https://simplecast.com Our Ancestors Were Messy A recap of the gossip, scandals, and pop culture that made headlines and then history in pre-Civil Rights Era America. Host Nichole Hill takes her guests through the story of an ancestor in search of opportunity, adventure, love, and a way to beat Jim Crow. Along the way, these ancestors make messes that land them in the gossip columns of Black newspapers. Support this independent production by joining the donor community at: ourancestorsweremessy.supercast.com Follow us on Instagram @ourancestorsweremessy @nicholewthanh 2023-3023 Our Ancestors Were Messy en Wed, 8 Apr 2026 20:00:00 +0000 Wed, 8 Apr 2026 23:29:37 +0000 https://ourancestorsweremessy.com Our Ancestors Were Messy https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/6bfcb893-8f37-4bc2-8a78-8dcb8b86364c/434ec640-1aa9-4ead-8bfc-edf54a177741/3000x3000/oawm-final-tribeca-laurels-1.jpg?aid=rss_feed https://ourancestorsweremessy.com episodic A recap of the gossip, scandals, and pop culture that made headlines and then history in pre-Civil Rights Era America. Host Nichole Hill takes her guests through the story of an ancestor in search of opportunity, adventure, love, and a way to beat Jim Crow. Along the way, these ancestors make messes that land them in the gossip columns of Black newspapers. Support this independent production by joining the donor community at: ourancestorsweremessy.supercast.com Follow us on Instagram @ourancestorsweremessy @nicholewthanh Nichole Hill false https://feeds.simplecast.com/RRxyeBEQ Coco Hill Productions nichole@cocohillproductions.com 31751165-376b-41aa-ae03-07e0ddd522d1 Household Exclusive: Researching Our Ancestors Host Nichole Hill responds to listeners' comments and shares an interview with the show's Research Producer, Chioke I'Anson, about the research behind the histories shared on the show. Their conversation was originally taped for the donor community known as The Household.

]]> Wed, 8 Apr 2026 20:00:00 +0000 nichole@cocohillproductions.com (Coco Hill Productions) https://ourancestorsweremessy.com Host Nichole Hill responds to listeners' comments and shares an interview with the show's Research Producer, Chioke I'Anson, about the research behind the histories shared on the show. Their conversation was originally taped for the donor community known as The Household.

]]> Household Exclusive: Researching Our Ancestors Coco Hill Productions 00:21:46 Host Nichole Hill responds to listeners' comments and shares an interview with the show's Research Producer Chioke I'Anson about the research behind the histories shared on the show. Their conversation was originally taped for the donor community known as The Household. Host Nichole Hill responds to listeners' comments and shares an interview with the show's Research Producer Chioke I'Anson about the research behind the histories shared on the show. Their conversation was originally taped for the donor community known as The Household. black history, season 2, north carolina, chioke ianson, nichole hill, emperor jones, history podcast, black history podcast, the secret adventures of black people, our ancestors were messy, aldis hodge false bonus 1 9c3de06f-b652-444a-82ea-d0dd7b7ac3b8 Paul and Eslanda Robeson: For the Rights of People. For the Rights of Workers. (Part 2) Essie & Paul’s passions lead them to the front lines of the fight to defeat fascism. Starring Jason Reynolds

SELECT SOURCES

  1. Eslanda: The Large and Unconventional Life of Mrs. Paul Robeson by Barbara Ransby
  2. The Undiscovered Paul Robeson: An Artist's Journey 1898-1939 by Paul Robeson, Jr.
  3. The Undiscovered Paul Robeson: Quest for Freedom 1939-1976 by Paul Robeson, Jr.
  4. Here I Stand by Paul Robeson
  5. History of America in Ten Strikes by Erik Loomis
  6. Haymarket Book Talk with Barbara Ransby: Eslanda: The Large and Unconventional Life of Mrs. Paul Robeson 
  7. The History of Camp Wo-Chi-Ca
  8. The Peekskill Riots Revealed the Racism and Antisemitism Hidden Beneath the Surface of the Anti-Communist Movement by Matthew Schuerman
]]> Wed, 28 Jan 2026 11:00:00 +0000 nichole@cocohillproductions.com (Nichole Hill, jason reynolds) https://ourancestorsweremessy.com Essie & Paul’s passions lead them to the front lines of the fight to defeat fascism. Starring Jason Reynolds

SELECT SOURCES

  1. Eslanda: The Large and Unconventional Life of Mrs. Paul Robeson by Barbara Ransby
  2. The Undiscovered Paul Robeson: An Artist's Journey 1898-1939 by Paul Robeson, Jr.
  3. The Undiscovered Paul Robeson: Quest for Freedom 1939-1976 by Paul Robeson, Jr.
  4. Here I Stand by Paul Robeson
  5. History of America in Ten Strikes by Erik Loomis
  6. Haymarket Book Talk with Barbara Ransby: Eslanda: The Large and Unconventional Life of Mrs. Paul Robeson 
  7. The History of Camp Wo-Chi-Ca
  8. The Peekskill Riots Revealed the Racism and Antisemitism Hidden Beneath the Surface of the Anti-Communist Movement by Matthew Schuerman
]]> Paul and Eslanda Robeson: For the Rights of People. For the Rights of Workers. (Part 2) Nichole Hill, jason reynolds 00:52:08 Essie & Paul’s passions lead them to the front lines of the fight to defeat fascism. Starring Jason Reynolds Essie & Paul’s passions lead them to the front lines of the fight to defeat fascism. Starring Jason Reynolds black history, web dubois, jason reynolds, storytelling podcast, ussr, paul robeson jr, black socialists, paul robeson, nichole hill, history podcast, essie robeson, black history podcast, eslanda robeson, labor movement, black history month, the secret adventures of black people, black communists, our ancestors were messy, black women in history false full 9 1 06bf3d05-177c-4028-9be0-57bfdedb062a Eslanda and Paul Robeson: Revolutionaries in the Making (Part 1) Eslanda Cardozo Goode and Paul Robeson meet and fall in love during the Roaring 20s in Harlem. They give up promising careers and devote themselves to climbing the ladder of fame and fortune. Can their relationship survive the success that follows?  Starring Jason Reynolds

