Welcome to Black History Mysteries, a show dedicated to uncovering the often-overlooked achievements, forgotten people, and pivotal events that have shaped African American and African history. In each episode, we shine a light on remarkable accomplishments and hidden stories that have been overshadowed by time. From ingenious innovations to unsung heroes who defied the odds, we explore the rich tapestry of Black history that deserves recognition and celebration. Join us on this journey as we reveal the mysteries of Black history.
Mansa Musa, born around 1280 into the Keita dynasty, ruled the Mali Empire from 1312 to about 1337 and transformed it into one of the richest and most powerful states of the medieval world. Under his leadership, Mali’s gold and salt trade flourished, funding grand architectural projects and solidifying Timbuktu and Gao as epicenters of Islamic learning. His legendary pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324, complete with a procession of thousands and camels laden with gold, not only displayed his extraordinary wealth but also strengthened diplomatic and cultural ties across North Africa and the Middle East. A generous patron of scholars and builders, Mansa Musa is remembered for elevating West African civilization through prosperity, education, and monumental construction.
8 May 2025
Eljah McCoy - The Missing Blueprints
Elijah McCoy -Elijah McCoy (1844–1929) was a Canadian-American inventor and mechanical engineer whose innovations revolutionized industrial lubrication. Born in Ontario to formerly enslaved parents and later apprenticed in Scotland, McCoy returned to the U.S. to work on railroad machinery. Frustrated by costly engine downtime for manual oiling, he developed an automatic lubricator that allowed trains and factories to run continuously without stopping for maintenance. He secured over 50 patents for his “lubricating cup” and related devices, earning him a reputation for quality so distinguished that engineers insisted on “the real McCoy” rather than inferior imitations. His inventions boosted efficiency across railroads and manufacturing plants, leaving a legacy of smooth operation wherever moving parts meet.
8 May 2025
Joseph Philippe Lemercier Laroche - The Only Black Man On The Titanic
Joseph Philippe Lemercier Laroche (1886–1912) was a Haitian-born engineer who in 1904 became the only Black student in his class at the École Centrale Paris. After graduating, racial barriers kept him from securing an engineering post in France, so he returned to Haiti and worked briefly before marrying and starting a family. In 1912, Laroche and his pregnant wife and two young daughters booked passage on the RMS Titanic bound for a new life in America. Tragically, he perished when the ship sank on April 15, 1912—his wife and children were lost as well. Though his life was cut short, Laroche’s ambition and achievements still resonate as a testament to perseverance against prejudice.
8 May 2025
William and Ellen Craft - A Daring Escape
William and Ellen Craft were an extraordinary couple born into slavery in Macon, Georgia—he in 1824, she in 1826. Ellen’s very light skin allowed her to pose convincingly as a young white male “plantation owner,” while William played her enslaved valet. In December 1848 they embarked on a daring 1,000-mile journey by train and steamboat, passing through slave-holding states before reaching freedom in Philadelphia. Settling first in Boston, they became active abolitionists, published their bestselling memoir Running a Thousand Miles for Freedom, and toured the British Isles speaking against slavery. After the Civil War they returned to Georgia, bought their own former plantation, and helped other freed people build new lives.
7 May 2025
Barney And Betty Hill Incident - The UFO Story
Betty’s and Barney’s UFO incident of 1961
7 May 2025
Tusla Race Massacre - The Shadow Figure
The Tulsa Race Massacre which has been historically under-taught and even silenced in schools, with some arguing that this is due to a desire to avoid acknowledging the event's painful racial implications.
7 May 2025
Yasuke - African Samurai
Yasuke, who was a samurai of African origin who served Oda Nobunaga between 1581 and 1582, during the Sengoku period.
6 May 2025
Bayard Rutin - A Civil Rights Leader Forced To The Shadows
Bayard Rutin a key figure in the civil right era, an architect of peaceful protest, yet was he was forced to labor behind the scenes often over looked for his contributions because of his sexuality
6 May 2025
Yaa Asantewaa - Queen Mother Of The Ashanti
Yaa Asantewaa—Queen Mother of Ejisu—stands at the crossroads of oral legend and written record, her voice echoing through the tangled limbs of ancient oak trees and the brick walls of colonial archives. Join us as we prepare to trace her footsteps from the mud-brick palace in Ejisu to the halls of British administration in Accra
6 May 2025
William "Bill" Pickett - The Bulldogging Black Cowboy
a Black cowboy named William “Bill” Pickett traveled the country, stunning audiences by leaping from his horse and wrestling a steer to the ground with nothing but his bare hands
6 May 2025
Black Caesar - From Warrior To Slave To Pirate
Tales insist that this West African warrior, once shackled and sold into bondage, escaped captivity in the swamps of Spanish Florida. They say he mastered the art of guile and subterfuge, slipping aboard unsuspecting vessels, then turning pirate against the very navies that had enslaved him
6 May 2025
Alice Augusta Ball - The Cure For Leprosy
Join us as we rescue Alice Ball’s legacy from obscurity and piece together the fragments of her work on leprosy treatment.
Podcast Authority Score: 42 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
84
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
0
Contact Black History Mystery
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Black History Mystery?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
