The African Diaspora on BBC's "Witness" Podcasts
I personally find these fascinating to no end...They're all about 9-10 mins each, and there are plenty more to search for...
There's a general collection here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01h9dl0
And here are some of my other favorites:
Dorothy Mulkey - US Fair Housing Campaigner
In 1967, the US Supreme Court issued a ruling which effectively outlawed discrimination in the American housing market. The case was brought by Dorothy Mulkey, a Californian woman who had been preventing from renting an apartment in a white area. She talks to Adam Smith for Witness. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02rq84x
Bob Marley's Funeral
On 21 May 1981 the legendary reggae singer was buried in Jamaica. Hundreds of thousands of people had turned out to pay their respects. His friend and fellow musician Michael Ibo Cooper remembers. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02rbvv7
The Building of Kariba Dam
In May 1960 the massive Kariba hydro-electric dam on Africa's Zambezi river was opened. About 60,000 people lost their homes to what is still the world's largest man-made lake. We hear from Mwiindachi Siamwiza, who was 12 years old at the time of the resettlement. With Penny Dale. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02qx0cy
Bloods and Crips truce
In April 1992, the main black street gangs in Los Angeles started a historic truce. Aqeela Sherrills took part in peace negotiations in the Watts district. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02nnv6w
The Fall of Idi Amin
In 1979 Tanzanian troops invaded Uganda and ousted its brutal dictator. His downfall marked the end of a six month conflict between the two countries, which had been triggered by Amin's ill-fated invasion of northern Tanzania. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02n4xt2
The Murder of Archbishop Janani Luwum
The Anglican Archbishop of Uganda, Janani Luwum, took the brave step of speaking out against dictator Idi Amin. In February 1977 he was summoned to a meeting by the government and never seen alive in public again. Hear from his daughter, Julie Luwum Adriko.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02jp8xt
Sophiatown Removals
On 9 February 1955 apartheid South Africa forcibly evicted residents from Sophiatown, a multi-racial suburb in Johannesburg. It was demolished and turned into a whites-only area called Triomf. Victor Mokine was a child at the time and shares his memories with Witness. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02k61z6
The Looting of the Benin Bronzes
The British attack Benin City in 1897 and steal its ancient artwork, the Benin bronzes. We hear from Mark Walker, the grandson of a British soldier who took part in what was called the Benin Punitive Expedition, launched after a group of British officials are killed.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02k61z6
The Greensboro Sit-In
Four young black men began protesting against racial segregation in February 1960 by staging a sit-in at a whites only lunch counter in a Woolworth's store in Greensboro, North Carolina. One of the four, was Franklin McCain - he spoke to Witness in 2011.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02hw1pn
Britain's First Black Woman MP
In 1987 Diane Abbott became the first black woman elected to the British Parliament. The daughter of first generation immigrants she was one of only four black MPs. Diane Abbott has been speaking to Witness about her election and making political history in the UK.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02trhdz
1968 US Race Riots
In April 1968 major cities in the United States were rocked by race riots following the assassination of black civil rights leader Martin Luther King. In Washington, Chicago and Baltimore, it took tens of thousands of soldiers to quell the violence. Witness has been speaking to Virginia Ali, whose restaurant, Ben's Chili Bowl, was just one block away from where the riots began in Washington DC.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02n27zg
The Mysterious Death of an MP in Kenya
Kenyan MP Josiah Mwangi Kariuki, considered a possible future president, disappeared in mysterious circumstances in March 1975. His widow, Terry, tells Witness about how she finally confirmed that he had been killed. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02l69xc
Inter-racial Marriage in South Africa
In South Africa in June 1985, the ban on marriage between people of different ethnic backgrounds was finally lifted. Suzanne Le Clerc and Protas Madlala were the first couple to tie the knot under the new rules. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02t8tlt
The Death of Walter Rodney
In June 1980, the Guyanese opposition leader and academic, Dr Walter Rodney, was killed in a bomb explosion. He was one of the leaders of a movement trying to bridge the racial divide in Guyana’s politics. His supporters said he had been assassinated on the orders of the government. We hear from his widow, Patricia Rodney, and from Wazir Mohamed who was a young activist at the time.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02swbbj