SELECT SOURCES

  1. Eslanda: The Large and Unconventional Life of Mrs. Paul Robeson by Barbara Ransby
  2. The Undiscovered Paul Robeson: An Artist's Journey 1898-1939 by Paul Robeson, Jr.
  3. The Undiscovered Paul Robeson: Quest for Freedom 1939-1976 by Paul Robeson, Jr.
  4. Here I Stand by Paul Robeson
  5. History of America in Ten Strikes by Erik Loomis
  6. How American Slavery Echoed Russian Serfdom by Matthew Wills
  7. Haymarket Book Talk with Barbara Ransby
  8. The Scramble for Africa 
  9. Arturo Alfonso Schomburg
  10. The Atlanta Daily World 
]]> Wed, 28 Jan 2026 11:00:00 +0000 nichole@cocohillproductions.com (Coco Hill Productions) https://ourancestorsweremessy.com Eslanda Cardozo Goode and Paul Robeson meet and fall in love during the Roaring 20s in Harlem. They give up promising careers and devote themselves to climbing the ladder of fame and fortune. Can their relationship survive the success that follows?  Starring Jason Reynolds

SELECT SOURCES

  1. Eslanda: The Large and Unconventional Life of Mrs. Paul Robeson by Barbara Ransby
  2. The Undiscovered Paul Robeson: An Artist's Journey 1898-1939 by Paul Robeson, Jr.
  3. The Undiscovered Paul Robeson: Quest for Freedom 1939-1976 by Paul Robeson, Jr.
  4. Here I Stand by Paul Robeson
  5. History of America in Ten Strikes by Erik Loomis
  6. How American Slavery Echoed Russian Serfdom by Matthew Wills
  7. Haymarket Book Talk with Barbara Ransby
  8. The Scramble for Africa 
  9. Arturo Alfonso Schomburg
  10. The Atlanta Daily World 
]]> Eslanda and Paul Robeson: Revolutionaries in the Making (Part 1) Coco Hill Productions 00:53:01 Eslanda Cardozo Goode and Paul Robeson meet and fall in love during the Roaring 20s in Harlem. They give up promising careers and devote themselves to climbing the ladder of fame and fortune. Can their relationship survive the success that follows? Starring Jason Reynolds Eslanda Cardozo Goode and Paul Robeson meet and fall in love during the Roaring 20s in Harlem. They give up promising careers and devote themselves to climbing the ladder of fame and fortune. Can their relationship survive the success that follows? Starring Jason Reynolds black history, web dubois, zora neale hurston, negritude movement, marcus garvey, jason reynolds, black anthropologists, arturo alfonso schomburg, storytelling podcast, new negroes, paul robeson jr, black podcasters, black socialists, russian revolution, scramble for africa, paul robeson, civil rights movement, nichole hill, history podcast, essie robeson, schomburg center for research in black culture, black history podcast, eslanda robeson, nora holt, labor movement, harlem renaissance, la brega, kyle murdock, black communists, our ancestors were messy, langston hughes, black women in history false full 10 1 d83f4af2-7d15-4385-9c9b-c64631c3fe2c Coming Soon: Essie and Paul Robeson (Jan. 28th) Host Nichole Hill shares the story behind Black History Month ahead of the 100th anniversary of it’s celebration and gives listeners a sneak peek of a new episode coming out on January 28th.

To learn more about the show and keep in touch, check out https://ourancestorsweremessy.com

To access bonus content and support this independent production visit  https://ourancestorsweremessy.supercast.com

To stay in touch email ouranestorsweremessy@gmail.com or follow the show @ourancestorsweremessy on Instagram

]]> Wed, 21 Jan 2026 11:15:00 +0000 nichole@cocohillproductions.com (Coco Hill Productions) https://ourancestorsweremessy.com Host Nichole Hill shares the story behind Black History Month ahead of the 100th anniversary of it’s celebration and gives listeners a sneak peek of a new episode coming out on January 28th.

To learn more about the show and keep in touch, check out https://ourancestorsweremessy.com

To access bonus content and support this independent production visit  https://ourancestorsweremessy.supercast.com

To stay in touch email ouranestorsweremessy@gmail.com or follow the show @ourancestorsweremessy on Instagram

]]> Coming Soon: Essie and Paul Robeson (Jan. 28th) Coco Hill Productions 00:03:47 Host Nichole Hill shares the story behind Black History Month ahead of the 100th anniversary of it’s celebration and gives listeners a sneak peek of a new episode coming out on January 28th. Host Nichole Hill shares the story behind Black History Month ahead of the 100th anniversary of it’s celebration and gives listeners a sneak peek of a new episode coming out on January 28th. black history, web dubois, zora neale hurston, negritude movement, marcus garvey, jason reynolds, black anthropologists, arturo alfonso schomburg, storytelling podcast, new negroes, paul robeson jr, black podcasters, black socialists, russian revolution, scramble for africa, paul robeson, civil rights movement, nichole hill, history podcast, essie robeson, schomburg center for research in black culture, black history podcast, eslanda robeson, nora holt, labor movement, harlem renaissance, la brega, kyle murdock, black communists, our ancestors were messy, langston hughes, black women in history false bonus 1 c1279adb-78a9-4401-87e5-7ebd5395dc30 Feature: The Lonesome Hearts Column with NPR’s Code Switch (plus an announcement!) Was dating any easier in the past? Nichole Hill joins Gene Demby and B.A. Parker, hosts of NPR's Code Switch, to put this question to the test by traveling back in time to 1937, using archival personal ads from the Washington Afro-American newspaper. Together, the trio gets a small taste of what it was like for Black folks to date almost a century ago. Turns out, the ancestors were messy, too!

