make their own travel arrangements, a personalized travel service probably isn’t the first start-up business that pops into one’s mind.
It wasn’t the first idea for Bri Martin, either. Martin founded Alexander’s Retreat, “a travel agency specializing in honeymoon and dest
Trailblazers & Trendsetters: Iowa author Leigh Michaels wrote more than 100 books
Rachelle Chase shines the spotlight on Iowans who are taking charge and making a difference in their own way in Trailblazers & Trendsetters, an occasional feature in the Des Moines Register.
Leigh Michaels (whose legal name is LeAnn Lemberger) is a successful author of more than 100 books. But that doesn’t stop the haters.
One time, a student from Des Moines' Drake University, her alma mater, was interviewing her for an article.
Michaels said, “The student said, 'My professor wanted me to ask
Leigh Michaels (whose legal name is LeAnn Lemberger) is a successful author of more than 100 books. But that doesn’t stop the haters.
One time, a student from Des Moines' Drake University, her alma mater, was interviewing her for an article.
Michaels said, “The student said, 'My professor wanted me to ask
King of Busoga, Uganda, visits the Iowa State Fair to view agriculture in Iowa
It’s not every day that a king visits Iowa. On Monday, His Majesty William Wilberforce Gabula Nadiope IV, King of Busoga, Uganda, spent the day at the Iowa State Fair.
His Majesty — along with his personal secretary John Kairu; security/logistics officer Karoli Mwiiru; executive director of Developing Lives, Livelihoods and Nutrition Daniel Kitimbo; and national director of Iowa State University–Uganda Program Dr. Gideon Nadiope — were there to learn about agriculture in Iowa.
Though the Kyaba
His Majesty — along with his personal secretary John Kairu; security/logistics officer Karoli Mwiiru; executive director of Developing Lives, Livelihoods and Nutrition Daniel Kitimbo; and national director of Iowa State University–Uganda Program Dr. Gideon Nadiope — were there to learn about agriculture in Iowa.
Though the Kyaba
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