Trey's Table

Mad Men is one of the greatest dramas ever made. But who got interiority — and who didn't? In this episode of Trey's Table, I break down every major Black character on Mad Men and explore why so many felt underdeveloped despite the show's brilliance. You can love great art and still critique its blind spots.

What if Reconstruction had gone differently? In the latest episode of Trey's Table, let's take a deep dive into the life and legacy of Thaddeus Stevens — one of the most radical and fearless champions of Black freedom in American history. After the Civil War, Stevens didn't just believe in ending slavery. He believed in economic justice. He proposed confiscating land from former Confederates — the very plantations where enslaved people had labored for generations — and redistributing that land to newly freed Black families. Not charity. Not temporary relief. Ownership. Stevens understood something many still struggle to admit: freedom without land, without capital, without economic power is incomplete. While others were satisfied with emancipation on paper, Stevens was fighting for transformation in reality. In this episode, we explore: •Why Stevens believed land redistribution was essential to true freedom •The political backlash he faced •How his proposal was defeated •And how America might look different today if his vision had been realized Reconstruction wasn't just about rebuilding the South. It was about redefining democracy. And Stevens was willing to go further than almost anyone else.

Let's talk about how President Trump intends to steal the 2026 midterm elections.https://www.democracydocket.co...https://democracyforward.org/b...

Before there was a modern reparations movement… Before there were hashtags… There was Callie House. In the early 1900s, Callie House helped organize hundreds of thousands of formerly enslaved people to demand pensions from the U.S. government for the labor stolen from them. And what did the government do? They prosecuted her. They sent her to federal prison. This week on Trey's Table, I tell the story of one of the most courageous — and overlooked — activists in American history. Her fight for reparations didn't start in a think tank. It started in Black communities across the South. Her name was Callie House. And she refused to be silent.

THE HIDDEN HISTORY OF BLACK AUTOMOBILE OWNERSHIP The American automobile industry is typically taught as the story of white industrialists—Ford, Dodge, Chrysler. But in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, African Americans were deeply involved in: •Carriage manufacturing •Automotive repair •Independent design •Regional vehicle production Several Black entrepreneurs attempted to start automobile companies or related manufacturing businesses. Most failed—not because of lack of skill or vision—but because of: •Racist banking practices •Denial of business loans •Restricted access to materials •A segregated economy designed to keep Black businesses small Only one Black-owned automobile manufacturer truly broke through and produced cars at scale. That man was C.R. Patterson.

Before there was Dr. King… there was Vernon Johns. The fearless preacher who refused to stay silent. The strategist who challenged segregation head-on. The man who saw greatness in a young pastor named Martin Luther King Jr. History remembers the movement. But it almost forgot the man who lit the match.

Before Brown v. Board… there was Sylvia Mendez. An 8-year-old girl in California helped desegregate schools 7 years earlier. Her family sued four school districts. They won in federal court. And the legal strategy later helped shape Brown. Most of us were never taught this story. That's why we tell it.

Hot take: Ulysses S. Grant deserves a spot on Mount Rushmore. Not just because he won the Civil War. Because as president, he: • Pushed the 15th Amendment • Crushed the Ku Klux Klan • Created the Department of Justice • Used federal power to protect Black citizens Before the 1960s… Before the Civil Rights Movement… Grant was already enforcing civil rights. Maybe it's time to add some new faces to Mount Rushmore and get rid of a few.

Truth is stranger than fiction.

Before the civil rights movement forced America to change, Black Americans had to protect themselves on the road. Today on Trey's Table, we're talking about Victor GREEN—the man who created the Green Book, a survival guide that helped Black families travel safely through segregation. This is a story about ingenuity, dignity, and the quiet resistance that kept people alive. #treystable #blackpodcasts #blackhistory

Some of the wealthiest women in 19th- and early-20th-century England built their fortunes on Caribbean slavery. That wealth didn't just buy land and luxury — it made them highly sought-after wives. British men married into slavery money, and entire families secured status, estates, and political power because enslaved Africans had already paid the price. In this episode of Trey's Table, we unpack how slavery shaped wealth, gender, and marriage in Britain — long after abolition.

Your GPS works because of a Black woman named Dr. Gladys West. New episode of Trey's Table is all about her life and legacy. #TreysTable #TreysTablePodcast #BlackHistoryPodcast #BlackCulturePodcast #BlackVoices #BlackStorytelling #AfricanAmericanHistory

Dr. King gave more than just “I Have a Dream.” He gave us a Blueprint for how to live. In today's episode of Trey's Table, I dive into one of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s most powerful—and least talked about—speeches: the “Blueprint” speech. In it, King challenges us to build our lives on values that last: dignity, purpose, service, and moral courage. This isn't just history. It's a guide for right now. Tap in to hear why this speech still matters—and why it may be one of King's most important messages.

70 years after the Supreme Court's ruling outlawing segregation in public schools there's more segregation in public schools today then there was before the ruling. Let's talk about why that is.

Let's talk about race and the burdens of representation.

What happens when courts, politics, and diversity collide? In my latest episode, I break down the Florida Supreme Court's decision to change the ABA's role in accrediting law schools—and why I believe this move was really about DEI. Listen now and decide for yourself.

