Trey's Table cover art

Trey's Table

Trey's Table

By: James Smith
Listen for free

About this listen

 A podcast about African American politics, history, and culture.Copyright James Smith Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Trey’s Table Episode 350: Race and Labor Day

    Trey’s Table Episode 350: Race and Labor Day
    Sep 1 2025
    In Episode 350 of #TreysTable, we're unpacking what the "no tax on tips" proposal really means—and who it actually serves. Did you know the subminimum wage for tipped workers has roots in post-Civil War racial exploitation? This isn't just about economics—it's about racial equity and who gets to earn a living wage in America.

    We break down how the National Restaurant Association (the "other NRA") has spent millions fighting fair wages while pushing for tax changes that benefit corporate interests over workers . Meanwhile, tipped workers—disproportionately women of color—face the highest rates of sexual harassment and economic instability in any industry .

    But there's hope! Across the country, movements like #OneFairWage are fighting back. Cities like Portland are leading the charge to eliminate the subminimum wage entirely , and workers are demanding dignity and equitable pay.

    🔗 Tap the link in bio to listen to Episode 350 now! Then let me know: Have you ever worked for tips? How do you think we can build a more equitable food service industry?

    #TreysTablePodcast #Podcast #PodcastEpisode #PodcastLife #AfricanAmericanHistory #BlackHistory #LaborMovement #LaborRights #RestaurantWorkers #TippedWorkers #NoTaxOnTips #NationalRestaurantAssociation #OneFairWage #RacialJustice #EconomicJustice #WorkersRights #FightFor15 #BlackWorkers #SocialJustice #HistoryLesson #CommunityOrganizing
    Show More Show Less
    38 mins
  • Trey’s Table Episode 349: Texas Hold ‘Em

    Trey’s Table Episode 349: Texas Hold ‘Em
    Sep 1 2025
    Headline: How Smith v. Allwright Broke the Back of the White Primary

    If you think your vote doesn’t matter, history has a powerful story to change your mind.

    In the latest episode of Trey’s Table, we dive deep into Smith v. Allwright (1944), a landmark Supreme Court case that fundamentally reshaped the political landscape of the American South and supercharged the modern Civil Rights Movement.

    For decades after Reconstruction, Southern states used a web of discriminatory tactics to disenfranchise Black voters. One of the most effective was the “white primary.” Because the Democratic Party dominated the South, winning its primary was tantamount to winning the election. By banning Black voters from participating in these primaries, white officials effectively silenced them without breaking a single federal law.

    That is, until Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund took on the case of Lonnie E. Smith, a Black dentist in Houston who was denied a ballot.

    Their victory was monumental. The Supreme Court ruled that barring Black voters from primaries was unconstitutional, violating the 14th and 15th Amendments.

    The impact was immediate and dramatic:

    · Black voter registration in the South skyrocketed from around 200,000 in 1940 to over 800,000 by 1948.
    · The legal victory provided a crucial playbook for challenging other Jim Crow laws, paving the way for Brown v. Board of Education a decade later.
    · It proved that the courts could be a powerful tool for achieving racial justice.

    However, the fight was far from over. Southern states swiftly invented new barriers—literacy tests, poll taxes, and economic intimidation—to continue suppressing the Black vote. This ongoing struggle highlights why the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was so necessary and why protecting voting rights remains critical today.

    This story is more than a history lesson; it’s a testament to the power of strategic litigation and unwavering courage. To hear the full story of the legal strategy, the risks involved, and the lasting legacy of this case, listen to the latest episode of Trey’s Table.


    #TreysTable #Podcast #SmithVAllwright #ThurgoodMarshall #VotingRights #CivilRightsHistory #NAACP #BlackHistory #LearnHistory
    Show More Show Less
    44 mins
  • Trey’s Table Episode 348: Courage in Columbia

    Trey’s Table Episode 348: Courage in Columbia
    Aug 31 2025
    Before he was a Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall was a lawyer risking his life for justice.

    The latest episode of Trey’s Table is live! 🎧

    We’re diving into the harrowing story of the Columbia 25—25 Black men in Tennessee charged with attempted murder for defending their community from a racist mob and police violence in 1946.

    In this episode, you’ll learn: ➡️ How a young Thurgood Marshall took on their nearly hopeless case. ➡️ The stunning legal strategy he used in a hostile courtroom. ➡️ Why this trial was a critical, yet often forgotten, victory for civil rights.

    This story is a powerful reminder of the courage it took to challenge Jim Crow America. Don’t miss it.

    Click the link in my bio to listen! 🔗

    #TreysTable #NewEpisode #ThurgoodMarshall #CivilRights #BlackHistory #HistoryPodcast #NAACP #ColumbiaTennessee #AfricanAmericanHistory #LegalHistory #Justice #LearnOnInstagram #Threads
    Show More Show Less
    36 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.