Episode 08: Ruby Bridges & Barbara Jordan
Freedom's Promise
Teen Zach Thomas and his mom, professor and author Duchess Harris, focus this time on some black girl magic. They tell the stories of Ruby Bridges, who in 1960 at age 6 integrated New Orleans schools, and Barbara Jordan who, at the same time was breaking down barriers facing black women in the US Congress. Making this all relevant to 2019, they discuss Ilhan Omar, US Congresswoman from Minnesota, who became one of the first to wear her hijab on the House floor. More info: For more information about the Freedom's Promise books and the Duchess Harris Collection, visit For more information...
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Episode 07: The Scottsboro Boys
Freedom's Promise
Teen Zach Thomas and his mom, professor and author Duchess Harris, explore the story of the arrest in 1931 of nine falsely accused black teen boys in Scottsboro Alabama and the impact of the trials – spanning decades – that followed. More info: For more information about the Freedom's Promise books and the Duchess Harris Collection, visit For more information about Duchess Harris, visit To request a text-document transcription of this episode, email "Strange Fruit," Billie Holiday, (c) 2009 UMG Recordings, Inc. Freedom's Promise, podcast and radio series credits Duchess Harris:...
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Episode 06: Oney Judge
Freedom's Promise
In this episode of Freedom's Promise, Duchess and Zach continue their exploration of slavery in the United States. This time they talk about U.S. Presidents who owned slaves focusing specifically on the story of Oney Judge who was owned by our first president George Washington and his wife Martha and who used her ingenuity to escape.
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Episode 05: The Grand Contraband Camp
Freedom's Promise
Zach takes over as host to interview his mom, Duchess Harris, about her book The Grand Contraband Camp. They discuss the various ways slaves gained their own freedom prior to the Emancipation Proclamation and relate the rarely told story of the Grand Contraband Camp where previously enslaved blacks lived freely in the South during the Civil War.
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Episode 04: Hidden Heroes -- The Human Computers of NASA
Freedom's Promise
Duchess Harris and her son Zach present the story of the black women "hidden human computers" of NASA. Duchess' own grandmother -- Zach's great grandmother -- Miriam Daniel Mann was one of these amazing women who made significant contributions to NASA from the 1940s to the 1960s. They connect their personal family story to the history of the "space race" and discuss the obstacles blacks -- especially women -- faced in achieving a math and science education.
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Episode 03: Blacks in Paris and the Little Rock Nine
Freedom's Promise
Duchess and Zach focus on Josephine Baker and Daisy Bates -- the only two women to speak at the March on Washington (episode 02) -- to tell the larger stories of Blacks in Paris and the Little Rock Nine desegregation of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas.
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Episode 02: March on Washington
Freedom's Promise
Duchess Harris and her son, Zach Thomas, present the 1963 March on Washington. Listen as they discuss the story behind the organization of the march, play excerpts from speakers and performers, and talk about the march's lasting legacy.
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Episode 01: The Making of Motown
Freedom's Promise
Duchess Harris and her 12 year-old son, Zach Thomas, discuss the history and legacy of Motown Records, the subject of Duchess’s book, The Making of Motown, written for 3rd to 6th grade readers and published by Abdo Publishing. Duchess and Zach talk about Berry Gordy and the making of Motown and compare classic Motown tracks with current pop hits. More info: For more information about the Freedom's Promise books and the Duchess Harris Collection, visit For more information about Duchess Harris, visit Freedom's Promise, podcast and radio series credits Duchess Harris:...
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Freedom's Promise Preview
Freedom's Promise
Duchess Harris and her son, Zach Thomas, introduce their new podcast covering African-America topics -- some well-known, some unique -- as featured in Freedom's Promise, Duchess' line of books written for third to sixth grade readers and published by Abdo Books.
info_outline- For more information about the Freedom's Promise books and the Duchess Harris Collection, visit http://www.abdobooks.com/duchess-harris-collection
- For more information about Duchess Harris, visit http://www.duchessharris.com/
- To request a text-document transcription of this episode, email barry@fireonthebluff.com
- Duchess Harris: Writer and host
- Zach Thomas: Co-host
- Barry Madore, Fire on the Bluff Productions: Producer, recording engineer, editor
- Opening and closing music: “Black cat Funky” by reusenoise — http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/reusenoise/56513 — (c) copyright 2017 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license
- Freedom's Promise Show page: http://freedomspromise.libsyn.com