]]> Wed, 3 Sep 2025 10:00:00 +0000 nichole@cocohillproductions.com (Coco Hill Productions) https://ourancestorsweremessy.com Was dating any easier in the past? Nichole Hill joins Gene Demby and B.A. Parker, hosts of NPR's Code Switch, to put this question to the test by traveling back in time to 1937, using archival personal ads from the Washington Afro-American newspaper. Together, the trio gets a small taste of what it was like for Black folks to date almost a century ago. Turns out, the ancestors were messy, too!

]]> Feature: The Lonesome Hearts Column with NPR’s Code Switch (plus an announcement!) Coco Hill Productions 00:34:34 Was dating any easier in the past? Nichole Hill joins Gene Demby and B.A. Parker, hosts of NPR's Code Switch, to put this question to the test by traveling back in time to 1937, using archival personal ads from the Washington Afro-American newspaper. Together, the trio gets a small taste of what it was like for Black folks to date almost a century ago. Turns out, the ancestors were messy, too! Was dating any easier in the past? Nichole Hill joins Gene Demby and B.A. Parker, hosts of NPR's Code Switch, to put this question to the test by traveling back in time to 1937, using archival personal ads from the Washington Afro-American newspaper. Together, the trio gets a small taste of what it was like for Black folks to date almost a century ago. Turns out, the ancestors were messy, too! black storytelling, npr, black dating, code switch, black love, nichole hill, washington afro american, ba parker, dating, our ancestors were messy, gene demby false bonus 1 fabe6ade-6a56-42be-9b68-68d774c8fd76 Nora Holt: The Lives and Loves of Harlem's Legendary Blonde Bombshell A musical prodigy from Kansas becomes a renowned race woman in Chicago, a tabloid sensation in Harlem, and a musical force the world over. These are the many lives and loves of one of the most famous women of the era: Nora Holt. Starring Natalie Tulloch and Christabel Nsiah-Buadi

SOURCES

  1. Nora Holt: The Most Famous Woman You've Never Heard Of by Imani Perry
  2. Nora Holt by Matthew Guerrieri
  3. Nora Holt: New Negro Composer and Jazz Age Goddess by Cheryl A. Wall
  4. "Strange What Cosmopolites Music Makes of Us": Classical Music, the Black press, and Nora Douglas Holt's Black Feminist Audiotopia by Lucy Caplan


 

]]> Wed, 14 May 2025 10:20:00 +0000 nichole@cocohillproductions.com (CHRISTABEL NSIAH-BUADI, NATALIE TULLOCH, Nichole Hill) https://ourancestorsweremessy.com A musical prodigy from Kansas becomes a renowned race woman in Chicago, a tabloid sensation in Harlem, and a musical force the world over. These are the many lives and loves of one of the most famous women of the era: Nora Holt. Starring Natalie Tulloch and Christabel Nsiah-Buadi

SOURCES

  1. Nora Holt: The Most Famous Woman You've Never Heard Of by Imani Perry
  2. Nora Holt by Matthew Guerrieri
  3. Nora Holt: New Negro Composer and Jazz Age Goddess by Cheryl A. Wall
  4. "Strange What Cosmopolites Music Makes of Us": Classical Music, the Black press, and Nora Douglas Holt's Black Feminist Audiotopia by Lucy Caplan


 

]]> Nora Holt: The Lives and Loves of Harlem's Legendary Blonde Bombshell CHRISTABEL NSIAH-BUADI, NATALIE TULLOCH, Nichole Hill 01:19:07 A musical prodigy from Kansas becomes a renowned race woman in Chicago, a tabloid sensation in Harlem, and a musical force the world over. These are the many lives and loves of one of the most famous women of the era: Nora Holt. A musical prodigy from Kansas becomes a renowned race woman in Chicago, a tabloid sensation in Harlem, and a musical force the world over. These are the many lives and loves of one of the most famous women of the era: Nora Holt. black podcasts, jazz age, natalie tulloch, jazz era, black podcasters, christabel nsiah-buadi, nichole hill, nora holt false full 8 1 2115733c-d598-4dd4-86e0-438b7e41f863 Minisode: What's Next for Our Ancestors Were Messy Host Nichole Hill shares updates about the future of the show.

To learn more about the show and keep in touch, check out https://ourancestorsweremessy.com

To access bonus content and support this independent production visit  https://ourancestorsweremessy.supercast.com

To stay in touch email ouranestorsweremessy@gmail.com or follow the show @ourancestorsweremessy on Instagram

 

]]> Wed, 14 May 2025 10:15:00 +0000 nichole@cocohillproductions.com (Coco Hill Productions) https://ourancestorsweremessy.com Host Nichole Hill shares updates about the future of the show.

To learn more about the show and keep in touch, check out https://ourancestorsweremessy.com

To access bonus content and support this independent production visit  https://ourancestorsweremessy.supercast.com

To stay in touch email ouranestorsweremessy@gmail.com or follow the show @ourancestorsweremessy on Instagram

 

]]> Minisode: What's Next for Our Ancestors Were Messy Coco Hill Productions 00:02:39 Host Nichole Hill shares updates about the future of the show. Host Nichole Hill shares updates about the future of the show. false bonus 1 d51fe122-6645-4f0c-81eb-e6be7be0900e The Emperor Jones: Our Ancestors' Favorite Play In 1920, Emperor Jones was a bona fide Broadway hit. The controversial play’s lead is Charles Gilpin, the first Black man to head up an integrated cast on the Great White Way. Gilpin enjoys fame, accolades, and universal acclaim…but he does have a note for his playwright Eugene O’Neil. A note that will make and break careers and change the course of Black history! Starring Dr. Chioke I'anson and Amaya.

