Our Ancestors Were Messy - Coming Soon: Zora + Langston (Mar. 26)

Episode Date: March 19, 2025

Host Nichole Hill shares a research tip, updates for the Household aka the donor community, where to find bonus material, and a sneak peek at next week's episode.To learn more about the show and keep in touch, check out https://ourancestorsweremessy.comTo access bonus content and support this independent production visit  https://ourancestorsweremessy.supercast.comTo stay in touch email [e-mail] or follow the show @ourancestorsweremessy on InstagramTHE A-TEAMThe show is hosted by Nichole Hill (https://www.nicholelhill.com/)Executive Producer A.A. HernandezStory Producer Martina Abrahams Ilunga (@m_tina)Research Producer Chioke I'Anson (https://www.chiokeianson.com/)Story Editing by Shonte Hill Show art by Aseloka Smith (@naturallyherown)  BONUS STORYTo access the bonus story check out this article: Black history emerges from 1897 time capsule. Episodes release bi-weekly. 

Hello, everyone. This is Nicole Hill, host of our ancestors were messy. I'm back again this week with another minisode. For the first timers, this show comes out every other week. So in between full episodes, I like to come on and share a little bit of information. This week, I'm going to be sharing some research tips, an update for the household, places that everyone can go for bonus material, a message to one reviewer and a preview of next week's episode. All right, so research tips. Since the show launched, and really even before then, I've had the chance to speak at a few universities about the show and the stories we cover. And the question on everybody's lips is,

what is your research process? How are you finding all these details? And how can we find out more about the people that you cover? First of all, it is such a dream come true to hear that people are interested enough in our ancestors and their lives and their stories to look them up after the episodes. That's literally why I made the show, so it's just incredible to learn that that is happening. That said, the research process is so involved, y'all.

It's too much to get into for a mini-so, but maybe I will bring my research producer Chioke-Eyensen on sometime so we can discuss it. But for now, I'm going to give you a little research tip. If you want to look up a woman that isn't super famous, you have to search for her by her husband's name. So I had a lot of questions about how to find out more information about Lulu Frances. of episode one, you'd have to search for Mrs. John F. Craigwell. That's a bummer. But archivists like those at Afro Charities, and I'm sure many other places are working to digitize their literal warehouses full of old newspapers and list women by their own names. So hopefully, in the not too distant future, all of our ancestor's stories will be that much easier to find.

Before I move on, I just have to say shout out to Sherio KK's class at the Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University. Shout out to Sonia Williams' class at Howard University. And shout out to Max Wasserman's class at VCU. Okay, so next order of business, bonus content, which this week everyone can access, but it will be a little different. To the household, the community of donors

that have graciously lent their support to the show, thank you. Right now, in your feed, you'll find a bonus story from last week's episode, a love story for the ages, starring Zika Gibbons and Emmanuel Jochi. It's about the discovery of one of the oldest time capsules in U.S. history and the black newspaper that was shockingly found inside. But I'm not gatekeeping, I promise.

I linked to an article that tells the whole story in my show notes. For the household, though, you'll get to hear Zika and Emmanuel react to the story of how that paper made it into the time capsule. And if you can believe it, they are hilarious and thoughtful and fun. and I think you're really going to enjoy it. If you'd like to join the household and access this and other bonus material and support this independent production, you can sign up today at our AncestorsW Messy.supercast.com.

Okay, so now bonus content for everyone. I was on the incredible reality dating podcast Hangup telling my friend Caitlin and her guest Kim this California gold rush era, Wild West romance full of twists and turns, That episode is called The Preetest Boy at the Miner's Ball, and you should listen to it and then check out the entire show because it's this cross between The Bachelor and Love is Blind but Queer

and with a focus on dating and connection rather than marriage, and Zakiya is the host, and it's brilliant. Thank you to everyone that takes the time to leave a review and rate this show. I love hearing what is resonating with you. I just have to say, I got a review from someone with the username P.H.I. 5-2-2-2-2-fi 2-2-2-fi 2-2-2. It was written in the form of an old telegram,

and when I read it, I laughed out loud, because that is such a funny and nerdy thing to do. And I would have done something like that, and I just need you to know that I loved it. All right, that's everything. Here's a preview of next week's episode, the stars of which you will have no trouble researching after you listen. I assure you.

The Secret Adventures of Black People Presents, our ancestors were messy. I imagine Zora saying, you know what, Langston, we should travel from Alabama to New York City together. Today, we'll join Zora Neil Hurston and Langston Hughes on a journey through the South

in search of folklore. And that is why no black people died in the sinking of the Titanic. Along the way, they'll share their secrets. Ah, shit, that's the night before your wedding day? That's the night before your wedding day. That's what she dreams. New experiences.

I just saw a cow being bred for the first time. And a fateful dream. Everyone back in Harlem was watching them and wondering what they're going to do next. Today's episode stars, artist, writer, and facilitator, Alicia Walters. I love exploring how we get free. And your host, Nicole Hill. So they spent a weekend together in Italy. Oh, I know, right?

This is Our Ancestors Were Messy, a show about our ancestors and all their drama. Girl, I understand.