Episode 6: You Gotta Be

In this episode, host Angélica Cordero takes a deep dive into the ominous origins of the Atlantic slave trade, beginning with Prince Henry the Navigator's arrival of enslaved Africans in Portugal in 1444. The narrative then shifts to Gomes Eannes de Azurara, Henry's chronicler, who struggles with the horrifying reality of human suffering he witnesses. Fast forward to the turbulent history of women's and civil rights activism in America, highlighting figures like Harriet Tubman, Susan B. Anthony, and Frederick Douglass, who played monumental roles in transformative movements. The episode underscores the relentless nature of progress and persistence, drawing stark parallels between historical and contemporary issues such as corporate greenwashing and sanitized narratives of atrocities. Filled with poignant insights and a touch of humor, this episode reaffirms the significance of understanding history in its entirety to fuel ongoing social justice movements.This episode was written by and produced by Angélica Cordero, with a little help from ChatGPT.Our theme song is Don’t Kid Yourself Baby by Fold, used with their blessings. Podcast artwork for The Persistence features Mexican-American activist Jovita Idar and was created by Tamra Collins of Sunroot Studio.BooksAmerican Women by Gail CollinsCommon Sense and a Little Fire by Annelise OrleckOrdinary Equality by Kate KellyOut to Work: A History of Wage-Earning Women in the United States by Alice Kessler-HarrisRevolution in Mexico: Years of Upheaval, 1910-1940, Edited by James W. Wilkie and Albert L. MichaelsU.S. Latino Patriots by Refugio I. Rochín, Ph.D. and Lionel Fernandez, Ph.D.The Verso Book of Feminism, Edited by Jessie KindigThe Women’s History of the Modern World by Rosalind MilesWomen Together by Judith PapachritouSee more citations at Obsessively CuriousIf you haven’t please yet, subscribe and rate our feed in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. And even better, tell your friends.Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and share your thoughts with Angélica by emailing [email protected]. Get full access to Obsessively Curious at obsessivelycurious.substack.com/subscribe