SOURCES

  1. The Emperor Jones by Eugene O'Neil
  2. Preserving African-American Cinema: The Case of The Emperor Jones by Jennie Saxena with contributions from Ken Weissman and James Cozart
  3. "The Truth About Haiti: An NAACP Investigation" by James Weldon Johnson
  4. Charles Gilpin. The Kennedy Center
  5. Jackson Ward and its Black Wall Street. National Park Service
  6. Beyond Tulsa: The Historic Legacies and Overlooked Stories of America's Black Wall Streets. Time Magazine
  7. The Richmond Planet is digitized and stored at The Library of Congress.
]]> Wed, 7 May 2025 13:25:58 +0000 nichole@cocohillproductions.com (Nichole Hill) https://ourancestorsweremessy.com In 1920, Emperor Jones was a bona fide Broadway hit. The controversial play’s lead is Charles Gilpin, the first Black man to head up an integrated cast on the Great White Way. Gilpin enjoys fame, accolades, and universal acclaim…but he does have a note for his playwright Eugene O’Neil. A note that will make and break careers and change the course of Black history! Starring Dr. Chioke I'anson and Amaya.

SOURCES

  1. The Emperor Jones by Eugene O'Neil
  2. Preserving African-American Cinema: The Case of The Emperor Jones by Jennie Saxena with contributions from Ken Weissman and James Cozart
  3. "The Truth About Haiti: An NAACP Investigation" by James Weldon Johnson
  4. Charles Gilpin. The Kennedy Center
  5. Jackson Ward and its Black Wall Street. National Park Service
  6. Beyond Tulsa: The Historic Legacies and Overlooked Stories of America's Black Wall Streets. Time Magazine
  7. The Richmond Planet is digitized and stored at The Library of Congress.
]]> The Emperor Jones: Our Ancestors' Favorite Play Nichole Hill 00:56:35 In 1920, Emperor Jones was a bona fide Broadway hit. The controversial play’s lead is Charles Gilpin, the first Black man to head up an integrated cast on the Great White Way. Gilpin enjoys fame, accolades, and universal acclaim…but he does have a note for his playwright Eugene O’Neil. A note that will make and break careers and change the course of Black history! In 1920, Emperor Jones was a bona fide Broadway hit. The controversial play’s lead is Charles Gilpin, the first Black man to head up an integrated cast on the Great White Way. Gilpin enjoys fame, accolades, and universal acclaim…but he does have a note for his playwright Eugene O’Neil. A note that will make and break careers and change the course of Black history! black broadway, black wall street, richmond, james weldon johnson, broadway, the richmond planet, virginia, charles gilpin, the hippodrome theater, paul robeson, chioke ianson, eugene o'neil, emperor jones, theater false full 7 1 d95fac20-4b79-435e-b1e5-3e26d95d70ea Drs. Anna and Percy Julian: The Affair That Helped Birth The Pill In the summer of 1932, Anna and Percy learn that their scandalous love affair has been exposed on the front page of the most popular Black newspaper in DC. They were on their way to making history but now that the secret’s out, their futures hang in the balance. Starring Nygel Turner.

SOURCES

  1. Julian the Trailblazer by Peter Tyson
  2. Forgotten Genius. Nova. PBS
  3. "Reclaiming a Black Research Scientist's Forgotten Legacy" by Felicia R. Lee
  4. "DuSable Exhibit Highlights Juilan 'Power Couple'" by Robert Felton
  5. You can read the Washington Afro American newspaper which is still in print and holds the distinction of being one of the oldest continuously published Black newspapers in America
  6. You can support the archiving and sharing of this newspaper at Afro Charities
]]> Wed, 23 Apr 2025 10:15:00 +0000 nichole@cocohillproductions.com (john delore, nygel turner, nyge turner, nichole hill) https://ourancestorsweremessy.com In the summer of 1932, Anna and Percy learn that their scandalous love affair has been exposed on the front page of the most popular Black newspaper in DC. They were on their way to making history but now that the secret’s out, their futures hang in the balance. Starring Nygel Turner.

SOURCES

  1. Julian the Trailblazer by Peter Tyson
  2. Forgotten Genius. Nova. PBS
  3. "Reclaiming a Black Research Scientist's Forgotten Legacy" by Felicia R. Lee
  4. "DuSable Exhibit Highlights Juilan 'Power Couple'" by Robert Felton
  5. You can read the Washington Afro American newspaper which is still in print and holds the distinction of being one of the oldest continuously published Black newspapers in America
  6. You can support the archiving and sharing of this newspaper at Afro Charities
]]> Drs. Anna and Percy Julian: The Affair That Helped Birth The Pill john delore, nygel turner, nyge turner, nichole hill 00:52:05 In the summer of 1932, Anna and Percy learn that their scandalous love affair has been exposed on the front page of the most popular Black newspaper in DC. They were on their way to making history but now that their secret’s out, their futures hang in the balance. In the summer of 1932, Anna and Percy learn that their scandalous love affair has been exposed on the front page of the most popular Black newspaper in DC. They were on their way to making history but now that their secret’s out, their futures hang in the balance. howard university, percy julian, anna johnson false full 6 1 e616d6d7-bab2-4ba3-a800-8b0e07f014c6 Coming Soon: Drs. Anna and Percy Julian (Apr. 23) Host Nichole Hill shares how listeners can support the show and a sneak peek at next week's episode.

To learn more about the show and keep in touch, check out https://ourancestorsweremessy.com

To access bonus content and support this independent production visit  https://ourancestorsweremessy.supercast.com

To stay in touch email ouranestorsweremessy@gmail.com or follow the show @ourancestorsweremessy on Instagram

]]> Wed, 16 Apr 2025 10:00:00 +0000 nichole@cocohillproductions.com (nichole hill, john delore, nyge turner, nygel turner, percy julian, anna julian, st elmo brady, tribeca film festival, tribeca audio storytelling festival, tribeca, pilot, black history, black history podcast, storytelling podcast) https://ourancestorsweremessy.com Host Nichole Hill shares how listeners can support the show and a sneak peek at next week's episode.

