The Folly Chronicles

Georgia Theresa Gilmore: Cooking for justice

In Georgia Gilmore's pursuit of Black equality, she fought first with her fists and then with lawsuits – but always with a side of sweet potato pie! Jo Ann Robinson, a Civil Rights activist, president of the Women’s Political Council  (WPC) and a professor at Alabama State College, organized a one-day bus boycott after Rosa Parks’ arrest — which preceded and was crucial to the year-plus 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott. To learn more about the boycotts and Robinson’s remarkable achievement of creating and distributing 35,000 flyers with the help of students and WPC members, read this article (Robinson is mentioned on page 6). https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1105&context=thetean [https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1105&context=thetean] Sources used: Pies From Nowhere, a children’s book by Dee Romito The Potlikker Papers: A Food History of the Modern South, by John T. Edge Article: Food History & Culture: Meet the Fearless Cook Who Secretly Fed and Funded the Civil Rights Movement, by Maria Godoy Article: Montgomery Advertising: Plenty With Little and Most Without a Lot, by Safiya Charles    Article: The Clerk’s Black History Series, by Debra DeBerry  Encyclopedia Alabama Household Workers Unite: The Untold Story of African American Women Who Built a Movement, by Premilla Nadasen Kids Encyclopedia Facts NPR: Morning Edition/Hidden Kitchen series, 2005 and NPR: Code Switch, 2023

Elizabeth Packard: Incurably Insane? Part 2

In part 2 of our Elizabeth Packard tale, Gwen and Val continue to discuss the remarkable story of Elizabeth Packard. If you haven't listened to part 1, please do so! Packard, who is largely forgotten to history,  was a pioneer in women and mental health advocacy and a true testament of resilience in the face of oppression. Thanks for listening! Thanks to Wendy Berry of Wendy Berry Arts for our original logo, and to Danielle of D’Lordes and their partner Siah for our theme song.  Sources used: The Woman They Could Not Silence, by Kate Moore A Noble Fight, by Linda Carlisle Mrs. Packard, by Emily Mann

Elizabeth Packard: Incurably Insane? Part 1

In this episode, Gwen and Val discuss the remarkable story of Elizabeth Packard. Labeled as “incurably insane” by not fitting into the rigid standards of the mid-1800s of America, she was condemned to an asylum by her husband. Against all odds, Packard fought for and won her freedom.  Packard, who is largely forgotten to history,  was a pioneer in women and mental health advocacy and a true testament of resilience in the face of oppression. Thanks for listening! Thanks to Wendy Berry of Wendy Berry Arts for our original logo, and to Danielle of D’Lordes and their partner Siah for our theme song.  Sources used: The Woman They Could Not Silence, by Kate Moore A Noble Fight, by Linda Carlisle Mrs. Packard, by Emily Mann

Alan Turing: Hero or Criminal?

Val and Gwen take a look back on the life of Alan Turing.  Anne Diamond interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9Wxpt2aFi4 Thanks for listening!