Larnaca Airport Shootout
In 1978 Egyptian commandos and Cypriot troops ended up fighting each other during a botched attempt to end a hostage crisis at Larnaca airport in Cyprus. 15 Egyptian commandos were killed in the gun battle. Former Cyprus Airways pilot, Adrian Akers-Douglas, witnessed the shootout. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02jtk1z
Haile Gebrselassie
In 2000, the great Ethiopian distance runner, Haile Gebrselassie, won the Olympic 10,000 metres by a single second - beating his closest rival in the process. Gebrselassie, who announced his retirement in May 2015, describes the race to Fred Dove. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02r1lxz
Black Golfer at the Masters
In 1975, Lee Elder braved death threats to become the first African-American golfer to play at the prestigious US Masters in Augusta. It was one of the last colour barriers in US sport and made him a hero to many black sportsmen - including Tiger Woods. In 2013, Lee Elder spoke about the tournament to Simon Watts. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02n0czc
Rwanda v Uganda: The Match that Made History
The crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between rivals Rwanda and Uganda. A match that had it all - amazing saves, ‘witchcraft’, a mass brawl and a goal that made history. Rob Walker reports. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02mj969
The Black Stars of Ghana
In the 1960s, the Ghanaian football team dominated Africa, winning tournament after tournament. Known as the Black Stars, they were an exciting attacking force which President Kwame Nkrumah hoped would help promote African unity. But in 1965, the Ghanaians faced an uphill struggle in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in Tunis.Their star striker, Osei Kofi, remembers the match for Witness. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02j2b43
The Harlem Globetrotters in the Soviet Union
In 1959, the Harlem Globetrotters paid an unlikely Cold War visit to the Soviet Union. Their mixture of athleticism and American-style entertainment eventually won over basketball fans in Moscow and earned them hugs from Soviet leader, Nikita Khrushchev. Former Globetrotter Meadowlark Lemon talks to Sporting Witness. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02g13gy
The Indomitable Lions
In the opening game of the 1990 World Cup, rank outsiders Cameroon faced the reigning champions, Argentina - led by Diego Maradona. Few gave Cameroon a chance. Alex Last speaks to defender N'Dip Akem Victor about a defining game for African football.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02f8msq
Tegla Loroupe wins NY Marathon
How Tegla Loroupe, an unknown Kenyan runner, became the first marathon champion from Africa, with an exceptionally fast finish. She tells us how a tough upbringing in the mountains of her homeland shaped her whole approach to breaking barriers. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02c0vp9
Pele Joins NY Cosmos
An insider's account of Pele's shock move to a soccer team in the United States in 1975. We hear from Clive Toye, the former General Manager of the New York Cosmos, who persuaded Pele to play football in the US. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02bdl0t
The Three Degrees
In the late 1970s, three black West Bromwich Albion players revolutionised English football. Laurie Cunningham, Brendon Batson and Cyrille Regis had to face racist abuse, but won many fans thanks to their attacking flair. The three footballers even earned the affectionate nickname The Three Degrees, after a famous pop group of the time. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p029fgxn
Black Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm
In January 1972 Shirley Chisholm became the first major-party black candidate to make a bid for the US Presidency. She was also the first black woman elected to Congress. Witness has been speaking to Congressman Charles Rangel who worked with Shirley Chisholm.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02hjqx7
War of Canudos in Brazil
In 1897, at least 15,000 people died when the Brazilian army crushed a rebellion by peasants in the arid backlands of north-east Brazil. The rebels were led by a charismatic preacher called Anthony the Counsellor. The War of Canudos is now seen as a defining moment in the emergence of modern Brazil. Witness tells the story of the conflict using a contemporary account by the Brazilian author, Euclides Da Cunha. The programme also speaks to professor David Treece of King's College London. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0205w53
The Black Consciousness Movement in South Africa
The activist Steve Biko led the Black Consciousness Movement in South Africa before he was killed in police custody in 1977. We hear from one of the early members of the movement, Mamphela Ramphele who had a relationship with Steve Biko. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01ys3s4
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