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NEW POST EVERY FRIDAY @ 10 AM EST 🔔

Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: The Buffalo Soldiers

My husband is a bicycle enthusiast. It’s one of his favorite ways to exercise and he’s super knowledgeable about the parts, brands, YouTube content creators, professional cyclists, and racing events. He’s so tapped in that he even has his very own bike trainer so he can simulate riding outside when weather conditions and time commitments aren’t ideal. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on the Black Buffalo soldiers who shared my husband’s passion and biked across America in the late 1800s.

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Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: Memphis Sanitation Strike

The Civil Rights Movement was a volatile time in American history when the Black American community put foot to pavement to fight for their rights and better treatment. Many lives were lost, including notorious ones like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X, and even regular, everyday people who got caught in the crossfire. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on the Memphis Sanitation Strike, a response to an unfortunate situation that could’ve been completely avoided.

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Historical Spotlights, Entertainment Jessica Marie Smith Historical Spotlights, Entertainment Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: El DeBarge

Some voices are so iconic that you can immediately identify them no matter how much time has passed since you last heard them. Legends like Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross, Prince, and others have impacted Black American culture with their distinct voices and timeless songs. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on El DeBarge. another voice that has withstood the test of time.

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Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: 8th of August

Freedom for Black American slaves didn’t happen all at once. Despite the Emancipation Proclamation being delivered in January 1893, slavery continued in the Deep South untouched for multiple months and even years later. Slaveowners didn’t willingly give up control and feared that the infrastructure, which heavily relied on manual labor, would collapse. While we’re aware of national celebrations like Juneteenth that have grown in notoriety over the years, join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on one of the smaller celebrations of freedom local to Tennessee and Kentucky that is still revered today.

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Historical Spotlights, Sports Jessica Marie Smith Historical Spotlights, Sports Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: Integration in the NFL

For the crazy fanatics out there like me, August is the light at the end of the tunnel before the official start of the next football season. No matter if you’re a lifetime fan of one team or a casual who enjoys the festivities involved with the game, there’s something for everyone! Since I don’t pull for just one team, I don’t have to worry about my mood being wrecked once teams start losing random games they statistically should win. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on the first NFL team to integrate and break the NFL’s color barrier.

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Historical Spotlights, Entertainment Jessica Marie Smith Historical Spotlights, Entertainment Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: Angie Stone

The 30 years between 1970 and 2000 saw a range of musicians, artists, and genres develop and rise. From the sparkly outfits of the 70’s disco era to the crooning love ballads of the 90’s, each era had its own icons that are still revered today. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Angie Stone, the soulful R&B singer who effortlessly influenced the music industry across four decades.

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Historical Spotlights, Sports Jessica Marie Smith Historical Spotlights, Sports Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: George Foreman

Everyone wants to leave a legacy worth remembering. There are many different ways to measure a successful life like nurturing a big, beautiful family, being a prominent member in society, or even accumulating wealth. While everyone has their own definition of a successful life, certain accomplishments are celebrated by the masses for the cultural impact left on the world. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on George Foreman and the legacy he left on not only the boxing world, but on society as a whole.

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Historical Spotlights, Entertainment Jessica Marie Smith Historical Spotlights, Entertainment Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: DMX

Music is a living entity that can embody generations, commemorate legends, and shine a light on political issues of the time. Rappers, artists, and musicians not only make music for entertainment purposes, but also for activism and to push the needle forward on important societal issues. Most artists use their talent, love, and passion to search for fame and glory, but it’s not guaranteed that all will actually achieve unwavering support from fans. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on DMX, the legendary entertainer who created his own distinct sound that continues to be cherished today.

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Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: Land of the Free

The 4th of July commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence which established the United States as a separate country from Great Britain. As we celebrate America’s 249th birthday, it’s important to remember not only the good things of how the nation came together against adversity, but to also acknowledge the negative side that left an entire demographic enslaved, segregated, and unjustly targeted. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on the brave Black Americans who helped build this country into the Land of the Free that it is known as today.

