Trey's Table

One of the worst things Charlie Kirk did when he was alive was recruit a number of African-Americans who were well paid to tell lies about African-Americans and our history. Let's talk about it.

Last week a sitting U.S. Senator gave a speech in which he argued that America was made by White Americans for White Americans. Let's talk about this shocking speech and what it means for the nation. https://youtu.be/Qa_PCNgW79E?s...

Before Rosa Parks took her seat and before Brown v. Board, there was Aida Lois Sipuel Fisher. ⚖️ Her name might not be in every history book, but her battle against Oklahoma's segregation should be a story we all know. In 1946, a young Aida was denied entry to the University of Oklahoma law school for one reason: she was Black. But she refused to accept that "no." What followed was a three-year legal fight that went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, a battle that cracked the foundation of "separate but equal" and paved the way for the civil rights victories to come. On the latest episode of Trey's Table, we're serving up the incredible story of this fearless pioneer. We break down her legal strategy, the immense pressure she faced, and how her victory in Sipuel v. Board of Regents became a crucial blueprint for Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP. Tap the link in our bio to listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts.

How does a single act of brutality change the course of a nation? On the new episode of #TreysTable, I'm diving into one of the most pivotal yet overlooked stories in American history: the blinding of Sgt. Isaac Woodard. In 1946, just hours after being honorably discharged from serving in WWII, the Black army sergeant was still in uniform when he was brutally beaten and blinded by South Carolina police. His "crime"? Asking to use the restroom. This story is a devastating chapter in the long history of police violence against Black Americans. But it's also a story of how outrage can fuel change. The national outcry—led by the NAACP and Orson Welles—reached President Harry Truman, who was so horrified he was pushed to take historic action. This episode explores: ✅ The facts of the horrific attack ✅ The national media firestorm ✅ The sham trial that acquitted the police chief ✅ How this injustice directly led to the desegregation of the U.S. military The fight for justice for Isaac Woodard is a powerful and painful precursor to the movements we see today. His story is one we must all know. Tap the link in my bio to listen to the full episode on your favorite podcast platform. #IsaacWoodard #BlackHistory #AmericanHistory #CivilRights #Podcast #HistoryPodcast #AfricanAmericanHistory #MilitaryHistory #JimCrow #LearnHistory #TreySmithhttps://youtu.be/80GKeyIqDW0?s...https://youtu.be/c00TfnEqLJw?s...https://youtu.be/c00TfnEqLJw?s...

From Carl Stokes' groundbreaking victory in Cleveland to the powerful tenures of Maynard Jackson and Harold Washington, the story of Black mayors in America is the story of modern urban politics. Their elections were historic triumphs, but their time in office was often a brutal battle against systemic inequality, "taxpayer revolts," and intense scrutiny. On the latest episode of Trey's Table, we break down this complex history. We explore:

In Episode 350 of #TreysTable, we're unpacking what the "no tax on tips" proposal really means—and who it actually serves. Did you know the subminimum wage for tipped workers has roots in post-Civil War racial exploitation? This isn't just about economics—it's about racial equity and who gets to earn a living wage in America. We break down how the National Restaurant Association (the "other NRA") has spent millions fighting fair wages while pushing for tax changes that benefit corporate interests over workers . Meanwhile, tipped workers—disproportionately women of color—face the highest rates of sexual harassment and economic instability in any industry . But there's hope! Across the country, movements like #OneFairWage are fighting back. Cities like Portland are leading the charge to eliminate the subminimum wage entirely , and workers are demanding dignity and equitable pay.

