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In this episode of Armchair Historians, Anne-Marie Cannon sits down with Dr. Khama Ennis, emergency physician and creator of Faces of Medicine, a documentary and podcast that shares the powerful, candid stories of Black women physicians in the United States.

The conversation begins with Dr. Ennis’s favorite history: Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler, the first Black woman to earn a medical degree in the U.S., graduating in 1864 at the end of the Civil War. From there, we explore how that legacy echoes into the present—especially when only 2.8% of U.S. physicians are Black women.

Together, Anne-Marie and Dr. Ennis discuss:

• Why representation in medicine is directly connected to health equity
• The hidden labor of navigating bias in professional spaces
• “Baked-in” systemic gaps in healthcare algorithms
• The importance of storytelling in improving outcomes
• What it means to “always reach back and pull forward”

This episode is not about blame—it’s about humanity, curiosity, and expanding the stories we carry.

Learn More & Watch

🎥 Faces of Medicine (Official Website):
https://www.facesofmedicine.org/

🎙️ Faces of Medicine Podcast:
Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms (search “Faces of Medicine”).

🎬 Host a Screening (via Kinema):
Information about hosting a community, school, or organizational screening can be found here:
https://kinema.com/films/faces-of-medicine

💛 Support the Project (Fiscal Sponsor – Fractured Atlas):
Donation information is available through the official website above.

If this episode resonated, consider watching the documentary, sharing the podcast, or bringing a screening to your community.

Support the show

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Check out Anne Marie's historical fiction and download free short story: A.M. Cannon website: www.amcannon.com

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Black History Month Rewind: Buffalo Soldiers (Fighting on Two Fronts) — with Nick Brooks

EPISODE SUMMARY
In honor of Black History Month, we’re rewinding some of Armchair Historians’ strongest episodes that spotlight Black history, Black voices, and stories that deserve more room in the public memory.

Today’s rewind revisits my conversation with Air Force veteran and Buffalo Soldiers of Seattle member Nick Brooks—an episode I think about often. Nick helps us move beyond the simplified version of the story and into the lived reality: Black soldiers who served with extraordinary skill and grit, even while fighting for a country that denied them full citizenship and dignity.

We also talk about the documentary Buffalo Soldiers: Fighting on Two Fronts, the complicated legacy of westward expansion, and why telling the full story still matters.

CONTENT NOTE
This episode includes discussion of U.S. westward expansion and the displacement/violence experienced by Native communities, alongside racism faced by Black soldiers within U.S. institutions.

IN THIS EPISODE
• Who the Buffalo Soldiers were (9th & 10th Cavalry; 24th & 25th Infantry) and why the regiments were formed after the Civil War
• The “two fronts” they fought on: military conflict and the fight for recognition/civil rights
• The complicated legacy of serving the U.S. government during westward expansion
• Buffalo Soldiers as early protectors of what would become U.S. National Parks
• How living history work helps preserve legacy—and why it matters for community and veterans

GUEST
Nick Brooks — Air Force veteran and member of Buffalo Soldiers of Seattle (living historians preserving and teaching Buffalo Soldiers history).

LINKS & RESOURCES (as mentioned / helpful follow-up)

Buffalo Soldiers of Seattle:
• https://www.buffalosoldiersofseattle.org/

Documentary: Buffalo Soldiers: Fighting on Two Fronts (Dru Holley)
• Official film site: https://buffalosoldiersmovie.com/
• See the film / screenings page: https://buffalosoldiersmovie.com/seethefilm
• Host a screening (includes contact email + toolkit info): https://buffalosoldiersmovie.com/hostascreening
• Stream via PBS (Local, USA): https://www.pbs.org/video/buffalo-soldiers-fighting-on-two-fronts-e3yici/

Film & community partners mentioned:
• Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF): https://www.siff.net/
• Path with Art:

Support the show

Follow us on Social Media:
Instagram: @armchairhistorians
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/armchairhistorians

Support Armchair Historians:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/armchairhistorians
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/belgiumrabbitproductions

Check out Anne Marie's historical fiction and download free short story: A.M. Cannon website: www.amcannon.com

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In this episode
Anne-Marie Cannon is joined by author Barbara Stark-Nemon, whose novels span centuries and borders. They dive into Barbara’s newest historical novel, Isabela’s Way, set in Inquisition-era Portugal, Spain, France, and Germany, and explore how history lives on through family memory, travel, and storytelling.

Topics we cover

• Isabela’s Way and the history behind it
• The Inquisition and why it’s still misunderstood
• Embroidery as coded communication and safe passage
• Refugee histories and inherited resilience
• “Unexpected allies” and resisting black-and-white narratives
• Emotional truth vs. historical accuracy
• How genealogy and DNA uncover hidden pasts
• Writing as an encore career and the path to publication

About Barbara Stark-Nemon
Barbara Stark-Nemon is the author of Isabela’s Way, Even in Darkness, and Hard Cider. A self-taught historian and traveler, her work explores resilience, identity, and survival across turbulent historical moments.

Connect with Barbara

• Website: https://www.barbarastarknemon.com
  
  
• Substack: https://barbarastarknemon.substack.com
  
  
• Barbara is also available for book clubs (via Zoom or in person when local).

More from Armchair Historians

• Show notes include links to everything discussed, ways to support the show, and a free short story downloadintroducing Bedlam, from Anne-Marie Cannon’s forthcoming historical fiction series.
• Website: https://www.amcannon.com
  
  

Support the show
Follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode. Ratings, reviews, and shares help more listeners discover Armchair Historians.

Support the show

Follow us on Social Media:
Instagram: @armchairhistorians
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/armchairhistorians

Support Armchair Historians:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/armchairhistorians
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/belgiumrabbitproductions

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Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.