Groundings

The Panthers & Armed Struggle Nov 23, 2024

This episode was recorded in the first week of August, 2024.

Dr. Gerald Horne discusses his new book, "Armed Struggle: Panthers and Communists, Black Nationalists and Liberals in southern California, Through the Sixties and Seventies."

Please forgive the minor audio issues here and there.

Onyesonwu Chatoyer joins as a co-host .

The Carribean, Haiti, and U.S. Imperialsm Aug 30, 2024

Activist and professor Tamanisha John joins Musa and Erica to discuss U.S. and Western imperialism in the Caribbean, the U.S.-backed invasion of Haiti by Kenyan forces, and the genocidal U.S. blockade of Cuba.

The Walter Rodney speech can be found in full here.

Check out Liberation Through Reading here.

The Legacy of Baba Masai Ehehosi Aug 24, 2024

Activist, journalist, and lawyer Anoa Changa joins to talk about her father, Black Liberation Army (BLA) member and former political prisoner Baba Masai Ehehosi, who transitioned on April 1, 2024. The conversation touches Baba Masai's lifelong commitment to Black liberation, sovereignty, freeing political prisoners, and the abolition of the prison-industrial complex. Anoa shares personal reflections on her father's impact and experiences on life and activism, as well as his influence within organizations like Critical Resistance, The Jericho Movement for Political Prisoners, and the Republic of New Afrika.

Listeners will gain insight into Baba Masai's enduring dedication to justice, his role in shaping movements against political repression, and his advocacy for prisoners' rights. We talk about the examples he set in his actions, the importance of inter-generational knowledge community, and how we can continue to honor and uplift his legacy through our organizing.

"Masai worked for the liberation of his people for over 50 years, and held a profound presence in the multiple organizations he was in. A co-defendant of Safiyah Bukhari captured by police in 1973 as a BLA member, Masai began working with the American Friends Services Committee (AFSC) and was staff of the AFSC’s Criminal Justice Program in Newark, NJ after being released from 14 years of prison in Virginia. At AFSC, Masai worked to close security housing units and end torture against imprisoned people through AFSC’s Prison Watch Program. At the time of his passing, Masai was also the current Co-Minister of Information for the Provisional Government of the Republic of New Afrika, an advisory board member ofThe Jericho Movementworking on the Jericho Medical Project for both state and federal prisoners, and was supporting the Prison and Gang Program of Al-Ummah and the Imam Jamil (Al-Amin) Action Network." — Critical Resistance

You can read more about Baba Masai here.

You can find Anoa here.

You can find the Jericho Movement for Political Prisoners here.

The Jericho Movement for Political Prisoners Jun 21, 2024

Political organizer, community worker, and former political prisoner Jihad Abdulmumit discusses his life, and the Jericho Movement for Political Prisoners.

The Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network Apr 28, 2024

Hussein Al-Rahman Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network discusses the struggle for Palestinian prisoners, some of the resistance tactics imprisoned Palestinians have used, and the importance of uplifting Palestinian prisoners. They also discuss the case of popular Palestinians figure Walid Daqqa, who wrote the episode's opening story, "Uncle, Give Me A Cigarette," read by comrade Bisan.

Learn more about how you can support Samidoun here.

Check out the Palestinian Youth Movement here.

Read "Uncle, Give Me A Cigarette" here.

Support the podcast at Patreon.com/HalfAtlanta or by purchasing a copy of Alive & Paranoid for an incarcerated comrade.

The Nonprofit Industrial Complex Mar 08, 2024

How did we get to an entire grassroots "industry" dominated by billionaire philanthropists? How do they influence and politically limit the "organizing", activism, and advocacy that thousands of people engage in? And most importantly, how does the Nonprofit Industrial Complex act as a force of counter-insurgency against the working, organizing masses?

These are just a handful of important questions that Hiram Rivera, Executive Director at the Community Resource Hub for Safety & Accountability answers in his conversation with co-hosts Erica Caines and Musa Springer.

Support Erica's Patreon here.

