In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. William S. Morris to discuss his new book, In Defense of the Nation: Black Iowans at War, which chronicles the contributions and trailblazing feats of Black soldiers from the Civil War to the first Persian Gulf War.

Listen in as we discuss the contributions of Black soldiers—along with those of trailblazing African American women in the military—during and after their service, highlighting how their military roles helped pave the way for civil rights advancements and professional success in numerous fields. Dr. Morris’ passion for American history shines through and you’ll want to listen with pen and paper on hand to jot down all the names of the notable people in history that he shares.

For more information:

* Reading with Rachelle host, Rachelle Chase -

https://rachellechasewrites.com

* Subscribe to Reading with Rachelle for podcast news and articles - https://rachellechase.substack.com

* Dr. William S. Morris -

https://williamsmorris.org

* The book In Defense of the Nation: Black Iowans at War - https://bookshop.org/a/108387/9781982174323 (Affiliate link)

* Music by 5XBeatz at Pixabay - https://pixabay.com/users/5xbeatz-39481357/

 In this episode, I'm joined by author Dr. Judith Giesberg to discuss her new book, Last Seen: The Enduring Search by Formerly Enslaved People to Find Their Lost Families, which follows 10 individuals as they search for family and friends from whom they were separated during America's domestic slave trade.

Listen in as we discuss the resilience and determination of formerly enslaved African Americans in their search for their families despite the many obstacles they faced; the challenges formerly enslaved veterans faced in proving their service and injuries to qualify for pensions; the impact of family separation on children—here's a horrific fact: 30% of nearly 4 million enslaved African Americans were younger than 10 when the Civil War began—and more.

For more information:

* Reading with Rachelle host, Rachelle Chase - https://rachellechasewrites.com

* Subscribe to Reading with Rachelle for podcast news and articles - https://rachellechase.substack.com

* Dr. Judith Giesberg - https://informationwanted.org

* The book "Last Seen: The Enduring Search by Formerly Enslaved People to Find Their Lost Families" - https://bookshop.org/a/108387/9781982174323 (Affiliate link)

* Music by 5XBeatz at Pixabay - https://pixabay.com/users/5xbeatz-39481357/

In this episode, I joined John Busbee on his show, The Culture Buzz. Listen in, as we discuss the book The Stories They Hear: Expecting Greatness as the Key to Success with the author, Dr. William A. Keyes.

We also discuss Dr. Keyes’ incredible 22-year-old organization, The Institute for Responsible Citizenship, which has helped some of the best and brightest African American male college students in the country go on to become Rhodes Scholars, Fulbright Scholars, PhDs, MDs, and JDs. They’ve also paved the way for others and “most importantly, have continued to be the thoughtful, caring men they were in college.”

For more information:

* Reading with Rachelle host, Rachelle Chase - https://www.rachellechasewrites.com/

* Subscribe to Reading with Rachelle for podcast news and articles - https://rachellechase.substack.com/

* John Busbee, host of The Culture Buzz - https://theculturebuzz.com/

* The Stories They Hear: Expecting Greatness as the Key to Success - https://bookshop.org/a/108387/9781646871834 (Affiliate link)

* Dr. William A. Keyes and the Institute for Responsible Citizenship - https://theinstitute.net/

* Music by 5XBeatz at Pixabay - https://pixabay.com/users/5xbeatz-39481357/

In this episode, I'm joined by Denise Greer Jamerson to discuss the book, We Are Each Other's Harvest: Celebrating African American Farmers, Land, and Legacy by Natalie Baszile.

Lyles Station is the last remaining Black settlement in Indiana. Denise’s family has been farming in the Lyles Station community since 1855, and her father, Norman Greer, has been recognized by the Smithsonian Institution as one of the last remaining African American farmers still farming land that's been in their family since before the Civil War.

We discuss the fascinating history of Lyles Station, the challenges faced and the legacy created by Black farmers, along with Denise’s organization, Legacy Taste of the Garden, and their work to empower farmers in Indiana.

While we touch upon We Are Each Other's Harvest, this episode isn't a direct discussion of the book. Instead, it supplements the book by providing a glimpse into the experiences of a Black farming family in the Midwest. A book review will be provided soon.

For more information:

* We Are Each Other's Harvest: Celebrating African American Farmers, Land, and Legacy - https://www.harpercollins.com/products/we-are-each-others-harvest-natalie-baszile?variant=33007650766882

* Denise Greer Jamerson and Legacy Taste of the Garden: https://www.legacytasteofthegarden.com/

* Upcoming book review of We Are Each Other's Harvest: https://rachellechase.substack.com

* Todd Western III, a sixth generation farmer in Iowa who's part of Western Family Farms and helped create the Iowa Farmers of Color Conference: https://www.westernfamilyfarms.com/