Rickey Smiley Morning Show

The image of a young Ruby Bridges entering the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans made her an icon of the burgeoning civil rights movement. What many don’t know is that later in life, Bridges became an activist after an unfortunate twist of fate led her back to the school that transformed her […]

A rare photo of Harriet Tubman, one of American most revered freedom fighters, has just surfaced in Auburn, N.Y., where she made her home after the Civil War.

Rickey Smiley Morning Show

The overwhelming success of the film Hidden Figures, starring Taraji P. Henson, highlighted three African-American women who were instrumental in propelling the U.S. space program. The state of Arkansas has a hidden figure of its own in Raye Montague, who is the first person to design a U.S. Navy ship using a computer. Montague was […]

Rickey Smiley Morning Show

Oscar Holmes broke three color barriers in his lifetime, although he never set out to become a pioneer. Holmes was not only the first Black air traffic controller, he was also the U.S. Navy’s first Black commissioned officer and the military branch’s first Black pilot. Holmes was born January 31, 1916 in Dunbar. W. Va. […]

Rickey Smiley Morning Show

Autherine Lucy became the first Black student to desegregate the University of Alabama on this day in 1956 despite violent threats from rioting white mobs. Lucy, who was ultimately expelled from the school on a weak technicality, re-entered the school in the ’80’s and completed her master’s degree. Autherine Juanita Lucy was born October 5, […]

Rickey Smiley Morning Show

  In the 19th Century, slavery and racism was still entrenched in the U.S., but opposition was growing. David Walker, an outspoken abolitionist, released a pamphlet calling for the end of slavery by any means necessary and made himself one of the most wanted and feared men of his time. Born in Wilmington, N.C. in […]

Black History Month

Black History Month originated in 1926, founded by Carter G. Woodson and was created to celebrate achievements, births, important timelines, events and to remember those we lost.

Radio One is celebrating black history by saluting Future History Makers, people giving back to our community today to shape our tomorrow.   Mr. Ledwidge is a local business owner that is making a difference in the lives of families in his community. Owning three McDonalds restaurants, Mr. Ledwidge has founded the McFreedom Readers program, […]

Radio One is celebrating black history by saluting Future History Makers, people giving back to our community today to shape our tomorrow.   Today we salute…Sydnie Singleton, at the age of 13, after witnessing the harsh effects of bullying she started her own company Thinkie Winks, to spread positivity worldwide and inspire children. With her […]

Rickey Smiley Morning Show

In the mid-1800’s, West Africa’s Kru tribe was known among slave traders and colonialists for their resistance to capture and enslavement. They were also invaluable to merchants who visited the region because of their knowledge of the rough coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The Kru settled in the region now known as Liberia and […]

Black History Month

Black History Month originated in 1926, founded by Carter G. Woodson and was created to celebrate achievements, births, important timelines, events and to remember those we lost.

Rickey Smiley Morning Show

Nelson Mandela has been cemented in the annals of history by way of his rise to power from an anti-apartheid activist to becoming South Africa’s first Black president. The universally known tale of the late global icon will get a fresh look with BET’s airing of a three-part mini-series titled after Mandela’s tribal name, Madiba. […]