Headline: How Smith v. Allwright Broke the Back of the White Primary If you think your vote doesn't matter, history has a powerful story to change your mind. In the latest episode of Trey's Table, we dive deep into Smith v. Allwright (1944), a landmark Supreme Court case that fundamentally reshaped the political landscape of the American South and supercharged the modern Civil Rights Movement. For decades after Reconstruction, Southern states used a web of discriminatory tactics to disenfranchise Black voters. One of the most effective was the “white primary.” Because the Democratic Party dominated the South, winning its primary was tantamount to winning the election. By banning Black voters from participating in these primaries, white officials effectively silenced them without breaking a single federal law. That is, until Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund took on the case of Lonnie E. Smith, a Black dentist in Houston who was denied a ballot. Their victory was monumental. The Supreme Court ruled that barring Black voters from primaries was unconstitutional, violating the 14th and 15th Amendments. The impact was immediate and dramatic: · Black voter registration in the South skyrocketed from around 200,000 in 1940 to over 800,000 by 1948. · The legal victory provided a crucial playbook for challenging other Jim Crow laws, paving the way for Brown v. Board of Education a decade later. · It proved that the courts could be a powerful tool for achieving racial justice. However, the fight was far from over. Southern states swiftly invented new barriers—literacy tests, poll taxes, and economic intimidation—to continue suppressing the Black vote. This ongoing struggle highlights why the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was so necessary and why protecting voting rights remains critical today. This story is more than a history lesson; it's a testament to the power of strategic litigation and unwavering courage. To hear the full story of the legal strategy, the risks involved, and the lasting legacy of this case, listen to the latest episode of Trey's Table. #TreysTable #Podcast #SmithVAllwright #ThurgoodMarshall #VotingRights #CivilRightsHistory #NAACP #BlackHistory #LearnHistory

Before he was a Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall was a lawyer risking his life for justice. The latest episode of Trey's Table is live!

The Sears Catalog Was a Secret Weapon Against Jim Crow. The KKK Tried to Destroy It. In the latest episode of Trey's Table, we dive into one of the most fascinating and overlooked stories of economic resistance. For African Americans in the segregated South, the Sears, Roebuck mail-order catalog was more than just a book of products—it was a source of dignity. It allowed people to shop for quality goods without facing the degradation, discrimination, and violence of racist store owners. This empowerment didn't go unnoticed. The Ku Klux Klan, threatened by this challenge to the racial and economic order, launched a massive smear campaign. They organized boycotts, held public catalog burnings, and spread the false rumor that Sears was a Black-owned company in a desperate attempt to scare away white customers. Tune in to Episode 347 to learn: ➡️ How the catalog broke the back of the exploitative sharecropper system. ➡️ The details of the KKK's nationwide boycott campaign. ➡️ How Sears quietly worked to protect its Black customers. ➡️ What this history tells us about economics, race, and resistance. This is a story of how everyday acts of commerce can become profound acts of defiance. Listen to EPISODE 347 now! Link in my bio.

The Teacher Who Was Fired for Demanding Equal Pay Before Brown v. Board, there was a fight for the very soul of education. It wasn't just about where Black children could learn, but how much the system valued the Black adults who taught them. In 1939, a brilliant chemistry teacher named Aline Black did the unthinkable: she sued the Norfolk, VA school board for paying her less than half of what her white colleagues earned. For her courage, she was immediately fired. But the story doesn't end there. Her dismissal ignited a firestorm. The community marched, and another teacher, Melvin Alston, bravely stepped up to take her place as the plaintiff. And guiding their legal battle was a young, relentless attorney for the NAACP: Thurgood Marshall. Their victory in Alston v. Norfolk wasn't just about a paycheck. It was a masterclass in legal strategy that cracked the foundation of "separate but equal" and paved the way for everything that followed. This week on Trey's Table, we're breaking down this crucial but often overlooked chapter in Civil Rights history. ➡️ Tap the link in our bio to listen to Episode 346: "The Price of Prejudice" wherever you get your podcasts. #BlackHistory #CivilRights #ThurgoodMarshall #VirginiaHistory #NAACP #EqualPay #TeacherAppreciation #AfricanAmericanHistory #Podcast #Podcasting #TreysTable #NorfolkVA #HistoryLesson

Let's talk about the power of a mother‘s love and how it helped reunite one family, torn apart by slavery.

