Hayestorically Speaking

It has been said that "those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it".

This maxim became all too painfully true for me, when I had to repeat my 8th grade social studies class with Mr. Ziegler.
However, at that time I did not recognize how crucial history was because it explains how the present world came to be, it teaches us to learn from our past mistakes, develops our essential critical thinking skills and empathy. Studying history assists us to recognize patterns in human behavior.
History offers us context for current events, and helps us understand diverse cultures, and equips us with the perspective to possibly make better decisions for the future.

Hayestorically Speaking takes all of these truths, and dissects them from a point of view of one African American man that was born in 1963. The year that I was born is key, because my perspective on historical accounts and social studies, have been shaped, in part, by the realities of the time and experiences that I lived through. Hayestorically Speaking is absolutely my personal opinion, and may not reflect the views of the co-hosts and team of Various Fields.

So I invite you to enter my very verbose world and, let's discover together if an "old dog" can learn "new tricks" or if my way of thinking is absolutely right.

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February 1, 2026

I know it's frigidly cold in most of the Northeast right now, but here is a man that braved even colder temperatures.

- First African American Arctic explorer.
- Recognized as the first person to reach the North Pole in 1909.
- in 1937, became the first African American accepted into the exclusive international Explorer's Club due to his achievement.
- Made six voyages and spent a total of 18 years in expeditions.
- At the age of 70, received an award from the U.S. Navy and a gold medal from the Chicago Geographic Society.

Hayestorically speaking, he was a real cool guy...

I really debated if I should end with that awful pun, so I will probably not include it in this article.

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February 2, 2026

Here is a woman that understood the complete assignment! She was a boss in a time when they wanted women to be silent.

- In 1903, founded St. Luke Penny savings Bank in Richmond, VA.
- First female bank president of any race to charter a bank in the United States
- Served as chairman of the board of directors when the bank merged with two other Richmond banks to become, The Consolidated Bank and Trust company.
- She said, " let us put our money together; let us use our money; let us put our money out at usury among ourselves, and reap the benefit ourselves."
- A visionary, she established a newspaper, The St. Luke herald, to promote closer communication between businesses and the public.
- Received an honorary master's degree from Virginia Union University in 1925.
- Inducted into the junior achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame in 2001.

I wonder if she would have been a sponsor for Various Fields.

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February 3, 2026

This gentleman right here really understood the importance of history for everyone!

- Pan-Africanist writer, historian, professor.
- Pioneer in the creation of Africana studies and professional institutions in academia starting in the late 1960s.
- Founded the African Heritage Studies Association and the Black Caucus of the African Studies association in 1968.
- Challenged the views of academic historians and helped shift the way African history was studied and taught.
- Actively deconstructed the lies, propaganda, and miseducation of White supremacy via lectures, debates, academic research, and books.
- Met and mentored many of the great minds throughout the African diaspora.
- One of his landmark works is a documentary called "A Great and Mighty Walk", about his life and the history of Africans throughout time and across the globe.

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February 4, 2026

When this lady says that "It's a small world", she's saying it because she witnessed the world from a space shuttle.

- Engineer and former NASA astronaut.
- Third African American woman to go into space.
- Actively participated in 53 space shuttle launches during nine-year tenure at Kennedy Space Center.
- Logged over 308 hours in space during her mission with the crew of STS-116; her primary task was to operate the Space Station Remote Manipulator System.
- Mae Jemison was the first African- American female astronaut and the first into space in 1992 aboard the Endeavor.

Both of these ladies are out of this world! ...

See what I did there, when you become a dad, those types of great thoughts just pop up out of nowhere!

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February 5, 2026

Imagine fighting FOR a country, that was actively fighting AGAINST you. This gentleman really deserves a salute!

- Abolitionist, journalist, physician, right, and arguably the first proponent of Black Nationalism.
- Led the Vigilance Committee that helped relocate fugitive slaves.
- Joined integrated militia to help defend the black community against White mob attacks.
- Founded, The Mystery, the first African-American newspaper published west of the Allegheny Mountains.
- One of three, first black men to enroll in Harvard medical college, in 1850
- Commissioned as major, and first African-American field officer in the United States Army, during American Civil War.