Support Musa's Patreon here.

Intro/Outro Music: "Black History Year" prod. by Epik The Dawn.

'The Movement Underestimates Fascism' - Gerald Horne Jan 20, 2024

The goat 🐐 himself Dr. Gerald Horne joined me for a special bonus episode of the groundings podcast. We discuss the current state of global politics, imperialism in crisis, the potential for a new multipolar world,,growing contradictions and splits among European colonizers,,and the rising fascism across the west.

He also answers some questions submitted by Patreon subscribers! If you enjoyed this 'bonus' episode, consider checking out our Patreon at Patreon.com/Halfatlanta, where more of these special episodes are posted every month, and where subscribers can submit questions to podcast episodes.

Tune in, let me know you're thoughts, and share + rate the episode 5 stars if you enjoyed it.

The Artists Against Apartheid Dec 26, 2023

This is audio from a panel discussion about the role of artists against imperialism and apartheid, that took place on November 29, 2023 in Atlanta, GA. Our focus was on the genocide unfolding in Palestine, however the topic spans many relevant points related to art, revolutionary movements, and more.

We expected about 40 people to show up, and instead nearly 100 did, and we had people sitting on the floors, in people's laps, and even 4 rows of chairs outside the room in the hallway listening.

The panel was hosted by WRFG, Artists Against Apartheid, Atlanta Radical Art Collective, and the Black Alliance for Peace Atlanta. The audio has been lightly edited for time purposes, and to make it a better listening experience.

We opened up with a series of readings from poets, which I unfortunately had to condense due to time constraints. If yall would like a 'bonus' episode with the full poetry readings, let me know.

Poets: Stephen Foster Smith, W.J. Lofton, Aurielle Marie

Panelists: Lulu Ali Amar, Umaymah, Rozina Shiraz Gilani, Musa Springer, Jasmine Nicole Williams (moderator)

Enjoy!

the apocalypse Dec 26, 2023

"the apocalypse" by Musa Springer, Protean Magazine, Nov. 3, 2020

The Framing of Leonard Peltier Jul 23, 2023

Nick joins the show to provide a comprehensive and riveting breakdown of the struggles faced by Leonard Peltier, one of the longest held political prisoners in the world, incarcerated for almost five decades. We dive into the history of the American Indian Movement (AIM), the blood counter-insurgency war waged by the U.S. government against AIM, the critical implications of Peltier's case, and the broader context of Indigenous resistance in the United States.

In a recent article, Nick writes: "The way Leonard Peltier tells it, he was a criminal the day he was born — but not by choice. The seventy-eight-year-old Anishinaabe and Dakota elder says his “aboriginal sin” was being born Indian in a country founded on Indians’ forced disappearance."

Nick Estes is an Indigenous organizer, journalist, and historian, and a citizen of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe. He is a co-founder of The Red Nation and Red Media, and the author of Our History Is the Future: Standing Rock Versus the Dakota Access Pipeline, and the Long Tradition of Indigenous Resistance.

Check out the International Leonard Peltier Defense Committee and get involved here.

Consider supporting the Groundings Podcast at Patreon.com/HalfAtlanta.

The COINTELPRO war Jun 27, 2023

In this episode of the Groundings podcast, host Musa Springer talks with Dr. Akinyele Umoja, a scholar, activist, and author, about the notorious COINTELPRO program. This program was led by the FBI and local police departments, and was an all-out war on Black organizers. This episode delves into the history, consequences, and the struggle led by Black organizers to expose the violent program.

Dr. Umoja provides a comprehensive understanding of the COINTELPRO program, its inception, and first-hand account of its impact on Black liberation movements in the US. The episode begins with a discussion about Assata Shakur, a prominent figure within the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation Army, and her experiences with COINTELPRO.

Dr. Umoja shares his insights on the counterintelligence and counterinsurgency tactics used by the FBI to disrupt and neutralize Black nationalist movements, and how these tactics are relevant and still in use today. He also discusses the discovery of the COINTELPRO program and the subsequent congressional hearings that confirmed its existence.

