2026 WKAR Election Your Team. Your Vote. In Depth.
Public Media from Michigan State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

The story of Granny Hayden, a Black midwife and former slave

Season 2024 Episode 57 | 3m 05s

Mary Stepp Burnette Hayden was born into slavery on a plantation in Black Mountain, North Carolina. She remained there after being freed in 1865, going on to become a midwife. In this animated feature from our partners at StoryCorps, Hayden’s granddaughter Mary Othella Burnette tells her great-granddaughter, Debora Hamilton Palmer, about their family matriarch.

Major corporate funding for the PBS News Hour is provided by BDO, BNSF, Consumer Cellular, American Cruise Lines, and Raymond James. Funding for the PBS NewsHour Weekend is provided by Consumer Cellular and Cunard Cruise Line. For a complete list of funders for the PBS NewsHour and PBS NewsHour weekend, click here.
Extras
October 30, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
$6 billion cryptocurrency heist puts investors on edge
Inside a Ukrainian city hit by Russian drones during the Starlink disruption
Capehart and Continetti on closing messages and midterm predictions
'A down payment on change': Rahm Emanuel on what Democrats should do after midterms
Trump should 'take stock' and 'own' election outcome, Sen. Tillis says
Candidates make final midterm stops as early voting surges
News Wrap: Judge investigating if Trump officials misled court about D.C. golf course plan
October 29, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
Mapping the battle for control of the House