History is often told through the lives of well-known figures, frequently men of European descent from the upper classes. This podcast is based on a seminar which highlighted the biographies of Black women who, through their achievements, have left a mark on the societies they lived in. We focused on the work of Ana Echegoyen, Ellen Irene Diggs, Zora Neale Hurston and Rosa Parks in the period from 1930-1960, but also made connections to today. Ana Echegoyen, the first Black female professor at the University of Havana, taught in the Faculty of Education and is known for her engagement in the Cuban literacy campaign. The anthropologist Ellen Irene Diggs, who studied at the University of Havana, also focused on education and taught at a Historically Black College for over thirty years, an institution that played a critical role in the education of African Americans. An alumna of one of these colleges, Spelman, Zora Neale Hurston was a pioneer in anthropology and a prominent fiction writer of the Harlem Renaissance. While these three women made important academic contributions to their fields, Celia Cruz and Elizabeth Keckley distinguished themselves through their artistic work. As the dressmaker of First Lady Mary Lincoln, Elizabeth Keckley became the first Black taylor in the Americas. Cuban dancer, singer and composer Celia Cruz gained world fame as the "Queen of Salsa", bringing african-descendant musical traditions to the international stage. As a militant civil rights activist in the United States, Claudia Jones propelled Marxist thought into mainstream Black political thought.

Celia Cruz (1925–2003) was a Cuban singer known for her significant contributions to Latin music, particularly salsa. She gained prominence as the lead vocalist of the Sonora Matancera orchestra before leaving Cuba after the revolution. Over her long career, she released numerous notable songs, including "La Vida es un Carnaval" and "Quimbara". Known for her phrase "¡Azúcar!" Cruz became a prominent figure in the Afro-Cuban music tradition and salsa genre. In this episode, we take a look at her eventful life, beginning with how she grew up as a child in pre-revolutionary Cuba.

Ellen Irene Diggs (1906–1998) was an African American anthropologist and sociologist who collaborated closely with W.E.B. Du Bois and Fernando Ortiz before obtaining a professorship at Morgan State College in Baltimore, USA in 1947. With her work on the culture and history of African societies and the African diaspora she helped lay the groundwork for the academic field that came to be known as African American or Black Studies. This episode looks at her formative experience as a PhD student and a Black woman in Havana in the 1940s.

Ana Echegoyen de Cañizares (1891–1975) was a Cuban educator and activist known for her advocacy for women’s rights and her contributions to Cuban intellectual and cultural life. As the first Black female professor at the University of Havana, she played a significant role in early 20th-century movements promoting gender and racial equality in Cuba. Echegoyen was deeply involved in various organizations and lead a major alphabetization campaign in the 1950s. In this episode, we will introduce you to this exceptional figure, reflecting upon her legacy as well as the challenges of working with archival materials in reconstructing the lives of African-descended women.

Zora Neale Hurston (1891–1960) was an African American writer, anthropologist, and folklorist. A central figure of the Harlem Renaissance, she conducted fieldwork in the US-American South and the Caribbean, including Haiti, where she studied folklore and voodoo practices. Her book "Tell My Horse“ (1938) documents her research on Afro-Caribbean traditions, while her acclaimed novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God“ (1937) explores themes of race, gender, and identity. Hurston's work bridged anthropology and literature, preserving and celebrating Black cultural heritage. In this episode, we concentrate on her work on the phenomenon of the "zombie“ in Haiti.

Claudia Jones (1915–1964) was a Trinidad-born activist, journalist, and pioneering figure in the fight for civil rights and social justice. A committed communist, she championed the rights of Black and working-class communities in both the United States and the United Kingdom, where she was exiled in 1955. Jones is best known for founding The West Indian Gazette, a key publication for Caribbean diaspora issues, and organizing the first Caribbean Carnival in London, laying the foundation for the modern Notting Hill Carnival. Her work addressed issues of race, gender, and class, leaving a lasting impact on anti-racist and feminist movements. In this episode we look at some of her writings on women’s rights and talk about her political activism.

Elizabeth Keckley (1818–1907) was an African American seamstress, abolitionist, and memoirist. Born into slavery in Virginia, she bought her freedom in 1855 and became a successful dressmaker, serving prominent clients including First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln. Keckley is best known for her memoir “Behind the Scenes, Or, Thirty Years a Slave, and Four Years in the White House" (1868), which offers a personal account of her time in the White House and her close relationship with Mrs. Lincoln. This episode discusses her experiences during and after enslavement and her life as a key figure of the African American community in Washington, D.C.