The U.S. and Cuba during Slavery and Jim Crow May 28, 2023

Dr. Gerald Horne, the 🐐historian and author of "Race to Revolution: The U.S. and Cuba during Slavery and Jim Crow”, discusses the intricate history of race and slavery between the U.S. and Cuba, the profound influence of U.S. slavery on Cuban society and politics, and the ongoing consequences brought on by the U.S. Blockade.

Dr. Horne discusses what slave resistance in Cuba looked like, the Haitian Revolution's deep significance and far-reaching impact on the Caribbean, and the surprising connections between Confederate slaveowners and the white Cubans who fled the island following the revolution in 1959. We also discuss the African nature of the Cuban Revolution (yes, it was an African revolution), the result of anti-communism and anti-Blackness on the island prior to the Cuban Revolution, and the long history of strong solidarity from Cuba to the African world.

This episode invites you to reflect on the historical threads that continue to weave the contemporary social and political fabrics, not only in Cuba but in the broader context of African liberation and international relations.

Check out Dr. Horne's book "Race to Revolution" here and "The Dawning of the Apocalypse: The Roots of Slavery, White Supremacy, Settler Colonialism, and Capitalism in the Long Sixteenth Century" here.

The clip you hear at the end of El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz describing his meeting with Fidel Castro can be found here.

Considering support Groundings on Patreon here.

The Legacy of Imam Jamil Al-Amin May 26, 2023

Activist and musician Baba Bilal Sunni-Ali, of the Jamil Al-Amin Action Network, joins Groundings to discuss the life, legacy, and impact of current political prisoner Imam Jamil Al-Amin.

Formerly known as H. Rap Brown, Imam Jamil Al-Amin was once one of the Amerika's most well-known Black revolutionary activists. A former member of SNCC, Jamil Al-Amin was framed for a crime in 2000, and despite a mountain of evidence showing his innocence, he's sat as a political prisoner ever since.

Baba Bilal Sunni-Ali discusses the legal matters related to Al-Amin's case, the current movement to free him, and the impact he had on several communities, including Atlanta's West End neighborhood.

To get involved and support the campaign to free Imam Jamil Al-Amin, check out: www.imamjamilactionnetwork.org

Also, consider supporting the podcast at Patreon.com/Halfatlanta

You can access the clip you hear of Jamil Al-Amin speaking here.

The Jailhouse Lawyer Known As Sundiata Jawanza May 09, 2023

In this episode, we discuss the story of Sundiata Jawanza, who has been in prison since 1995 on a life sentence. Sundiata has spent the last 28 years working towards self-development and has become a beacon of hope for others in prison; he's a selfless advocate for prisoners' rights, is a peer counselor where he supports the mental health of fellow incarcerated people, and provides legal aid and education through his work as a founder of the organization Jailhouse Lawyers Speak. He has also served as the Imam, providing spiritual guidance to the entire prison Muslim population.

Jay and Rock discuss the recent movement to free Sundiata, as his parole approaches, what his organizing and activism has looked like, who he is as a person, the role of jailhouse lawyers, and how the listeners can get involved to bring him home.

Visit SundiataJawanza.com for more information and to get involved.

Visit Patreon.com/Halfatlanta to support the podcast.

The Pendleton 2 Apr 25, 2023

In this episode, poet and activist Too Black joins to discuss the incredible story of the Pendleton 2. We dive into the details of the 1985 uprising at the Pendleton Correctional Facility and explore the factors that led to this critical event: racial tensions and a violent prison environment created by guards who were part of a KKK splinter group, the "Sons of Light," pushed John 'Balagoon' Cole and Christopher 'Naeem' Trotter to take a courageous stand against racist prison abuse.