To learn more about the show and keep in touch, check out https://ourancestorsweremessy.com

To access bonus content and support this independent production visit  https://ourancestorsweremessy.supercast.com

To stay in touch email ouranestorsweremessy@gmail.com or follow the show @ourancestorsweremessy on Instagram

]]> Coming Soon: Drs. Anna and Percy Julian (Apr. 23) nichole hill, john delore, nyge turner, nygel turner, percy julian, anna julian, st elmo brady, tribeca film festival, tribeca audio storytelling festival, tribeca, pilot, black history, black history podcast, storytelling podcast 00:03:38 Host Nichole Hill shares the film festival where she launched the podcast along with a sneak peek of next week's episode. To support this independent production and access bonus content, visit www.OurAncestorsWereMessy.Supercast.com. Host Nichole Hill shares the film festival where she launched the podcast along with a sneak peek of next week's episode. To support this independent production and access bonus content, visit www.OurAncestorsWereMessy.Supercast.com. false bonus 1 b253541c-fc3d-408c-9731-77d76642b505 Zora Neale Hurston vs. Langston Hughes: The Pleasures & Perils of Working With Friends Correction: An earlier version of this story cited events as having happened in 1970 that occured throughout that decade.

Zora Neale Huston and Langston Hughes finally set to work writing their play but outside influences and crossed wires spell trouble for this historic pair. Starring Alicia Walters.

SOURCES

  1. Zora and Langston: A Story of Friendship and Betrayal by Yuval Taylor
  2. Dust Tracks on a Road by Zora Neale Hurston
  3. In Search of Zora Neale Hurston by Alice Walker
  4. The Complex Literary Friendship Between Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston by Yuval Taylor
  5. Check out The Interstate Tattler digitized and stored by the New York Public Libraries
  6. Read the archives at Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
]]> Wed, 9 Apr 2025 10:15:00 +0000 nichole@cocohillproductions.com (kyle murdock, Nichole Hill, alicia walters) https://ourancestorsweremessy.com Correction: An earlier version of this story cited events as having happened in 1970 that occured throughout that decade.

Zora Neale Huston and Langston Hughes finally set to work writing their play but outside influences and crossed wires spell trouble for this historic pair. Starring Alicia Walters.

SOURCES

  1. Zora and Langston: A Story of Friendship and Betrayal by Yuval Taylor
  2. Dust Tracks on a Road by Zora Neale Hurston
  3. In Search of Zora Neale Hurston by Alice Walker
  4. The Complex Literary Friendship Between Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston by Yuval Taylor
  5. Check out The Interstate Tattler digitized and stored by the New York Public Libraries
  6. Read the archives at Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
]]> Zora Neale Hurston vs. Langston Hughes: The Pleasures & Perils of Working With Friends kyle murdock, Nichole Hill, alicia walters 01:08:23 Zora Neale Huston and Langston Hughes finally set to work writing their play but outside influences and crossed wires spell trouble for this historic pair. Zora Neale Huston and Langston Hughes finally set to work writing their play but outside influences and crossed wires spell trouble for this historic pair. charlotte mason, alice walker, zora neale hurston, charlotte osgood mason, mule bone, the color purple, harlem renaissance, our ancestors were messy, langston hughes false full 5 1 786ab880-560a-458a-8c66-76a84e872636 Coming Soon: Zora vs. Langston (Apr. 9) Host Nichole Hill shares how listeners can support the show and a sneak peek at next week's episode.

To learn more about the show and keep in touch, check out https://ourancestorsweremessy.com

To access bonus content and support this independent production visit  https://ourancestorsweremessy.supercast.com

To stay in touch email ouranestorsweremessy@gmail.com or follow the show @ourancestorsweremessy on Instagram

]]> Wed, 2 Apr 2025 10:15:00 +0000 nichole@cocohillproductions.com (Coco Hill Productions) https://ourancestorsweremessy.com Host Nichole Hill shares how listeners can support the show and a sneak peek at next week's episode.

To learn more about the show and keep in touch, check out https://ourancestorsweremessy.com

To access bonus content and support this independent production visit  https://ourancestorsweremessy.supercast.com

To stay in touch email ouranestorsweremessy@gmail.com or follow the show @ourancestorsweremessy on Instagram

]]> Coming Soon: Zora vs. Langston (Apr. 9) Coco Hill Productions 00:05:12 Host Nichole Hill shares how listeners can support the show and a sneak peek of next week's episode. To support this independent production and access bonus content, visit www.OurAncestorsWereMessy.Supercast.com. Host Nichole Hill shares how listeners can support the show and a sneak peek of next week's episode. To support this independent production and access bonus content, visit www.OurAncestorsWereMessy.Supercast.com. charlotte mason, zora neale hurston, charlotte osgood mason, alan locke, nichole hill, harlem renaissance, our ancestors were messy, langston hughes false bonus 1 046d7e90-9efa-4c02-b90d-93f7e72d62c8 Zora Neale Hurston + Langston Hughes: Best Friends Forever It's the summer of 1927 and Zora Neale Huston and Langston Hughes are driving across the South searching for folklore, swapping stories, and enjoying being the newfound stars of the Harlem Renaissance. Starring Alicia Walters.

