Black History Month: Listening to History to Illuminate the Present with Dr. Ramona Houston

Have you ever felt unheard in a conversation? 

Or wondered why society seems more divided than ever? Historian and podcast host Ramona Houston joins us to reveal how radical listening can bridge cultural divides, resolve conflicts, and reshape history.

Ramona Houston is a U.S. historian specializing in African American and Mexican American history.

 As we celebrate Black History Month, Ramona shares her insights on the power of listening and its impact on understanding history and resolving conflicts.

In this episode, she highlights the significance of radical listening—truly hearing what others say and what remains unspoken. Ramona discusses how listening can transform relationships, whether personal or professional, and how it plays a crucial role in addressing societal challenges.

Through her experiences, Ramona emphasizes the importance of recognizing often-overlooked contributions to history, particularly from women and marginalized communities. By listening to diverse voices, we can reshape our understanding of history and foster a more inclusive narrative.

Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a leader seeking to improve communication, or someone passionate about social change, this conversation will inspire you to embrace the art of listening and its potential to create positive change.

"In the U.S., we have Black History Month, Women’s History Month, AAPI Heritage Month, and Hispanic Heritage Month—times dedicated to recognizing how different groups have contributed to American history. 

This is important because if you read American history books, you’ll see how many groups have been marginalized. 

As historians, we work toward a future where these histories are included in all books and in all ways—not just separated out. History changes when we start adding different groups of people.”- Ramona Houston

 

SUPERPOWER Notes:

00:01 – The Importance of Inclusive History. Ramona Houston explains how recognizing diverse contributions in American history helps reshape historical narratives.

02:30 – How Listening Shapes Leadership and Communication. Host Raquel Ark introduces the episode, emphasizing how deep listening transforms conversations and leadership effectiveness.

05:00 – Radical Listening: Hearing What’s Unspoken. Ramona shares how her husband, jazz musician Terreon Gully  taught her the value of listening beyond words.

12:00 – The Impact of Social Media on Polarization. Analyzing how digital platforms reinforce ideological silos and disrupt constructive dialogue.

15:30 – Historical Silence: What’s Left Out of the Story?. Why historical omissions contribute to social inequality and how embracing all perspectives can shift narratives.

21:00 – Representation in History: Who Gets Remembered? Ramona discusses the need for historical inclusion beyond white, male-centric narratives.

24:30 – Hidden Figures: The Legacy of Ralph Bunche & Kofi Annan Exploring the underrepresented global impact of Black leaders in diplomacy and human rights.

28:00 – The Ripple Effect of Untold Stories How uncovering marginalized histories can reshape our present and future.

31:00 – Books as Intellectual Property: Expanding Knowledge Horizons Ramona emphasizes the power of reading to challenge biases and broaden perspectives.

34:30 – The "Cuba" Book Example: Understanding Global Influence Raquel shares how reading historical accounts of Cuba changed her understanding of American and Puerto Rican history.

38:00 – How to Create a Culture of Listening Practical strategies for fostering an environment where different perspectives can be voiced safely.

44:00 – Radical Listening as a Leadership Tool.Why leaders must develop deep listening skills to drive meaningful, sustainable change.

 

 

 

 

Key Takeaways

“Listening is a powerful tool for resolving conflict and understanding one another.” – Ramona Houston

“Radical listening is about hearing both what people say—and what they don’t say.” - Ramona Houston

“Conflict arises when we’re too focused on speaking instead of truly listening.”- Ramona Houston

“Social media has connected us, but it has also divided us—because we only listen to those who think like us.”- Ramona Houston

“You can’t resolve conflict if you’re not willing to listen first.”- Ramona Houston

“If you're truly listening, you're changing.”- Ramona Houston

 

Resources and People Mentioned

• Carter G. Woodson - Founder of Black History Month.

• Ralph Bunch - Influential in creating the United Nations and a significant figure in human rights.

• Kofi Annan - First person of African descent to lead the United Nations and initiated the Global Compact.

• Dr. Juan Andrade - Founder of the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute.

Recommended Listening Superpower Podcast Episodes

• Empowering Voices for Social Impact and Connecting Communities with Ramona Houston 

• Starting from Zero: The Impact of Listening to What is Not Being Said with Grammy Winning Musician Terreon Gully

• Definition of Listening Based on Science with Dr. Avi Kluger

 

Connect with Ramona Houston

 

• Website: https://ramonahouston.com/

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramonahouston/

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dr.RamonaHouston#