Too Black gives us a play-by-play of the day's events, highlighting the importance of unity among prisoners in making the rebellion, and we learn how Cole and Trotter managed to bring everyone together and prevent the situation from escalating into something much worse. We also discuss their decision to call Black radio stations and newspapers for help, warning them that their lives were in danger if they didn't intervene; examine the 14 demands they issued which were eventually met; and why this event became known as "Indiana's Attica." Despite their heroic actions to save a Black man's life from racist prison guards, both Cole and Trotter remain incarcerated to this day. As we wrap up our conversation, we share resources for listeners who want to learn more about the Pendleton 2 and get involved in supporting their cause.

Please visit Pendleton2.com to learn more, watch the new documentary, and get involved.

Please consider supporting the podcast on Patreon at patreon.com/halfatlanta.

The 'Nation Time' Sound Apr 12, 2023

We sit down with Slank and Sunny Ture to discuss their new album, "Nation Time."

Throughout the episode, we delve into the creative process behind "Nation Time," discussing the themes, concepts, and inspirations that shaped the album. We examine the samples used throughout the project, including speeches from influential figures like Amiri Baraka, Malcolm X, Tupac Shakur, and Edward Onaci. Additionally, we take a closer look at the album's bibliography and its connection to the politically conscious roots of hip-hop, with standout tracks like "Black Belt Thesis" and "Devil in the Details."

Read the full Nation Time bibliography.

Check out more music from the PushSoul Collective.

Support the Groundings podcast on Patreon.

Buy prints from Musa's shop, which helps support the podcast.

The #StopCopCity Movement Mar 07, 2023

In this episode of Groundings, host Musa Springer is joined by Atlanta organizer Tunde Osazua as co-host; they sit down with local organizer and lawyer Kamau Franklin to discuss the ongoing struggle surrounding the development of Cop City in Atlanta. Kamau provides insightful analysis on the background and larger political context of Cop City, the response from organizers and residents, and what makes this specific movement so important.

We dive into Cop City origins, Kamau explains that the idea of the facility started prior to the 2020 uprisings, but after the uprisings, it was brought forth and rushed to the public. The name "Cop City" was coined by local organizers and residents who saw the development as a form of repression and response to the uprisings. We then look at the many organizing efforts against Cop City, and Kamau emphasizes that the community has been active in opposing the development and has formed various coalitions to mobilize against it.

This is the first time that 'domestic terrorism' charges have been used against protesters in this way, and it's also the first time an environmental activist, young Tortuguita, has been killed by polcie in the U.S. We talk about the incredibly damning legal and political implications of all this.

The Revolutionary Life of Jalil Muntaqim Oct 16, 2022

Just two months before his 20th birthday, Black Panther and Black Liberation Army members Jalil Muntaqim was captured by enemy forces along with Albert “Nuh” Washington, and made into one of the longest-held political prisoners in U.S. history.

Muntaqim joins the show to discuss his revolutionary life, his long history of organizing for incarcerated people, and his own political incarceration. We also get into a crucial paradox: the imagery of the Black Panthers is very popular now, with capitalists like Beyonce and Marvel profiting from the aesthetics of the organization, while the actual lives of surviving Black Panthers themselves are disregarded. We also discuss the Mutual Aid for Veteran Black Panther Party Members fund that Muntaqim organized alongside Kamau Franklin, which helps give material support to veterans of the Black liberation struggle each month.

[This episode was originally recorded in February, so some dates and time-sensitive mentions may be outdated.]

Support the Mutual Aid for Veteran Black Panther Party Members here.

Support the podcast on Patreon here.

Read the findings of the 2021 International Tribunal On U.S. Human Rights Abuses Against Black, Brown, and Indigenous Peoples here.

Purchase of a copy of the third edition of We Are Our Own Liberators: Selected Prison Writings here.

Visit the Jericho Movement website here.

Intro audio sourced from the 2002 documentary by Eve Goldberg and Claude Marks, based on an interview done in August 2000 by John O'Reilly and Nina Dibner, Jalil Muntaqim - Voice of Liberation.

Music by the homie JayOhAye.