SOURCES

  1. Zora and Langston: A Story of Friendship and Betrayal by Yuval Taylor
  2. Dust Tracks on a Road by Zora Neale Hurston
  3. In Search of Zora Neale Hurston by Alice Walker
  4. The Dinner Party That Started the Harlem Renaissance by Veronica Chambers and Michelle May-Curry
  5. The Complex Literary Friendship Between Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston by Yuval Taylor
  6. Mules and Men by Zora Neale Hurston
  7. Jackson's classic collection of Black "toasts" is resurrected by Patricia Donovan
  8. Get Your Ass in the Water and Swim Like Me: Narrative Poetry from Black Oral Tradition by Bruce Jackson
  9. Check out The Chicago Defender digitized and stored at The Library of Congress
  10. Read the archives at The Chicago Defender Archives
]]> Wed, 26 Mar 2025 10:00:00 +0000 nichole@cocohillproductions.com (alicia walters, Nichole Hill) https://ourancestorsweremessy.com It's the summer of 1927 and Zora Neale Huston and Langston Hughes are driving across the South searching for folklore, swapping stories, and enjoying being the newfound stars of the Harlem Renaissance. Starring Alicia Walters.

SOURCES

  1. Zora and Langston: A Story of Friendship and Betrayal by Yuval Taylor
  2. Dust Tracks on a Road by Zora Neale Hurston
  3. In Search of Zora Neale Hurston by Alice Walker
  4. The Dinner Party That Started the Harlem Renaissance by Veronica Chambers and Michelle May-Curry
  5. The Complex Literary Friendship Between Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston by Yuval Taylor
  6. Mules and Men by Zora Neale Hurston
  7. Jackson's classic collection of Black "toasts" is resurrected by Patricia Donovan
  8. Get Your Ass in the Water and Swim Like Me: Narrative Poetry from Black Oral Tradition by Bruce Jackson
  9. Check out The Chicago Defender digitized and stored at The Library of Congress
  10. Read the archives at The Chicago Defender Archives
]]> Zora Neale Hurston + Langston Hughes: Best Friends Forever alicia walters, Nichole Hill 00:55:03 It's the summer of 1927 and Zora Neale Huston and Langston Hughes are driving across the South searching for folklore, swapping stories of their own, and enjoying being the newfound stars of the Harlem Renaissance. It's the summer of 1927 and Zora Neale Huston and Langston Hughes are driving across the South searching for folklore, swapping stories of their own, and enjoying being the newfound stars of the Harlem Renaissance. get your ass in the water and swim like me, zora neale hurston, black podcasts, black folklore, aseloka smith, shonte hill, chioke ianson, nichole hill, harlem renaissance, the secret adventures of black people, kyle murdock, our ancestors were messy, langston hughes, folklore false full 4 1 01bbe678-1696-4ae6-bb5f-8c1aaf39face Coming Soon: Zora + Langston (Mar. 26) Host Nichole Hill shares a research tip, updates for the Household aka the donor community, where to find bonus material, and a sneak peek at next week's episode.

To learn more about the show and keep in touch, check out https://ourancestorsweremessy.com

To access bonus content and support this independent production visit  https://ourancestorsweremessy.supercast.com

To stay in touch email ouranestorsweremessy@gmail.com or follow the show @ourancestorsweremessy on Instagram

THE A-TEAM
The show is hosted by Nichole Hill (https://www.nicholelhill.com/)
Executive Producer A.A. Hernandez
Story Producer Martina Abrahams Ilunga (@m_tina)
Research Producer Chioke I'Anson (https://www.chiokeianson.com/)
Story Editing by Shonte Hill 
Show art by Aseloka Smith (@naturallyherown)  

BONUS STORY

Episodes release bi-weekly. 

]]> Wed, 19 Mar 2025 10:10:00 +0000 nichole@cocohillproductions.com (Coco Hill Productions) https://ourancestorsweremessy.com Host Nichole Hill shares a research tip, updates for the Household aka the donor community, where to find bonus material, and a sneak peek at next week's episode.

To learn more about the show and keep in touch, check out https://ourancestorsweremessy.com

To access bonus content and support this independent production visit  https://ourancestorsweremessy.supercast.com

To stay in touch email ouranestorsweremessy@gmail.com or follow the show @ourancestorsweremessy on Instagram

THE A-TEAM
The show is hosted by Nichole Hill (https://www.nicholelhill.com/)
Executive Producer A.A. Hernandez
Story Producer Martina Abrahams Ilunga (@m_tina)
Research Producer Chioke I'Anson (https://www.chiokeianson.com/)
Story Editing by Shonte Hill 
Show art by Aseloka Smith (@naturallyherown)  

BONUS STORY

Episodes release bi-weekly. 

]]> Coming Soon: Zora + Langston (Mar. 26) Coco Hill Productions 00:05:40 Host Nichole Hill shares a research tip, updates for the Household aka the donor community, where to find bonus material, and a sneak peek at next week's episode. Host Nichole Hill shares a research tip, updates for the Household aka the donor community, where to find bonus material, and a sneak peek at next week's episode. black history, zora neale hurston, black podcasters, nichole hill, podcasts, minisode, the secret adventures of black people, black women, our ancestors were messy, langston hughes false bonus 1 df886e2a-2a22-4d58-8e49-6725cba3ff87 A Love Story For The Ages! Nichole, Zakiya and Emmanuel read three drama-filled love stories from historic Black newspapers and select the one that they believe could stand the test of time. Starring Zakiya Gibbons and Emmanuel Dzotsi.

SOURCES

  1. Support the reporting done by the legendary Oklahoma Eagle still in print today!
  2. Check out The Colorado Statesman, archived at the Library of Congress.
]]> Wed, 12 Mar 2025 10:08:07 +0000 nichole@cocohillproductions.com (Nichole Hill) https://ourancestorsweremessy.com Nichole, Zakiya and Emmanuel read three drama-filled love stories from historic Black newspapers and select the one that they believe could stand the test of time. Starring Zakiya Gibbons and Emmanuel Dzotsi.

