A.P.E. Academy

5,000 Rounds- Stories from the 1967 TSU Police Riot

Welcome to the A.P.E. Academy Podcast! In this episode we are going back to the night of May 16 and into the early morning of May 17, 1967 on the campus of Texas Southern University, a historically Black university located in Houston’s historic Third Ward neighborhood. 
The 1960s saw the United States rocked by nationwide protests demanding social, political, and economic equality for marginalized communities, most notably for African American voting rights and the end of Jim Crow segregation. While mainstream organizations like SCLC and SNCC grabbed national headlines, smaller local grassroots movements emerged as powerful countermeasures to state sanctioned violence and oppression. In the days and hours prior to the police riot, large groups of Texas Southern University students and residents of Houston’s predominately African American Third Ward rallied against abysmal living conditions and city neglect. While highly effective at stoking public outrage and unifying civil rights groups across the city, the campaign provided city officials with an excuse to retaliate against TSU’s student organizers. Beginning at approximately 11pm on May 16, 1967, the Houston Police Department launched a shockingly violent military style operation during which they arrested 489 students and bombarded a student dormitory with between 3-5,000 bullets. When the smoke cleared, one officer lay dead and multiple students and officers were wounded. What led to this severe escalation? Who was responsible for the death of Officer Louis Kuba? In this episode we will address these questions and unpack the events of the night through the personal experiences of those present. 
Music Credits 
Intro/Outro Music:  “[FREE] Houston Texas Type Beat 2024 ‘Cold Blooded’”
Artist: Rewind Era
Source: YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5WIvSxgzkc&list=RDG5WIvSxgzkc&start_radio=1 
To Learn More/Resources:
The Houston Public Library: https://houstonlibrary.org/aahrc
The Houston Public Library Digital Archives: https://houstonlibrary.org/digital-archives 
To learn more about the history of Texas Southern University: https://tsu.edu/about/history.php 
To learn more about The Houston Post now The Houston Chronicle newspaper: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/ 

The Quest for Respectability- The "Black Irish" pt. 2

Hello! Welcome to the A.P.E. Academy Podcast. In this episode we continue our debate on whether or not the Irish had to "become" white in America. Our conversation focuses on the historical formation of whiteness during the 19th century, and touches on what it means to be "American." God Bless! 

Shades of White (pt.1)- The "Black" Irish

Welcome back to the A.P.E. Academy Podcast. In this episode we continue our discussion on race, whiteness, and the assimilation of immigrant groups.
Irish Catholics are among the oldest and most respected of America's many European immigrant communities. However, upon arrival, they were widely despised, and at times suffered extreme discrimination. We will outline two major positions in the debate on Irish whiteness and explain the reasons for such divergent opinions. Enjoy!!

Shades of White- Race, Color & Immigrant Assimilation in America (Intro)

Welcome to the A.P.E. Academy Podcast!! We are back after a long layoff. This short episode is an introduction to a series entitled "Shades of White" in which we will discuss historical whiteness and the process of immigrant assimilation in America from the 18th to the 21st century. Irish, Italian, Jewish, Chinese, Japanese, Syrian, and Mexican communities will play central roles in our discussions on whiteness, that is, what it means to be "white" in America. Tune in!! 

In The Line of Fire: America's forgotten history of political violence pt.1

Welcome to the A.P.E. Academy Podcast! In the wake of the shocking assassination attempt on former President Donald J. Trump, we would like to explore political violence in American politics. Starting with Presidential assassinations and attempts, we will discuss how sharply polarized societies can be torn apart by diabolical men with murderous intent.  
Sources
1. Millard, Candice. "Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine, and the Murder of a President."
2. history.com
3. The Associated Press
4.The Library of Congress
 
Social Media:
IG @apeacademypodcast or @a.p.e.historypod 
TikTok @apeacademy

The bloody borderland- A history of racial violence on the Texas-Mexico border (pt.1)

Welcome to the podcast. The murder of ethnic Mexicans on a long the Texas-Mexico border is no a current phenomena. The violence inflicted on the Mexican population of the region contributed to the reputation of the 1910s as the bloodiest decade of racial and ethnic violence in the United States during the 20th century.  
Music: FreeBeats.IO
IG: @apeacademypodcast & @a.p.e.historypod
TikTok: @apeacademypod
Sources:
1. Villanueva Jr. Nicholas. "The Lynching of Mexicans in the Texas Borderlands."
2. Martinez, Monica. "The Injustice Never Leaves You: Anti-Mexican Violence in Texas."
3. National Endowment for the Humanities 

Killers for Hire: The Assassination of a president

Welcome to the podcast! On this episode we unpack the Assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise in July of 2021. We discuss the consequences, motivations, and multiple failings that led to the trajic event. Enjoy!
Music: FreeBeats.IO
Sources:
1. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, "Haiti's criminal markets: Mapping trends in firearms and drug trafficking." (2023)
2. NBC News
3. CBS News
4. BBC News

Hired Guns: The assassination of Jovenel Moise (PREVIEW)

This is a brief preview of our next episode! In the full episode we will dive into the conspiracy that lead to the brutal murder of Haitian President Jovenel Moise in 2021. Most experts believe that the assassination of the Haitian president contributed to the current humanitarian crisis. Tune in! 

Gangland: Haiti's descent into chaos (BONUS EPISODE)

Welcome to the A.P.E. Academy! On this current event episode we discuss the chaos unfolding in the Caribbean nation of Haiti and examine the vicious gangs who have seized power and murdered thousands. 
Music: FreeBeats.IO
IG: @apeacademypodcast and @a.p.e.historypod
Sources:
1.cnn.com
2. Encyclopedia Britannica 
3.foreignpolicy.com
4.Firstpost
5. NBC News 
 

Enslaved Soldiers and the Battle of New Orleans

Welcome to the podcast!!! This episode is based on the writings of James Roberts an enslaved man who fought in both the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. Mr. Roberts fought on the front lines beside future President Andrew Jackson in a heroic defense of New Orleans. Enjoy! 
Music: FreeBeats.IO
IG: @apeacademypodcast & @a.p.e.historypod
Tik Tok: @apeacademypod
Sources
1. The New Orleans Tribune
2. American Battlefield Trust
3. Roberts, James. The Narrative of James Roberts, a Soldier Under Gen. George Washington in the Revolutionary War, and Under Gen. Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans, in the War of 1812:"A Battle Which Cost Me a Limb, Some Blood, and Almost my Life."