The Decolonial Feminist Collective Jul 17, 2022

In this conversation from March 2022, reproductive justice practitioner, organizer, researcher, and educator Jalessah Jackson speaks about decolonial feminism, a framework that forges material feminist solidarities through an examination of the relationship between gender and colonialism. We discuss the origins of this intellectual and organizing framework, its relationship to bourgeois and carceral feminisms, material international solidarity work, and the role of scholar-activism. Get into it!

Check out the decolonial feminist collective at instagram.com/decolonialfeministcollective /

The music you hear was produced by the homie JayOhAye , support them at www.jayohaye.com /

Support Groundings on Patreon at patreon.com/Halfatlanta /

Support ARC-Southeast at arc-southeast.org/ /

The Struggle For Reproductive Justice Jun 13, 2022

Reproductive justice practitioner Jalessah Jackson and public health professional Debbie Billings join us to discuss the recent leak by SCOTUS, which showed they are prepared to overturn abortion rights in the U.S.

We put this decision by SCOTUS into the overall political context, discussing how it relates to other fascist assaults on TLGBQ rights, and is part of a larger fascist 'backlash.' We also discuss maternal health internationally, why a people-centered human rights framework is vital, and the power of mutual aid and other grassroots organizing in the face of state violence.

ARC-Southeast

Palmetto State Abortion Fund

Las LIBRES: La Historia Después (Documentary)

Accompaniment (Documentary)

What Is People(s)-Centered Human Rights?

Decolonial Feminist Collective

The Apokalypse of Settler Colonialism May 27, 2022

Dr. Horne’s books ‘The Apocalypse of Settler Colonialism’ and ‘The Dawning of the Apocalypse’ are essential readings in understanding the original sins of empire, the worlds that settler colonialism precluded, and the apokalyptic transformation the world is experiencing today. Our conversation moves across subjects of colonial technology and weaponry, Africa's underdevelopment, and how our material conditions within empire are directly tied to the material conditions across the African continent and diaspora.

Dr. Horne also candidly reflects on his own writing process, how he’s such a prolific and productive writer and activist, and the stakes of doing rigorous work as a peoples historian. Give it a listen and let us know your thoughts in the comments!

Audio snippets heard in the episode:

Kwame Ture on The History of Pan Africanism

Walter Rodney - Crisis in the Periphery: Africa and the Caribbean

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If you enjoyed the episode, consider subscribing to Dev's Patreon [here] to support the show and get access to extras.

Music by the comrade JayOhAye.

The Role of Christianity In African Colonization Apr 14, 2022

Christian churches are found on virtually every corner across the African world, from the continent to its expansive diaspora, and their role in the affairs of Africans have long been called into question. How did a foreign religious practice gain so much influence across Africa, and why are millions of Africans devoutly following the religion even at the expense of their own indigenous practices? How do the legacies of enslavement and colonization inform Christian thinking, and how do these legacies influence the neo-colonialism of the African world today? How do other religious or spiritual practices, like Islam or Voudou, fit into this historical arc?

Actor, director, and producer Onuora Abuah helps us make sense of all this and much more in this conversation.

You can find Onuora's outstanding documentary work on YouTube here, or at KweliTV here.

If you enjoyed the episode, consider subscribing to Dev's Patreon here to support the show.

Music by the comrade JayOhAye.

The Legacy of Black Communist Women Mar 11, 2022

From Claudia Jones and Safiya Bukhari, to Assata Shakur and Dr. Patricia Rodney, the impact of Black women radicals has created monumental shifts in the way we think, organize, and survive. In this episode we're joined by community organizer and writer Erica Caines and professor Charisse Burden-Stelly, who dive into a deep history of important Black communist women figures like Claudia Jones. We discuss what makes their work so important, why they have such lasting relevance, how we should engage their work, and why there's a battle going on to dissociate them from their communist politics.

In the opening, you will hear an excerpt from a speech given by Shirley Graham Du Bois in 1970 at UCLA. You can listen to the full speech here.

To support the podcast, consider becoming a monthly patron at Patreon.com/Halfatlanta.