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February 6, 2026

'
-American-born Afrocentrist, psychiatrist, and author.
- Believed people of color needed to "liberate" themselves psychologically from white domination.
- In 1974, authored The Cress Theory of Color-Confrontation and Racism (White Supremacy), that states people of color must gain a better understanding of the
-behavioral maneuverings" of Whites in order to avoid being "manipulated into a subordinated position."
- In 1991, wrote, The Isis papers: Keys to the Colors, a collection of 25 essays examining the neurosis of White supremacy.
- Wrote about "melanin theory" a claim that White people are the genetically defective descendants of albino mutants.
- Felt White strive to maintain a superior social position and manipulate non-whites and themselves into thinking that they are a worldwide numerical majority instead of the minority.


She absolutely approach the table with strong opinions.

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February 7,2026

- Guyanese-
born literary critic, linguist, and anthropologist.

- Associate professor of African Studies at Rutgers University in New Jersey.
- In 1976 published the book, "They Came Before Columbus," that features his arguments for an African origin of Mesoamerican culture in the Western Hemisphere.
- Achieved widespread attention within the African-American community for his claims of prehistoric African contact and diffusion of culture in Central and South America.
- In 1983, authored "The Lost Sciences of Africa: An Overview," that discusses early African advances in metallurgy, astronomy, mathematics, architecture, engineering, agriculture, navigation, medicine, and writing.

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February 8, 2026

- American civil aviator known as "Queen Bess".
- First woman of African-American and Native American descent to hold a pilot license and first American to earn an international pilot's license.
- In 1921, she received her international pilot license in France because no flight school in America would train a colored woman.
-Her goals were to expose her people to the world of aviation. She desired to speak to audiences, and their children, to inspire them to get involved in the flight industry.
- In 1926, she fell to her death while practicing for one of her famous stunt shows. Evidence later indicated her plane may have been tampered with.
- Inducted international aviation Hall of Fame in 2006. 

This queen was really the first fly girl.

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February 9, 2026

- Canadian-American inventor and engineer.
- Son of former slaves from Kentucky who escaped via Underground Railroad to Canada.
- Although a great financial sacrifice, McCoy's parents sent him to Edinburgh Scotland; he studied mechanical engineering.
- Noted for 57 U.S. patents, most involved the lubrication of steam engines.
- Sold many of his patents for a fraction of their worth; never capitalized on his own inventions; the devices he designed made others millionaires.
- His oil-drip cup invention was so amazing, people termed the phrase "The Real McCoy" which now refers to something authentic and of high quality.

Another name that we need to know in history!

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February 10, 2026

- Pioneer of the Civil Rights movement.
- Nine months before Rosa Parks, on March 2, 1955, at only 15 years old, she refused to move from her seat on a Montgomery bound segregated bus. She had paid the fare and felt it was her constitutional right to board the bus.
- She was dragged off the bus, handcuffed and taken to an adult jail.
- Colvin is not a much-celebrated figure in the African-American Civil Rights Movement, many believe this is because she was perceived to being darker toned and pregnant.
- Colvin had a child born out of wedlock at the age of 16.
- On February 1, 1956, Claudette Colvin served as the star witness alongside four other plaintiffs in the Browder v. Gayle case.
- This landmark federal case, chaired by a three-judge panel, ended the history of segregation on public transportation in Alabama and other states in America.

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February 11, 2026

- Historian, author and journalist.
- In 1903, he earned a B.L. degree from Berea College. In 1908, he earned an M.A. in history from University of Chicago. In 1912, he earned his doctorate in History from Harvard University.
- Co-founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (later known as the Association for the Study of Afro-American life and History) In 1915.
- Authored the Mis-Education of the Negro in 1933, one of the most important books of the 20th century.
- Established The Journal of Negro History in 1915.
- Launched The celebration of "Negro History Week" in 1926, eventually expanded and renamed Black History month.