The Department of Homeland Security employs an openly anti-black racist as a prosecutor handling immigration cases. Let's talk about it. #treystablepodcast

There are many reasons why Bari Weiss was chosen to lead CBS News. Let's talk about her views on race and racism and how that made her an attractive boss for the new owners of CBS. #treystablepodcast

“During the American Revolution, thousands of enslaved Black people risked everything for a chance at freedom. The British promised liberty. They recorded their names in a ledger called The Book of Negroes. What followed was courage, betrayal, exile, and survival across three continents. This isn't just history—it's testimony. New episode now streaming.” Hashtags #BlackHistory #AmericanHistory #AfricanDiaspora #BlackLoyalists #BookOfNegroes #HistoryPodcast #TreysTable

Episode 400! Thank you my friends for all your support!

In 1924 a white supremacist OBGYN decided to pass a law to deal with what he considered to be the major public health issue of the time: Black people who were passing for White. Let's talk about it.

— “Why Representation Must Expand” We talk a lot about representation… but not enough about expanding it. This episode is about breaking the box that says “Black people only do certain careers.” Floyd Norman, Marques Brownlee, Strawhat Goofy, and Jordan Smith show us what happens when Black creativity goes unlimited.

The enslaved poet who wrote his way toward freedom. ✍

✨ New Episode of Trey's Table ✨ Today we're exploring one of the most surprising and misunderstood chapters in the life of Sammy Davis Jr.. In the early 1970s, Sammy briefly associated with the Church of Satan — and the real story has nothing to do with devil worship. This episode dives into:

What paved the way for Barack Obama's election in 2008? Some argue that America had already seen a Black president — just on screen. From James Earl Jones in The Man, to Morgan Freeman in Deep Impact, to Dennis Haysbert's iconic President Palmer on 24, film and television helped normalize what many thought was impossible. Today on Trey's Table, I break down how these portrayals changed the political imagination long before they changed political reality. Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. #TreysTable #BlackCulture #PoliticalHistory #MediaStudies

Let's talk about the playlists we create with the ones we love.

Who is black? Let's talk about it.

New Episode Alert

Trey's Table Episode 390: Christiana The year is 1851. A new law says you HAVE to help slave catchers. A Quaker man named Castner Hanway refuses. A slave owner is killed in a standoff. The U.S. Government charges Hanway with... TREASON. You think you know the path to the Civil War? This story will stop you in your tracks. The Fugitive Slave Act made the North complicit. The Christiana Resistance showed they wouldn't comply. And the trial of Castor Hanway proved the Union was already fractured beyond repair. Get the full story of one of history's most pivotal moments in the latest episode of Trey's Table. Episode 390 is streaming now! Link in Bio to listen. #TreysTable #Podcast #HistoryReel #HistoryCarousel #CivilWar #USHistory #FugitiveSlaveLaw #Abolition #QuakerHistory #ChristianResistance #TreySmith

✨ NEW EPISODE — “Seeds of Justice” ✨ On the latest episode of Trey's Table, we explore the powerful story of the FAMU College of Law — from its creation during segregation, its painful closure, and its triumphant rebirth thanks to the leadership of Dr. Frederick S. Humphries. And we spotlight one of its amazing graduates: Attorney Briana L. Lans, whose career is a shining example of excellence, service, and the legacy of FAMU Law.

Let's talk about the racism that Black doctors experience.

•“The untold story of the Harlem Hellfighters — this Veterans Day on Trey's Table.” •“They were America's most decorated Black soldiers — and its most overlooked heroes.” •“How the Harlem Hellfighters brought jazz, pride, and courage to a world at war.” •“This Veterans Day, meet the soldiers who made history — and demanded America live up to its ideals.”https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/...

Let's talk about the hidden history of Francis Scott Key.

It's time to refute the lies about black men, marriage, and fatherhood.

Why do Black people love Cadillacs? Let's talk about it.

Let's meet the social media influencers who are advising the White House on how to encourage more white women to have babies.

You know the name Mellon. Synonymous with wealth, philanthropy, and power. But do you know the story of its patriarch, Judge Thomas Mellon? In the 1880s, he used his power to actively block a qualified Black man, George Vachon, from practicing law. He was a vocal white supremacist who believed racial equality was a "wild theory." On the latest Trey's Table, we uncover this forgotten story of prejudice, power, and a man denied his profession. Link in Bio. #TreyTable #AfricanAmericanHistory #HiddenHistory #Mellon #GeorgeVachon #JimCrow #LegalHistory #BlackStories

Let's take a trip down memory lane.

Trey's Table Episode 380 The Big Lie About Reconstruction We've been taught a version of history that was designed to oppress. In Episode 380 of Trey's Table, we're dismantling the "Dunning School." For decades, this school of thought dominated history books, pushing the false narrative that Reconstruction was a tragic failure—a period of "corrupt" Black leadership and "Northern aggression." It was a deliberate, academic lie created to justify Jim Crow and white supremacy by slandering the progress made after the Civil War. We have to understand these lies of the past to fight the misinformation of the present. Tap the link in my bio to listen to Episode 380: "Dismantling the Dunning School: The Lie That Shaped a Century." Hashtags: #TrevsTable #Podcast #AfricanAmericanHistory #Reconstruction #DunningSchool #BlackHistory #HistoryLesson #JimCrow #LearnOurHistory #FightMisinformation

Why was Sean Grayson even allowed to be a law enforcement officer? On Trey's Table #379, we're breaking down the trial of former Illinois sheriff's deputy Sean Grayson, who was recently convicted of second-degree murder for the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey. Massey, an unarmed Black woman, had called 911 for help. We discuss the bodycam footage, the jury's verdict, and what this case says about justice, accountability, and the system. Tap the link in our bio to listen now! #TreysTable #Podcast #AfricanAmericanHistory #BlackCulture #Politics #SonyaMassey #SeanGrayson #Justice #TrueCrimePodcast