To support Erica Caines, consider becoming a monthly patron at Patreon.com/Rickii.

Shout out to the homie JayOhAye for providing music for season 4 of Groundings; check out more of their work here.

This episode was recorded using SquadCast.

The Christmas Rebellion Dec 24, 2021

Armed uprisings across the Caribbean can often be portrayed as spontaneous and isolated events that were largely unsuccessful. In fact, these efforts have informed each other across time and can reshape how we think about imperial domination in Africa and across the Americas. The Christmas Rebellion, sometimes called the Baptist Uprising, is the largest rebellion in Jamaica's history, and it reveals the importance of continued resistance and pushes us to rethink what we call ‘successful’ revolts by the enslaved.

Writer and organizer Q. Anthony Omene joins us to discuss this and much more, in the first episode of Groundings season 4.

You will also hear archival audio from Walter Rodney, which can be found in full here.

Hosts:

Darien

Dev

Support:

Patreon.com/Halfatlanta

The US Blockade & Cuban Protests Nov 16, 2021

On this episode, we talk about the US blockade against Cuba, which we define as a weapon of economic, political, racist, colonial warfare against the Cuban people. We hear from Belly of the Beast producer Daniel Montero, who explains the main character behind these mysterious protests, and then we dive into some historical context. Finally, we discuss the blockade in detail, and Luna tells us some of the important documentary projects they're working on.

Make sure you check out Belly of the Beast's work on YouTube here, and follow them on Twitter as well here.

#EndTheBlockade #UnblockCuba #CubaSíBloqueoNo

Music: "(DRILL) CUBAN DRILL - LATIN Brass Sax by Dios Mio Beats"

The Palestinian Resistance & Sheikh Jarrah May 17, 2021

The entire world has witnessed israel's naked colonial violence in Sheikh Jarrah, Palestine, where countless Palestinians have been brutalized and forcefully removed from their homes. Palestinian writer and activist Mohammed el-Kurd joins the show to discuss the latest round of ethnic cleansing in his home neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah, the many ways that Palestinians are resisting israel colonial domination, and why we're seeing unprecedented resistance from Palestinians. We also discuss those who only support Palestinians when they appear to be 'perfect victims' but are quiet when they are resisting iraeli state violence, and how international media is complicit in ongoing israeli apartheid.

Palestinian-American medical worker and community organizer Abu Shawarib joins as co-host.

This is a special bonus episode of season 3 in collaboration with Mondoweiss, an independent website devoted to informing readers about developments in occupied Palestine and related US foreign policy.

The Plurality of Abolitionism Jan 01, 2021

Professor, writer, and activist Dr. Joy James joins the show to discuss her work around abolition. More specifically, we look at what Dr. James calls "academic abolitionism", the role that academics play in halting or co-opting revolutionary organizing, the current state of the prison abolition movement, and why it is revolutionary to start our political organizing with one simple question: what do Black children need?

Felicia Denaud joins as co-host.

The beat you hear was produced by JayOhAye, and you can hear more here.

The painting on the cover art is "J.D. McClain’s Day in Court" (1970) by Jeff Donaldson.

If you enjoyed the episode, consider supporting on Patreon here.

The Work of Dr. Patricia Rodney Dec 20, 2020

Patricia Rodney, public health expert, researcher, activist, and wife of the late Dr. Walter Rodney, discusses her 1998 book, "The Caribbean State, Health Care, and Women: An Analysis of Barbados and Grenada." We talk about her analysis of Caribbean state healthcare as it relates to women, the Cuban healthcare system, and how her analysis remains incredibly relevant during our current pandemic.

We then speak on her decades-long work in preserving Walter Rodney's legacies, as well as the trouble that sometimes comes along with that.

The Myth of Black Buying Power Nov 26, 2020

Dr. Jared Ball joins the show to discuss his new book, The Myth and Propaganda of Black Buying Power. We discuss the propaganda used to perpetuate the supposed trillion-dollar "buying power" myth, Black capitalism, and the Black misleadership class of rappers. Writer and organizer Erica Caines just as guest co-host for the conversation.