SOURCES

  1. Support the reporting done by the legendary Oklahoma Eagle still in print today!
  2. Check out The Colorado Statesman, archived at the Library of Congress.
]]> A Love Story For The Ages! Nichole Hill 00:50:02 Nichole, Zakiya and Emmanuel read three drama-filled love stories from historic Black newspapers and select the one that they believe could stand the test of time. Nichole, Zakiya and Emmanuel read three drama-filled love stories from historic Black newspapers and select the one that they believe could stand the test of time. the oklahoma eagle, nichole hill, the tulsa star, emmanuel dzotsi, the colorado statesman, zakiya gibbons, the secret adventures of black people, a love story for the ages, our ancestors were messy false full 3 1 f33d913f-7516-4291-ad40-1ffbfbc1a7b3 Coming Soon: A Love Story for the Ages (Mar. 12) Host Nichole Hill shares listener mail, an update for the Household aka the donor community, and a sneak peek at next week's episode.

To learn more about the show and keep in touch, check out https://ourancestorsweremessy.com

To access bonus content and support this independent production visit  https://ourancestorsweremessy.supercast.com

To stay in touch email ouranestorsweremessy@gmail.com or follow the show @ourancestorsweremessy on Instagram

THE A-TEAM
The show is hosted by Nichole Hill (https://www.nicholelhill.com/)
Executive Producer A.A. Hernandez
Story Producer Martina Abrahams Ilunga (@m_tina)
Research Producer Chioke I'Anson (https://www.chiokeianson.com/)
Story Editing by Shonte Hill 
Show art by Aseloka Smith (@naturallyherown)  

 

 

Episodes release bi-weekly. 

]]> Wed, 5 Mar 2025 11:10:00 +0000 nichole@cocohillproductions.com (Coco Hill Productions) https://ourancestorsweremessy.com Host Nichole Hill shares listener mail, an update for the Household aka the donor community, and a sneak peek at next week's episode.

To learn more about the show and keep in touch, check out https://ourancestorsweremessy.com

To access bonus content and support this independent production visit  https://ourancestorsweremessy.supercast.com

To stay in touch email ouranestorsweremessy@gmail.com or follow the show @ourancestorsweremessy on Instagram

THE A-TEAM
The show is hosted by Nichole Hill (https://www.nicholelhill.com/)
Executive Producer A.A. Hernandez
Story Producer Martina Abrahams Ilunga (@m_tina)
Research Producer Chioke I'Anson (https://www.chiokeianson.com/)
Story Editing by Shonte Hill 
Show art by Aseloka Smith (@naturallyherown)  

 

 

Episodes release bi-weekly. 

]]> Coming Soon: A Love Story for the Ages (Mar. 12) Coco Hill Productions 00:04:49 Host Nichole Hill shares listener mail, an update for the Household aka the donor community, and a sneak peek at next week's episode. Host Nichole Hill shares listener mail, an update for the Household aka the donor community, and a sneak peek at next week's episode. false bonus 1 09bc307b-8711-402f-bd4d-06962f1c29d8 Oscar Micheaux: The Family Feud That Launched Black Hollywood At the turn of the century, Oscar Micheaux - a dreamer from Smallville - makes his way to the big city searching for fame, fortune...and a change to his single status! What he finds is a wife he loves, a father-in-law he hates, and a path into Black history he could have never imagined. Starring Dr. Ray Christian.

SOURCES

  1. The Conquest: The Story of a Negro Pioneer by Oscar Micheaux
  2. Oscar Micheaux Homestead National Historical Park, Pullman National Historic Park, National Park Service
  3. Sully County Black Homesteader Community, Homestead National Historical Park, National Park Service
  4. Oscar Micheaux, NAACP
  5. Oscar Micheaux: The Superhero of Black Filmmaking
  6. "The life and times of Oscar Micheaux" by Mary Beth Roderick for the Southern Illinoisan
  7. Check out The Chicago Defender digitized and stored at The Library of Congress
  8. Read the archives at The Chicago Defender Archives.
]]> Wed, 26 Feb 2025 11:15:00 +0000 nichole@cocohillproductions.com (Coco Hill Productions) https://ourancestorsweremessy.com At the turn of the century, Oscar Micheaux - a dreamer from Smallville - makes his way to the big city searching for fame, fortune...and a change to his single status! What he finds is a wife he loves, a father-in-law he hates, and a path into Black history he could have never imagined. Starring Dr. Ray Christian.

SOURCES

  1. The Conquest: The Story of a Negro Pioneer by Oscar Micheaux
  2. Oscar Micheaux Homestead National Historical Park, Pullman National Historic Park, National Park Service
  3. Sully County Black Homesteader Community, Homestead National Historical Park, National Park Service
  4. Oscar Micheaux, NAACP
  5. Oscar Micheaux: The Superhero of Black Filmmaking
  6. "The life and times of Oscar Micheaux" by Mary Beth Roderick for the Southern Illinoisan
  7. Check out The Chicago Defender digitized and stored at The Library of Congress
  8. Read the archives at The Chicago Defender Archives.
]]> Oscar Micheaux: The Family Feud That Launched Black Hollywood Coco Hill Productions 01:11:38 At the turn of the century, Oscar Micheaux - a dreamer from Smallville - makes his way to the big city searching for fame, fortune...and a change to his single status! What he finds is a wife he loves, a father-in-law he hates, and a path into Black history he could have never imagined. At the turn of the century, Oscar Micheaux - a dreamer from Smallville - makes his way to the big city searching for fame, fortune...and a change to his single status! What he finds is a wife he loves, a father-in-law he hates, and a path into Black history he could have never imagined. oscar micheaux, south dakota, the homesteader, nichole hill, orlean mccracken, gregory south dakota, the conquest: story of a negro pioneer, the secret adventures of black people, oscar micheaux film festival, ray christian, our ancestors were messy false full 2 1 5260ec2a-943e-4ca2-8cfa-141632b7b15b Coming Soon: Oscar Micheaux (Feb. 26) Host Nichole Hill shares a programming note, a thank you, and a sneak peek at next week's episode.

