Our Ancestors Were Messy

Thousands of our ancestors escaped slavery during the American Revolution, fought for the British on the promise of freedom, and left an outsized legacy in the US, Canada, and beyond. Starring writer, sociologist, and MacArthur Fellow Tressie McMillian Cottom taped live on Juneteenth at the Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU in Richmond, VA. 

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SELECT SOURCES

The Black Loyalists of the American Revolution

Enslaved by George Washington, This Man Escaped to Freedom-and Joined the British Army

Black Loyalists Exodus to Nova Scotia

An Account of the Life of Mr. David George from SLA given by himself

George Liele

Thomas Peters

The Black Loyalist Heritage Center

Thousands of our ancestors escaped slavery during the American Revolution, fought for the British on the promise of freedom, and left an outsized legacy in the US, Canada, and beyond. Starring the co-hosts of Code Switch B.A. Parker and Gene Demby taped live at the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center at Howard University in Washington, DC.

Support this independent production and access bonus content at https://ourancestorsweremessy.supercast.com

Sign up for the newsletter and learn more about the show at https://ourancestorsweremessy.com

Stay in touch at ouranestorsweremessy@gmail.com

Follow the show on Instagram at @ourancestorsweremessy

Follow the show on TikTok at @ourancestorsweremessy

Listen on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@OurAncestorsWereMessy 

SELECT SOURCES

The Black Loyalists of the American Revolution

Enslaved by George Washington, This Man Escaped to Freedom-and Joined the British Army

Black Loyalists Exodus to Nova Scotia

An Account of the Life of Mr. David George from SLA given by himself

George Liele

Thomas Peters

The Black Loyalist Heritage Center

A preview of an upcoming episode about the Black Loyalists. Thousands of our ancestors escaped slavery during the American Revolution, fought for the British on the promise of freedom, and left an unbelievable legacy in the US, Canada, and beyond! 

Full episodes air July 8th starring writer, sociologist, and MacArthur Fellow Tressie McMillian Cottom taped live on Juneteenth at the Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU in Richmond, VA. You'll also get to hear the same story told again to the co-hosts of Code Switch, B.A. Parker and Gene Demby taped live at the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center at Howard University in Washington, DC.

Different guests. Different audiences. Very different perspectives!

Support this independent production and access bonus content at https://ourancestorsweremessy.supercast.com

Stay in touch at ouranestorsweremessy@gmail.com

Follow the show on Instagram at @ourancestorsweremessy

Follow the show on TikTok at @ourancestorsweremessy

Learn more about the show at https://ourancestorsweremessy.com

Listen on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@OurAncestorsWereMessy

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.

Support this independent production and access bonus content at https://ourancestorsweremessy.supercast.com

Stay in touch at ouranestorsweremessy@gmail.com

Follow the show on Instagram at @ourancestorsweremessy

Follow the show on TikTok at @ourancestorsweremessy

Learn more about the show at https://ourancestorsweremessy.com

Listen on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@OurAncestorsWereMessy

Essie & Paul’s passions lead them to the front lines of the fight to defeat fascism. Starring Jason Reynolds

Support this independent production and access bonus content at https://ourancestorsweremessy.supercast.com

Stay in touch at ouranestorsweremessy@gmail.com

Follow the show on Instagram at @ourancestorsweremessy

Follow the show on TikTok at @ourancestorsweremessy

Learn more about the show at https://ourancestorsweremessy.com

Listen on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@OurAncestorsWereMessy 

SELECT SOURCES

Eslanda: The Large and Unconventional Life of Mrs. Paul Robeson by Barbara Ransby

The Undiscovered Paul Robeson: An Artist's Journey 1898-1939 by Paul Robeson, Jr.

The Undiscovered Paul Robeson: Quest for Freedom 1939-1976 by Paul Robeson, Jr.

Here I Stand by Paul Robeson

History of America in Ten Strikes by Erik Loomis

Haymarket Book Talk with Barbara Ransby: Eslanda: The Large and Unconventional Life of Mrs. Paul Robeson 

The History of Camp Wo-Chi-Ca

The Peekskill Riots Revealed the Racism and Antisemitism Hidden Beneath the Surface of the Anti-Communist Movement by Matthew Schuerman