Stories to Celebrate Black History Month
People often think of history as a thing of the past. We’re here to remind you that history is taking place right now! And now is your time to engage in the powerful, collective act of preserving legacy.
Our Brightness in Black initiative believes storytelling is a force of change for those who share and for those who listen. So, whether it’s a laugh-out-loud moment between you and your best friend, or a hurdle you’ve overcome, your journey matters and sharing it contributes to a more honest, and dynamic portrayal of Black life in America for generations to come.
This Black History Month, grab your person, jump on the StoryCorps App, and share a story—it just might change someone’s world.
The Family Equation
In celebration of Black History Month, we released a new animation, “The Family Equation” — a story told by Dr. William Lynn Weaver about the lesson his dad taught him that extended beyond the classroom.
Walnut Street
Beat by Beat
In the 1980s, Ed Cage fell in love with beatboxing through the St. Louis hip hop scene. When he became a dad, his talent became a way to connect with his daughter, Nicole Paris. At StoryCorps, Ed and Nicole talk about how he passed the beat on to the next generation.
miss Devine
Cousins James Ransom and Cherie Johnson recall their formidable Sunday school teacher, Miss Lizzie Devine, the only woman who scared them more than their grandmother. Set in the small Florida town of the cousins’ memories, this animation will have you laughing out loud as the cousins remember the fearsome Miss Devine.
Reflections from the First Black Marines of Montford Point
“A lot of Black men who served this country had to also suffer indignities, even while in uniform.”
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In 1942, the U.S. allowed Black men to enlist in the Marine Corps for the first time, resulting in over 19,000 recruits sent to Montford Point, North Carolina. Despite facing racism at home, these men played a vital role in WWII. At StoryCorps, Corporal Sidney Allen Francis shared his Montford Point experience with his daughter, Candice.
Rules of the Road
Raised in New York City, Maritza Bell never learned how to drive. Later, her husband Danny tried to teach her. At StoryCorps, Danny and their daughter, Sydia, fondly recall how a driving lesson gone wrong turned into a legendary family story.
A Mother And Daughter Get Real About Death
“ If this was to be your very last conversation, is there anything you want to say to me?”
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StoryCorps recording booths are places for people to look back on their lives, and sometimes to look ahead to a time when they’re no longer here. That’s what Nidera Brown chose to discuss with her 66-year-old mother, Conchetta Brown. Conchetta has Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or COPD, and uses oxygen. They came to StoryCorps to discuss their close relationship in life, and in death.
Divers Reflect on Discovering Their History
“It’s not just swimming around looking at fish. You’re swimming around looking at history.”
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As a senior in college in 1959, Albert José Jones founded the nation’s inaugural Black scuba diving club. Since then, the club has trained numerous divers, totaling in the thousands. Albert’s diving adventures have taken him worldwide, allowing him to encounter historical moments firsthand. At 93 years old, Albert shares his journey with his fellow diver and friend, Jay Haigler, in their StoryCorps conversation.
World Peace Games
“Can your children show us how they do this? Because we’ve not figured it out.”
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In 1978, Charlottesville teacher John Hunter created the World Peace Game for his students. In it, players represent fictional countries and take on roles like Prime Minister or Secretary of the UN to solve real-world issues like war, climate change, and pandemics. Nearly 50 years later, the game is renowned and has been taught globally, with children proving adept at tackling pressing problems. John recalls when his students were even invited to the Pentagon to share their strategies for achieving world peace.
\A Mother and Daughter Remember the Women Who Raised Them
“They in us, so how can they be forgotten.”
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As a radio host, Cherri Gregg, has dedicated her career to her voice. And the person who cultivated it was her grandmother, Maryhall Fuller Robinson Sneed. Cherri’s mom, Mary L Robinson Gregg, was also very close to her own grandmother, who taught her to love herself and others unconditionally. They came to StoryCorps to remember the matriarchs who raised them.
Father and Son Reflect on Black Love and Loss
“We can go so much further when we lean on one another.”
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Educator and advocate, Kyle Morris-Sol, curates spaces for Black men to talk about their mental health. In Philadelphia, he sat down with his father, Kyle Morris Sr., to reflect on Black love and the power of vulnerability.
Beats of Life
In Philadelphia, the rhythm and energy of drumlines can be heard throughout the streets during birthday parties and other events. For more than a decade, Tony Royster has led his own drumline through the neighborhoods of Philly. He came to StoryCorps to remember how drumming changed his life.
Twinkle, talent, and triumph
“Just hearing that word autism, it was scary at first.”
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Soleil Henry has always known her daughter, Tamar, was special. As a child she learned “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” on the violin in just 20 minutes, and at age 15 she’s an accomplished singer, and pianist as well. Tamar also has autism. Her mom brought her to StoryCorps in Charlotte, North Carolina, to reflect on the importance of knowing, and being yourself.
Freedom Now
“You can’t lead from the back. You got to lead from the front.”
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In 1960, as the presidential race between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon was coming to a close, more than seventy thousand African American students were chanting “Freedom now.” But it was as if their efforts were invisible, with neither candidate addressing the turmoil sweeping through the South. So Lonnie C. King, a Civil Rights leader from Atlanta, decided it was time to take action. To build momentum, he turned to a childhood friend—Martin Luther King Jr.—for support. At StoryCorps, Lonnie reflected on his legacy in a conversation with his friend, Sarah Cook, before he passed away in 2019 at the age of 82.
Driven
In 2015, Wendell Scott became the first African American person inducted in the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, he poured his heart, soul, and all of his earnings into maintaining his own race car. In this StoryCorps Animated Short, his son, Frank, remembers what it took for his father to cross the finish line at racetracks throughout the South.
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