Down Home

Today at the Down Home Podcast, we ask: What if the promise was kept? What if, after emancipation, Black Americans truly received 40 acres and a mule? What if the Black Loyalists — those who fought for freedom in exchange for loyalty — were actually granted the 100 acres they were promised? How would land, ownership, and economic freedom have transformed generations? What would our present look like if those reparations had been re...

From Juneteenth in the U.S., to Emancipation Day in Canada, to the rhythm and colour of Toronto’s Caribbean Carnival — these celebrations go beyond the festivities. They mark freedom, honour the past, and bring people together. Whether you’re part of the crowd or just getting to know what these days stand for, we’re here to share what makes them meaningful and why they matter today.

#juneteenth #emancipationday #caribana #black...

Have you ever noticed how modern media often boxes Black people into narrow, repetitive roles? The angry or sassy Black woman. The criminal. The loyal sidekick. The athlete. The entertainer. These tropes have dominated screens for decades — and the portrayal of Black people as ordinary, multi-dimensional human beings is still rare. But these images aren't just fiction; they shape how society sees — and treats — Black people in real...

In the late 1950s, the NHL was a sport played entirely by white athletes. But on January 18, 1958, Willie O’Ree became the first Black player to skate in an NHL game. It takes a special kind of person to be the first—someone with courage, determination, and a belief that no barrier is too high to break.

O’Ree’s debut wasn’t just about making history—it was about opening doors for future generations. In this episode we’ll dive into ...

From the basketball court to the boxing ring, the soccer field to the tennis court, Black athletes have not only revolutionized their sports but also shaped global culture. These athletes didn't just play—they inspired, challenged societal norms, and redefined what it means to be a global icon. Join us as we reflect on the powerful impact of Black athletes, whose legacies continue to resonate on a global scale.

#BlackAthletes...

In this episode, we’re honoured to speak with Cheryl Henhoeffer, the founder and director of Building Brilliance—a nonprofit dedicated to empowering BIPOC children through literacy programs, STEM education, and cultural enrichment. Cheryl and her team are working tirelessly to ensure that young people in underserved communities have access to the tools and knowledge they need to succeed.

Building Brilliance contact details:

h...

In this episode we’re diving into a word that carries with it a very heavy meaning: ghetto. In modern times, ghettos are often associated with poverty, crime, and neglect—areas of cities where municipalities have failed to invest in the people that live there. marginalized communities that are left to live under difficult conditions. But where did this negative connotation come from?

#blackhistory #podcast #history #ghetto ...

We’ve all heard the term “Uncle Tom” used as an insult—a label for a Black person seen as a traitor to their own people. It’s a phrase deeply embedded in pop culture, shaped by books, films, and everyday language. But where did it come from? Who was the real Uncle Tom?

#blackhistory #blackhistorymonth #canadianblackhistory #history #podcast #uncletom #uncletomcabin #slavery #slaveryhistory #slave #minstrel #blackfacts #jimcro...

While most of us are familiar with the forced labor and dehumanization of enslaved people, there's a much more insidious aspect of the Transatlantic Slave Trade that speaks to the systematic buying and selling of biracial enslaved women—not for their labor, but for the brutal purpose of prostitution and concubinage. The Fancy Trade

#blackhistory #blackhistorymonth #canadianblackhistory #history #podcast #fancygirl #slavery #slave...

In parts one and two of our three-part series on The Business of Slavery, we explored the intricate web of money and power that fuelled this inhumane institution. Today, we turn our focus to the mindset that enabled such brutality. Join us in this episode as we delve into the pervasive mindset that sustained the system of slavery and examine how echoes of this mindset persist in today's forms of modern slavery.

One in 200 people ...

In our first episode of this series, we explored the immense profits generated by the Trans Atlantic Slave trade. Today, in part two, we focus on how European powers wielded their influence to enslave Africans.

If you haven’t listened to the first part of The Business of slavery, you can find it in the episode list.

I Am a Man Who Will Fight for Your Honor by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 ...

This is the first of three episodes where Jay and D take a deep dive into the business of slavery. In this episode they take a look at the wealth generated on the backs of African slaves and how slavery became a cornerstone of European economic systems.

Sources: - "Capitalism and Slavery" by Eric Williams: Investigates the relationship between the Atlantic slave trade, British economic growth, and the development of capitalism. *...

In today’s episode Jay and D delve into the history of women-led slave revolts, true stories shrouded in the shadows of the past.

Historians like Dr. Rebecca Hall have meticulously unearthed evidence revealing that women were not just passive victims of oppression. They provided fierce resistance, leading rebellions against their oppressors in a bid for freedom.

Guardian Interview with Dr. Rebecca Hall https://www.theguardian.com/w...

Amidst the turmoil of the War of 1812, there exist stories often left untold. Enslaved African Americans seized a chance for freedom amidst the chaos of conflict, their narratives a powerful yet often overlooked aspect during this time.

Join Jay and D as they take a look at what this event meant for African Americans and their struggle for freedom.

#1812 #warof1812 #blackhistory #canadianhistory #blackhistoryisamericanhistory...