It's 1978, and Senator Edward Brooke is fighting for his political life. As the first Black U.S. Senator elected by popular vote, Ed broke barriers and reached the heights of power. But scandal and betrayal threaten to bring it all crashing down. Meanwhile, a young Carol Moseley Braun faces her own trials as she begins her journey to become the first Black woman in the Senate. From backroom deals to civil rights battles, two trailblazing Black senators navigate racism, party politics, and inner turmoil in their attempt to shape American democracy.

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The Civil War’s over, countless Black people are making their way in a new and dangerous world, and their fight for equality and representation ain’t over. Two Black men – preacher Hiram Revels and the formerly enslaved Blanche Bruce – rise up during U.S. Reconstruction with different ideas about gaining and maintaining power. One, leans on his faith and his God, the other on his wiles as he escapes near death. Both men come from two completely different walks of life, but their eyes are set on winning the same prize: becoming the first Black senators in the United States’ Congress. But, the nation’s politics are strained, and even if they win their seats, taking real power ain’t gonna be easy.

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Blackness is more than skin deep. This thing is cultural, and culture moves beyond what we can see. Franchesca and Conscious dive into the nuances between race and ethnicity while celebrating the contributions of Afro Latino people to Black history. And, because we ain’t gonna let Halloween pass us by without touching on the spooky, our hosts chat about the resurgence of Voodoo in some Afro Latino communities and its connection back to the African continent.

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Woop! Woop! That’s the sound of da police! Conscious and Frankie welcome Dr. Chenjerai Kumanyika – host of Empire City: The Untold Origin Story of the NYPD. Dr. Kumanyika’s podcast is a deeply personal tale of his relationship to policing, the history of the NYPD and its long reaching impact in police departments across the nation. Are the police truly functioning as designed? Does their origin begin and end as slave catching patrols? Today’s conversation brings humor and depth to the exploration of that fraught history. 

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As a child, Gwen Ifill watches the flickering images of 1960s America dance across her television screen. Journalists and news anchors covering the turbulent era look and sound nothing like Gwen, but she’s determined to leave her mark. From her internship at the Boston Herald American, to debate stages holding powerful politicians to account and town halls creating space for Black America’s pain and rage – Gwen Ifill carves a path all her own to the top of legacy media.

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The famous Brazilian footballer Pelé should never have climbed to the pinnacle of his sport. Young Edson, the kid who would become Pelé, grows up in poverty kicking around a football made of socks. And he lives in a country uncomfortable with his Black skin. Born with a dream too large for his small village to hold and the relentless determination to become the best footballer in the world, Pelé climbs from obscurity on the pitch and becomes the national treasure of his country and the game.

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Celia Cruz, dubbed the "Queen of Salsa" is one the the biggest Latin music stars of all time. From her humble beginnings in Cuba to her rise as a global icon, Celia’s voice and energy changed the game for Latin music. Fran and Conscious explore her journey, the racial barriers she broke, and the vibrant spirit she left behind. We’ll also dig into her strong stance against Fidel Castro, why she never returned to Cuba, and how that shaped her life and songs. ¡Azúcar!

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Black people’s accomplishments aren’t usually celebrated without creating some discomfort in the white cultural zeitgeist. There’s something about Black Excellence that often leads to knee jerk criticisms. From the complicated Jack Johnson, to the modern-day struggles of Serena Williams and Colin Kaepernick, this question in sports keeps popping up: why do Black athletes often have to fight for their humanity as much as they do for victory? This deep dive with Franchesca and Conscious unpacks the weight Black sports icons carry as they navigate notoriety, racism, and activism in a world that loves their talent but resists their truth.

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“Luck has nothing to do with it, because I have spent many, many hours, countless hours, on the court working for my one moment in time, not knowing when it would come.” Serena Williams said those words knowing how many perceived a young Black girl in a predominantly white sport. Her career might appear defined by luck on the outside, but the kid who grew up slamming tennis balls on Compton’s Courts always believed she’d be the G.O.A.T. Her journey to the top is filled with failures and disappointments but surprisingly little self-doubt. When the tennis world turns on Serena and her sister Venus, the legend in the making steps onto Arthur Ashe Court at the US Open, and turns her gaze to the future of the sport and her budding legacy.

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Jack Johnson, the Galveston Giant, is known for two things: his brutal fists and fearless audacity. Before Muhammad Ali, Johnson shocked the world with his unrivaled boxing skills, shattering racial barriers and igniting racial tensions. On July 4th, 1910, in "The Fight of the Century," he defeated Jim Jeffries, the "Great White Hope," becoming the first Black World Heavyweight Boxing Champion and creating an uproar among racists. But Jack's legacy of rising from poverty and challenging racial constructs is soon overshadowed by his own personal demons.

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Witnessing someone achieve greatness in multiple areas of life is pretty rare. Paul Robeson’s a rare type of man. Almost like Beyonce, he’s a Renaissance man. There isn’t a color line he can’t cross and excellence is his middle name. By the 1930’s, Paul’s graduated college as valedictorian, played professional football, and become the first Black actor to play Othello (don’t worry this gets addressed in the episode). But even with all the achievements, Paul’s still looked at as a nobody because he’s Black; and his outspoken nature leads to national condemnation.

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