The first audio you will hear is a scene from the Malcolm X movie, the second audio clip is Angela Davis discussing the relationship between capitalism and racism.

The Role Of Artists Beyond Celebrity Nov 02, 2020

Rapper and poet Noname has spent a bulk of her career rejecting celebrity, and is now taking a turn towards the left to embrace anti-imperialist, anti-capitalist, and radical politics. Dr. Charisse Burden-Stelly and Devyn Springer speak with her to find out what the trajectory towards political activation has been like, who inspires her, where she sees the state of hip-hop today, how she hopes to continue on her political path, voting, and much more.

You will hear interlude audio of Nina Simone discussing the role of artists, and of a clip contrasting the political orientations of Tupac Shakur and Young Thug.

If you enjoy the episode make sure to rate it 5 stars, subscribe and share.

Also, consider supporting patreon.com/HalfAtlanta.

The 'Residue' of Gentrification Oct 27, 2020

Guest hosts Yasmina and Tarik interview filmmaker Merawi Gerima, who discusses his new film Residue. The film puts the spotlight on gentrification in DC, and all the racist, violent baggage and displacement that accompanies it.

They discuss the process of 'community filmmaking' that helped create the film, the role of capital in dictating creative directing choices, the importance of Black film and narrative-shaping, the Gerima legacy of filmmaking and community building, the power of DC's go-go music, and much more.

The Canadian Police State Oct 06, 2020

Writer, educator, and author of Policing Black Lives: State violence in Canada from slavery to the present, Robyn Maynard joins me to discuss policing, state violence, and prisons in Canada, as well as the connections between Indigenous and Black struggles against state violence. We also talk about the 'post-racial' mythmaking which is synonymous to Canada, despite its centuries-long history of enacting structural and systemic violence on colonized communities globally.

The Anti-Black, Anti-Communist Academia Sep 08, 2020

Dr. Charisse Burden-Stelly discusses the history and institutionalization of Black Studies, the often overlapping relationship between anti-communism and anti-Blackness, and the 'elision' of political economy in capitalist academia.

Moreover, she also talks about 'academic McCarthyism', academic celebrities, ideological battles, and the current state of Black Studies.

[cover image: student activist Don McAllister beaten bloodied and arrested by pigs during San Francisco State College protests, 1968]

The Grassroots VS The Misleadership Class Aug 25, 2020

Writer and activist Benji Hart discusses the multitude of ways grassroots movements against police in Chicago are challenging the Black misleadership class.

We discuss the struggle around the struggle against the construction of a $95 million cop academy in Chicago, the many movements and educational moments birthed from this struggle, and how individuals like Mayor Lori Lightfoot represent the 'Black misleadership class'.

You will here audio from a 2017 Chicago City Council meeting which can be found here. In this audio clip you will also hear chants stating "NTA is here to stay" - you can find out more details about that chant and the struggle surrounding it here. You can also learn more about LVEJO's ight against environmental racism here.

You can find more of Benji's work at Benjihart.com.

If you enjoyed the episode, consider supporting the podcast on Patreon here. Money goes to transcription of episodes (releasing soon!), production assistance, equipment, and more to keep the show running.

The Anti-Black Pinnings of Ableism Jul 24, 2020

Community organizer and educator Dustin Gibson discusses the white supremacist, colonial, capitalist roots of ableism which structures capitalist society, why a disability justice framework must be abolitionist, and why "the state always has a carceral response to disabled Black people."

Throughout the episode, you will hear the following audio clips:

Cover image: “Back of the Neck,” (1983) by Jean-Michel Basquiat

The Political Prisoner: From Mumia Abu-Jamal To Palestine Jul 03, 2020

Mumia Abu-Jamal, world-renowned political prisoner, former Black Panther, and award-winning journalist, gives me his opinion on the movement taking place in the streets right now against police violence, the outpouring of international solidarity we've witnessed, and more. Because he is incarcerated, our interview was cut very short, but he still manages to pack intense amounts of wisdom into only a few minutes.