Let's talk about a troubling trend in one of the new popular areas of comedy Austin, Texas.

Why is the Trump administration creating a monument to honor one of the most racist Confederate Generals? Also, let's talk about the anxiety that Black people feel when being in white spaces. https://youtu.be/ge7i60GuNRg

It's time to change the Florida Constitution.

Is the new American Eagle Jeans ad racist? Let's talk about it.

Let's talk about the white supremacists who are building their version of utopia in Arkansas.https://youtu.be/UpOJzIvmCCk?s...

Let's talk about the sentencing in the case of US v Hankison

Trey's Table Episode 334: Fake News Let's talk about fake news and how it impacts black history, politics and culture.https://youtu.be/IQeoLKzQHvI?s... Black home schoolers push back against racist, unregulated curricula: ‘They called slavery immigration' | Race in education | The Guardian

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Let's talk about African-Americans and the sport of tennis.https://youtu.be/S-mMhv5IcP8?s...https://youtu.be/VID_7bdJ27o?s...https://youtu.be/CB0Bkvk1Eas?s...https://youtu.be/cKAI6efsgUA?s...

Let's talk about the civil rights activist who use passing as a technique to advance the cause of justice for black Americans

The New York Times put out its list of the best movies of the past 25 years. There were only four black movies on the list. Let's make our own list, a list of the best Black movies of the past 25 years.

Let's talk about how Sesame Street has handled the issue of race. https://youtube.com/@darastarrtucker?si=rpETseMNGFhZ8I8O

Which Black politician will be the next Stephen?https://youtu.be/aQ-_ePiXdtc?s...

In this podcast episode, let's explore the continuing fight for civil rights for our brothers and sisters living with disabilities. https://youtu.be/l-X7Y9dW_BE?s...https://youtu.be/5aiFVhXSvgc?s...https://youtu.be/MQafuiLGP7g?s...

Trey's Table Episode 324: Harvard's Broken Promise **

Trey's Table Episode 323: Book Awards, Racism, and UF Law.

Trey's Table Episode 322: Why We Still Pick the White Dolls ✨ Episode 322: The Clarks' Doll Test & the Legacy of Internalized Racism ✨ In the 1940s, psychologists Drs. Kenneth and Mamie Clark conducted a groundbreaking experiment: Black children were asked to choose between Black and white dolls. The results were heartbreaking—most children preferred the white doll, calling it “nice” and “good,” while rejecting the Black doll as “bad” . This revealed the brutal psychological toll of segregation and white supremacy on Black self-perception. Decades later, studies—including modern recreations—show similar biases persist . On *Trey's Table*, we dive into: - **How systemic racism shapes identity** from childhood . - **The Clarks' role in *Brown v. Board***—and why their findings remain urgent . - **Internalized racism in Black & Asian communities**—how stereotypes endure and how we resist . The doll test isn't just history—it's a mirror. Tune in to explore how we confront its legacy today.

Why aren't Black women cast as the lead actresses in romantic comedies?https://youtu.be/--kn7-_0Pgw?s...

Let's talk about how Beyoncé is making the summer of 2025 the Summer of Joy.

Trey's Table Episode 319: Breaking the Silence The Black Church has been our sanctuary. But for too many, it's also been a site of betrayal. This week on #treystable, we're confronting the unspoken crisis: sexual abuse in the Black Church. From pastors who exploit power to systems that silence survivors, it's time to name the harm—and chart a path to healing.

Black people in their 30s and 40s aren't going to church much anymore. Let's talk about why this is happening.

What happens when you appoint an incredibly incompetent white nationalist to be the Secretary of Defense? https://youtu.be/8hvWzy-RqZo?s...

Why does President Donald Trump want to prohibit state and local governments from being able to regulate AI?

This episode is dedicated to my gay and lesbian brothers and sisters and in particular those who served in the military.

Let's talk about the untold number of black Americans who at one point passed for white and the one courageous black American actress who refused to do so.