Black History Month is a time for celebration and reflection, honoring the contributions of Black Americans throughout history. At The University of New Mexico, that conversation is front and center in the latest episode of It’s (Probably) Not Rocket Science (IPNRS).
Titled, "The More We Know, The More We Grow," the episode features Marsha Hardeman, a professor in UNM’s Africana Studies Department, who shares her experiences growing up in the segregated South and the importance of preserving Black history in education. Through personal stories and historical reflection, she examines the ongoing struggles for racial justice, connecting past civil rights battles to today’s challenges.
Hardeman, a graduate of UNM’s School of Law, didn’t always love history. She says she actively disliked it in high school.
“I think it was because I didn’t see anything that represented me,” she said. That changed when she took a class on Black theater in college. The professor, a passionate storyteller, used theater as a gateway to history, bringing to life the struggles and triumphs of Black Americans. “I thought, ‘Wow, how come nobody ever told us this before?’” Hardeman said.
Now, as a professor, she is determined students don’t miss out on those stories. Her work at UNM focuses on filling gaps in traditional history curricula and highlighting the contributions of Black women in activism.
“No disrespect to the men, but it was the women who did the work,” she said, referencing figures like Ella Baker, Dorothy Height, and Mary McLeod Bethune. “They organized, strategized, and mobilized, but weren’t given the spotlight. That’s a pattern we see in so many movements.”
During the episode, Hardeman also discussed her childhood in Louisville, Ky., where segregation shaped many aspects of her life. Public pools were closed to Black residents, and she never learned to swim until adulthood.
Amusement parks were also segregated, though her mother shielded her from that reality. “I remember asking, ‘Why don’t we go to Fountain Ferry Park?’ and my mom just said, ‘Oh, that place isn’t so great.’ Years later, I realized we weren’t allowed in,” she said. The park later shut down rather than stay open for an integrated community.
While blatant segregation is no longer the law, Hardeman argues that history is repeating itself in new ways.
“We are seeing efforts to eliminate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs across the country,” she said. “Students are in tears, afraid for their families, wondering if they’ll be able to stay here. The fear we’re seeing now—it reminds me of the Civil Rights Movement.”
Beyond the immediate political climate, Hardeman believes more research needs to be done on Black history that has been erased or hidden. She pointed to the descendants of the Tulsa Massacre, the unmarked graves of slaves, and even the remains of slave ships lost in the Atlantic.
“There’s so much we still don’t know,” she said. “How do we recover these stories? How do we make sure they aren’t erased again?”
One of her biggest concerns is the lack of Black history education in schools. “Every semester, students say to me, ‘How come nobody ever told us this before?’” she said. To encourage students to engage with history on a personal level, she gives them a unique assignment—research a historical event from the year a family elder was born and share it with them. “It creates a conversation between generations,” she said. “It makes history real.”
For Hardeman, the fight to preserve and teach Black history is ongoing. “I don’t like calling America a melting pot, because we don’t melt,” she said. “We’re more like a salad bowl—each culture keeps its own flavor, but together, we make something incredible.”
As Black History Month continues, It’s (Probably) Not Rocket Science is diving deeper into these conversations, challenging listeners to reflect on how history is taught and remembered. Hardeman remains hopeful for the future. “The more we know, the more we grow,” she said. “That’s why Black History Month matters.”
The episode is now available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other streaming platforms.
