100 Objects #5: Blue Back Speller
19 June - 45 minsIn this episode, Roman and historian Imani Perry follow the Webster Blue Back Speller from the early days of the United States, to the heart of Black intellectual life. Through the lives of Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. Du Bois, Roman and Imani uncover how a single object became a gateway to literacy, self-determination, and an enduring debate about what education, citizenship, and freedom should mean in America.
A History of the United States in 100 Objects is a production of 99% Invisible and BBC Studios.
Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of 99% Invisible ad-free and a whole week early.
Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/pod...
Series Episodes
The Horn That Divided the World Cup
Love it or hate it, one buzzing horn changed the sound of the World Cup forever.
33 mins
16 June Finished
100 Objects #4: Lowe's Gas Bag
In 1861, one man and a “gas bag” filled with hydrogen sparked America's obsession with going higher, farther, into the unknown.
38 mins
12 June Finished
Karaoke Videos
Behind every cheesy karaoke track was a surprisingly ambitious filmmaking experiment.
35 mins
9 June Finished
100 Objects #3: The Pension Files
Unearthing a remarkable slave rebellion through dusty Civil War paperwork.
43 mins
5 June Finished
The MAPL Test
Canada reshaped its music industry with a quirky radio rule that changed who got heard.
40 mins
2 June Finished
