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Forever Black History

Forever Black History

By: Anthony Smith
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Forever Black History is a documentary-style podcast hosted by Anthony Smith that explores the powerful stories, people, and communities that shaped Black history and, ultimately, American history.

From pioneering Black towns like Nicodemus, Kansas, to groundbreaking inventors, influential leaders, and historic movements, this podcast uncovers stories that deserve to be remembered and passed on to future generations.

Each episode takes listeners on a journey through history, highlighting the resilience, innovation, and determination of Black Americans who helped build the cultural, economic, and social foundations of this nation.

Forever Black History exists to educate, inspire, and preserve the legacy of those whose contributions changed the world—because Black history is not just part of the American story.

It is the American story.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/forever-black-history--6902122/support.Copyright Anthony Smith World
Episodes
  • Episode 13- Juneteenth: Freedom Delayed, Freedom Celebrated

    Episode 13- Juneteenth: Freedom Delayed, Freedom Celebrated
    Jun 20 2026
    In this special Juneteenth and Black Music Month edition of Forever Black History, host Anthony Smith explores the history of Juneteenth, from the delayed arrival of freedom in Galveston, Texas, to its significance as a symbol of resilience, hope, and liberation for Black Americans. Learn why Juneteenth remains one of the most important celebrations in Black culture and how its legacy continues to inspire generations.

    Plus, we honor Black Music Month by highlighting legendary pioneers whose contributions transformed gospel, blues, jazz, soul, rock and roll, R&B, and hip-hop. From Mahalia Jackson and Louis Armstrong to Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Michael Jackson, and more, discover how Black music became the soundtrack of Black history and helped shape American culture.

    Join us as we reflect on freedom, celebrate excellence, and prepare for our upcoming series on surviving and thriving Black towns across America.

    #ForeverBlackHistory #Juneteenth #BlackMusicMonth #BlackHistory #AfricanAmericanHistory #BlackCulture #Juneteenth2026 #GospelMusic #JazzHistory #SoulMusic #HipHopCulture #AmericanHistory

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/forever-black-history--6902122/support.
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    20 mins
  • Episode 12- Rise and Fall: Oscarville, GA

    Episode 12- Rise and Fall: Oscarville, GA
    Jun 3 2026
    **Part 4: Rise and Fall of Buried Black Towns: Oscarville, GA** focuses on the tragic history of Oscarville, a once-flourishing Black community established during the Reconstruction era in Forsyth County, Georgia.
    The episode breaks down the town's history through three core phases:
    ### 1. The Rise of Oscarville
    Following the Civil War, formerly enslaved African Americans established Oscarville. By 1910, it had grown into a thriving community of nearly 1,100 residents. The town boasted successful Black farmers, carpenters, blacksmiths, bricklayers, and business owners who had managed to buy and cultivate their own land despite the intense systemic barriers of the Jim Crow South.
    ### 2. The 1912 Expulsion and Fall
    The downfall of Oscarville was triggered in September 1912 following the rape and murder of a young white woman, Mae Crow, near the Chattahoochee River. Local white mobs used the tragedy to launch a coordinated campaign of racial terror across the entire county. Night riders burned down Black-owned homes, churches, and businesses, forcing more than 1,000 Black residents to flee for their lives. Stripped of their livelihoods, families were forced to abandon their properties, effectively erasing the Black population from Forsyth County for decades.
    ### 3. The "Buried" Legacy and Lake Lanier
    The episode details how the physical remnants of Oscarville were eventually submerged when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flooded the area in the 1950s to create **Lake Lanier**. The podcast highlights the massive economic disparity left in the wake of this destruction: while the creation of Lake Lanier went on to generate billions of dollars in tourism and economic growth for Georgia, the descendants of Oscarville's original landowners never received compensation or justice for the land stolen from them.
    > **The Big Picture:** The episode uses Oscarville as a case study to show how targeted racial violence and forced displacement systematically stripped Black communities of billions of dollars in generational wealth.
    >
    For a deep dive into the historical records, survivor testimonies, and the structural legacy of this event, you can watch The Lost History of Oscarville, GA, which explores how the destruction of thriving Black towns like Oscarville directly contributed to modern economic disparities and the racial wealth gap.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/forever-black-history--6902122/support.
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    16 mins
  • Episode 11 - Rise and Fall Erased Black Towns Series: Ocoee, Florida Blood on Election Day

    Episode 11 - Rise and Fall Erased Black Towns Series: Ocoee, Florida Blood on Election Day
    May 9 2026
    Closing Thoughts

    ANTHONY: Mose Norman and July Perry were not radicals. They were successful, hardworking men who believed in the promise of America enough to try to vote.

    Their story, and the story of Ocoee, shows the extreme lengths some would go to prevent Black political and economic power.

    In our next episode, we’ll continue this powerful series with another Black town that fought for survival against overwhelming odds.

    Thank you for listening with courage. Say the names: Mose Norman. July Perry. Remember Ocoee.

    I’m Anthony Smith. This is *Forever Black History*.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/forever-black-history--6902122/support.
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    12 mins
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