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Historical Spotlights, Sports Jessica Marie Smith Historical Spotlights, Sports Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone

Running is one of the best forms of cardio to get in shape, and helps ensure your heart stays strong enough to pump healthy oxygen throughout your body. It has a low-cost barrier of entry, lots of different varieties, and even gives you a rush of endorphins once you’re done. Getting good at running, no matter if it’s long distance or short, requires much time, effort, training, and discipline. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on one of the greatest runners, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.

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Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: Stokely Carmichael

Sometimes change is as quiet as a mouse, but sometimes change is as loud as a firework. During the Civil Rights Movement, there were many different organizations, tactics, and leaders who all ultimately pushed for better conditions for Black Americans. Each activist had their own methods of demanding justice which combined to create effective policy change and legacies. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on one of the most influential civil rights leaders of the time, Stokely Carmichael.

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Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: The Albany Movement

The fight for equal rights, treatment, and justice has always been marked by loud revolutionaries like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and Rosa Parks who fearlessly put their lives on the line. However, bold demonstrations like the Montgomery Bus Boycott in Alabama, weren’t the only times Black Americans were fighting for change. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on an organization called The Albany Movement which was formed to eradicate segregation in Southwest Georgia.

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Entertainment Jessica Marie Smith Entertainment Jessica Marie Smith

The Last Of Us Season 2 Recap

The Last of Us Season 2 dropped on HBO Max on April 13th and picked right up with Ellie’s storyline after the first season. The season received super low approvals from Rotten Tomatoes and even dropped as low as 39% after the sixth episode. The fourth episode was the lowest-rated on IMDb with over 20% giving it a 1/10. From what I’ve personally seen, opinions have been split between viewers enjoying the TV adaptation and viewers hating it even more than the controversial game.  

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Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: Ruby Bridges

For most Black Americans, it’s historically been a struggle to access equitable and quality education. From being denied the ability to read and write during the days of slavery to the more modern white flight phenomenon of hoarding better resources, it’s always been an uphill battle to enrich the minds of a demographic that’s been unjustly discriminated against. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Ruby Bridges, the brave young girl who helped desegregate schools in Louisiana.

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Entertainment Jessica Marie Smith Entertainment Jessica Marie Smith

Andor | Season 2 Review

Andor Season 2 dropped on Disney+ on April 22nd and concluded the adventures of Cassian Andor before he stepped into his role as a rebel leader in Rogue One. The series received a 96% from Rotten Tomatoes and an 8.6 out of 10 from IMDb. From what I’ve personally seen, the consensus has leaned more positive than negative, which is a plus in today’s age of Star Wars. From shootouts to stolen ships to life-threatening secrets, the season was packed full of action! 

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Fur Babies Jessica Marie Smith Fur Babies Jessica Marie Smith

Gentle Giants

It’s insane that my fur babies are almost five years old. I remember the day we got them and I uttered the infamous words, “I’ve never had a brown dog before”, while holding Nala. I remember when Sasha would rest her head in the middle of my chest before bedtime, and I would rub the back of her neck to soothe her before making her go in her cage. I don’t realize how fast time flies until I look through my Fur Babies photo album and pay attention to the dates.

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Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: Sammy Younge, Jr.

Resistance movements are often filled with young people striving to create a better society. Throughout history, young, Black Americans have picked up the fight for equality and better treatment. From those hidden voices during slavery to the loud bold ones of modern day, there has always been a spirit to push back against injustices. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Sammy Younge Jr., the very first Black American college student to be murdered due to his support of the Civil Rights Movement.

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Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: John C. Robinson

Flying is a luxury often taken for granted today. Before the convenience of hopping on a jumbo jet and flying over large bodies of water or terrain, the world was vastly unconnected or required long voyages on boats. Black Americans have created vital inventions, innovations, and engineering advancements throughout history that unfortunately haven’t been properly compensated, commemorated, or credited. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on John Charles Robinson, a self-taught pilot who made a worldwide impact.

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Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: North Sentinel Island

Throughout history, indigenous people have had to fight against colonization, indoctrination, and violence to preserve their natural way of life. This struggle has often come from entire bloodlines and tribes being completely eradicated. Similar to how the Native American Indians were forced onto specific reservations in the United States, people around the world have been wiped out by forces trying to take over and impose their will. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on the people of North Sentinel Island, one of the most distinct indigenous people that have never taken an L.

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