In this episode of the African American Experience we tour the historic Eden Cemetery in Collingdale, PA. Among the people interred at the cemetery are opera singer Marian Anderson, architect Julian Abele, abolitionist William Still and many others.
September 5: “William Still” with William Kashatus
In the mid-1800s, William Still was a major figure in the Underground Railroad, civil rights activism, and the abolition movement in Philadelphia. Joining us to talk about the life of William Still is Bill Kashatus. He is the author of “William Still: The Underground Railroad and the Angel at Philadelphia.”
August 29: “August Wilson” with Laurence Glasco
In this episode of the African American Experience we talk with Laurence Glasco about the life and plays of August Wilson. Wilson was a playwright born and raised in Pittsburgh. He is known for his Century Cycle of plays each of which takes place during a decade of the 20th century. Wilson’s plays were regularly […]
August 1: K. Leroy Irvis with Laurence Glasco
K. Leroy Irvis was the first African American elected as Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He served as Speaker from 1977 to 1978 and then again from 1983 to 1988. He was first elected to the House in 1958 and served for 30 years. Joining us to talk about the life of K. […]
August 8: Octavius Catto with Murray Dubin & Daniel Biddle
On election day October 10, 1871, a 32-old African American man named Octavius Catto was murdered on the streets of Philadelphia. Catto was a teacher, militia officer, baseball player and civil rights activist. In this episode of the African American Experience, we talk with Daniel Biddle and Murray Dubin about the life of Octavius Catto. […]
African American Experience: The African American Community in Hinsonville, PA with Cheryl Renée Gooch
In the 1830s a free Black community was established in Hinsonville, PA located in Chester County. Over the next several decades, members of the community established a church, participated in the Underground Railroad, helped found what would become Lincoln University, and fought in the Civil War. In this episode of the African American Experience we […]
July 25: Residential Segregation in Allentown
In the episode of the African American Experience, we talk to Wilberto Sicard about how state and local government policies contributed to residential segregation in Allentown and its impact on the city’s African American community. Sicard is a J.D. candidate at Yale Law School and the author of the paper “City with Limits: An Untold […]
African American Experience: The 1969 Franklin & Marshall College Student Uprising
In this episode of the African American Experience, we talk with Todd Mealy about the history behind the black student uprising on May 22, 1969 at Franklin & Marshall College. Mealy is the author of “This Is the Rat Speaking: Black Power and the Promise of Racial Consciousness at Franklin and Marshall College in the […]
African American Experience: The 351st Field Artillery Regiment in WWI
During WWI, a group of African American soldiers from the Pittsburgh area waged a campaign to serve in a combat unit rather than a service battalion. They would later be organized into the 351st Field Artillery Regiment at Camp Meade, Maryland. In 1918, the regiment deployed to France where it served in combat during the […]
The African American Experience: Freedom Seekers of Waverly, PA
Before the Civil War, a community of African American freedom seekers grew in the town of Waverly in northeastern Pennsylvania. During the Civil War 13 African American men from the town served in the U.S. Colored Troops. In this episode of the African American Experience we talk with Yvonne Schrieks-Johnson and Jim Remsen about this […]