Zora Neale Hurston was a brazen, boundary-breaking literary genius who was almost lost to history. You might be familiar with her contributions during the Harlem Renaissance, but that is merely the beginning of her indispensable relevance. This "deep dive and backstory" episode unpacks why.

Be sure to check the transcript for links to audio primary sources from the Library of Congress to hear Zora's narration - and singing - of ethnographic songs recorded at the Federal Music Project Office in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1939.

We would love to hear from you! Email hello@unerased.org and let us know where in the world you are listening, or what history we can highlight in a future episode from your corner of the world. Thank you for listening, and please subscribe, rate, and share this podcast!

History UnErased is putting LGBTQ history in its rightful place — the classroom. UnErased.org

For decades, much of what we knew about Cathay Williams came from military documents and a newspaper article published in 1876. But as historians continue to study Cathay’s life, new questions arise. What if we’ve had the story backwards this entire time?

History UnErased is putting LGBTQ history in its rightful place — the classroom. UnErased.org

Alice Austen's story is one of artistic brilliance and rebellion (not an unusual pairing), but her body of work, over 7,000 images, was almost lost to history. In this episode, you will learn how the social commentary in her photographs, taken during the turn of the century, is exceedingly relevant today, and how these photographs were discovered decades later.

History UnErased is putting LGBTQ history in its rightful place — the classroom. UnErased.org

World AIDS Day has been observed annually on December 1st since 1988. This year, 2025, is the first time since 1988 that the United States government has not honored World AIDS Day.

We took an opportunity, however, to commemorate World AIDS Day by interviewing Nicole Pascarelli O’Brien about her deep connection to the people involved in the early days of the AIDS Action Committee in Boston, and her efforts to preserve their stories.

At the end of this episode, you will hear a few voices from Nicole’s oral history archive: Larry Kessler, Linette Liebling, and Mary Clark.

History UnErased is putting LGBTQ history in its rightful place — the classroom. UnErased.org

Harvey Milk may already be familiar to you, as one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States, and for the tragedy that ended his life far too soon. But his legacy is much more than time-stamped moments. In this episode, you will learn a fuller story about Milk's legacy and why this great leader’s messages of visibility and hope still matter.

History UnErased is putting LGBTQ history in its rightful place — the classroom. UnErased.org

In this episode, we are exploring one of the most fascinating and misunderstood figures in Native American storytelling: the trickster. This figure embodies complexities and contradictions that reveal deep truths about ourselves and our place in the universe.

History UnErased is putting LGBTQ history in its rightful place — the classroom. UnErased.org

In this episode, you will meet Charley Parkhurst, who lived an extraordinary life as one of the most famous stagecoach drivers during the California Gold Rush!

IMPORTANT NOTE: We do not know how Charley identified or might identify today. The content in this episode uses language from primary source materials and conveys attitudes and circumstances from the time period.

History UnErased is putting LGBTQ history in its rightful place — the classroom. UnErased.org

There are plenty of conversations about gender today, in the media, pop culture, recent legislation, and even in Executive Orders. In this episode, our host, Kathleen Barker, will unpack the first known case of when someone’s gender became a legal matter. And the testimonies in the court records read like a soap opera.

History UnErased is putting LGBTQ history in its rightful place — the classroom. UnErased.org