To learn more about the show and keep in touch, check out https://ourancestorsweremessy.com

To access bonus content and support this independent production visit  https://ourancestorsweremessy.supercast.com

To stay in touch email ouranestorsweremessy@gmail.com or follow the show @ourancestorsweremessy on Instagram

THE A-TEAM
The show is hosted by Nichole Hill (https://www.nicholelhill.com/)
Executive Producer A.A. Hernandez
Story Producer Martina Abrahams Ilunga (@m_tina)
Research Producer Chioke I'Anson (https://www.chiokeianson.com/)
Story Editing by Shonte Hill 
Show art by Aseloka Smith (@naturallyherown)  
 

 

Episodes release bi-weekly. 

 

]]> Wed, 19 Feb 2025 11:15:00 +0000 nichole@cocohillproductions.com (Nichole Hill) https://ourancestorsweremessy.com Host Nichole Hill shares a programming note, a thank you, and a sneak peek at next week's episode.

To learn more about the show and keep in touch, check out https://ourancestorsweremessy.com

To access bonus content and support this independent production visit  https://ourancestorsweremessy.supercast.com

To stay in touch email ouranestorsweremessy@gmail.com or follow the show @ourancestorsweremessy on Instagram

THE A-TEAM
The show is hosted by Nichole Hill (https://www.nicholelhill.com/)
Executive Producer A.A. Hernandez
Story Producer Martina Abrahams Ilunga (@m_tina)
Research Producer Chioke I'Anson (https://www.chiokeianson.com/)
Story Editing by Shonte Hill 
Show art by Aseloka Smith (@naturallyherown)  
 

 

Episodes release bi-weekly. 

 

]]> Coming Soon: Oscar Micheaux (Feb. 26) Nichole Hill 00:02:38 Host Nichole Hill shares a programming note, a thank you, and a sneak peek at next week's episode. Host Nichole Hill shares a programming note, a thank you, and a sneak peek at next week's episode. the secret adventures of black people, ray christian, our ancestors were messy false bonus 1 55463cd0-ba58-4793-a49c-e77da312f13e The Washington Bee: "Stings for Our Enemies. Honey for Our Friends." A Victorian Era love triangle rocks the elites of DC and the Washington Bee newspaper is on the scene, thrilled to cover every scandalous detail! Starring Jonquilyn Hill.

SOURCES

  1. "Honey for Our Friends, Stings for Enemies": William Calvin Chase and "The Washington Bee." 1882-1921
  2. The Political Work of Leisure: Class, Recreation, and African American Commemoration at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, 1881-1931
  3. Our Kind of People by Lawrence Otis Graham
  4. Check out The Washington Bee  digitized and stored at The Library of Congress.
  5. As promised, the recipe for the Dick Francis Special. Enjoy! https://imbibemagazine.com/dick-francis-special
]]> Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:04:08 +0000 nichole@cocohillproductions.com (Coco Hill Productions) https://ourancestorsweremessy.com A Victorian Era love triangle rocks the elites of DC and the Washington Bee newspaper is on the scene, thrilled to cover every scandalous detail! Starring Jonquilyn Hill.

SOURCES

  1. "Honey for Our Friends, Stings for Enemies": William Calvin Chase and "The Washington Bee." 1882-1921
  2. The Political Work of Leisure: Class, Recreation, and African American Commemoration at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, 1881-1931
  3. Our Kind of People by Lawrence Otis Graham
  4. Check out The Washington Bee  digitized and stored at The Library of Congress.
  5. As promised, the recipe for the Dick Francis Special. Enjoy! https://imbibemagazine.com/dick-francis-special
]]> The Washington Bee: "Stings for Our Enemies. Honey for Our Friends." Coco Hill Productions 01:01:00 A Victorian Era love triangle rocks the elites of DC. The Washington Bee newspaper is on the scene and thrilled to cover every scandalous detail! A Victorian Era love triangle rocks the elites of DC. The Washington Bee newspaper is on the scene and thrilled to cover every scandalous detail! false full 1 1 f559c4f5-d43c-47ae-bafb-8f69de528c28 Introducing Our Ancestors Were Messy Our Ancestors Were Messy is a show about our ancestors and all their drama! Host Nichole Hill and her guests sift through the gossip, scandals, and pop culture that made headlines in historical Black newspapers.

The Creative Team 

  • Adriana Ambriz, Executive Producer
  • Chioke I'Anson, Research Producer
  • Martina Abrahams Ilunga, Story Editor
  • Shonte Hill, Script Editor
  • Helena de Groot, Sound Designer
  • John DeLore, Sound Designer
  • Pat Mesiti-Miller, Sound Designer
  • Kyle Murdock, Sound Designer
  • Aseloka Smith, Show Art
]]> Sat, 25 Jan 2025 13:49:32 +0000 nichole@cocohillproductions.com (Coco Hill Productions) https://ourancestorsweremessy.com Our Ancestors Were Messy is a show about our ancestors and all their drama! Host Nichole Hill and her guests sift through the gossip, scandals, and pop culture that made headlines in historical Black newspapers.

The Creative Team 

  • Adriana Ambriz, Executive Producer
  • Chioke I'Anson, Research Producer
  • Martina Abrahams Ilunga, Story Editor
  • Shonte Hill, Script Editor
  • Helena de Groot, Sound Designer
  • John DeLore, Sound Designer
  • Pat Mesiti-Miller, Sound Designer
  • Kyle Murdock, Sound Designer
  • Aseloka Smith, Show Art
]]> Introducing Our Ancestors Were Messy Coco Hill Productions 00:02:52 Our Ancestors Were Messy is a show about our ancestors and all their drama! Host Nichole Hill and her guests sift through the gossip, scandals, and pop culture that made headlines in historical Black newspapers. Our Ancestors Were Messy is a show about our ancestors and all their drama! Host Nichole Hill and her guests sift through the gossip, scandals, and pop culture that made headlines in historical Black newspapers. false trailer 1