Then we hear from author, professor, and longtime activist Johanna Fernández, who has spent nearly two decades working on the campaign to free Mumia and all political prisoners. We discuss what it is about Mumia specifically that makes millions around the world demand his freedom, why this new generation of activists and everyone else has a moral duty to free political prisoners, and why the creation of political prisoners inevitably means the ruling class shooting themselves in the foot.

Mumia is arguably the most recognized political prisoner in the world, having served three decades on death row for a crime he was framed for. Millions across the world have read and engaged with his writings, listened to his audio analyses from incarceration, and found clarity in the always stellar commentary in his multiple top telling books. As we discuss abolition, tearing down prisons, defunding the police, and all related topics, it's imperative that we continue to uplift the fight to free all political prisoners, including Mumia. You can find out how to donate, write letters to, and spread the word for Mumia's freedom here.

You will hear an audio interlude which includes clips from old news coverage of the cases of Mumia Abu-Jamal, Assata Shakur, Jamil Al-Amin, Herman Bell, and Angela Davis.

// Transition music produced by 23djTbone

The Intellectual Life Of Du Bois May 05, 2020

I spoke with scholar, writer, and professor Charisse Burden-Stelly about W.E.B. Du Bois. Charisse recently co-authored the new book W.E.B. Du Bois: A Life in American History with historian Gerald Horne, and has an extensive amount of insight, knowledge, and research on the life of Du Bois. Moreover, she's apt to think deeply on the intellectual, political, and ideological history within his life trajectory.

We speak about Du Bois, the many ways his ideological positions shifted over the century (!) he lived, where Du Bois fell short and where he accelerates, how to position him between Pan-Africanism, communism, and Black Nationalism, his internationalist politic, and much more!

Throughout the episode you will hear excerpts from his speech "Socialism and the American Negro" given in 1960. You can read the speech here.

You can purchase Charisse's book here.

The Revolution Can't Be Quarantined Apr 19, 2020

Philadelphia based community organizer and writer Steven Powers helps run a community based, free, socialist gym, the People Power Gym, and is involved in a number of other community survival projects. In this episode we discuss how his organization was able to turn these survival programs into a Covid-19 mutual aid grocery program, delivering free groceries throughout their neighborhood. We also discuss how capitalism has exacerbated this pandemic into a crisis with blood on its hands, the need for community organizing, a cautious understanding of 'mutual aid', and Sock'em Boppers.

Support their fundraiser here. You can read Safiyah Bukhari's The War Before here, and George Jackson's Soledad Brother here.

Audio samples used:

Assata Shakur, Eyes of the Rainbow
Mumia Abu-Jamal, Safiyah Bukhari: Lioness for Liberation
Fred Hampton, On the Importance of Education
Ericka Huggins, On Meditation

The Young Lords: A Radical History Apr 10, 2020

Professor Johanna Fernandez introduces listeners to the Young Lords, a revolutionary Puerto Rican organization that radically shifted international discourse on Puerto Rican politics.

Fernandez recently publish The Young Lords: A Radical History, a groundbreaking and foundational new book which compiles 20 years of research to create the authoritative history of the Young Lords. In our conversation we discuss the roots of the Young Lords organization, how they transformed from a street gang to revolutionary socialist organization, the political and ideological motivations of the group, why they took a specific, relevant focus on health issues, and much more.

The poem you hear recited throughout the episode is titled "Puerto Rican Obituary", written and performed by the late Pedro Pietri, poet, activist, former Young Lord, and one of the founding members of the Nuyorican Movement.

If you enjoyed this episode, consider purchasing Johanna's book and support her work, and you can also support the host on Patreon as well.

The Gentrification of Atlanta Oct 26, 2019

I speak with community organizer, researcher, and writer Taiza Troutman to discuss urban development, trap music, Tyler Perry, activism, homelessness, neoliberalism, displacement and, above all else, gentrification in Atlanta.

Audio used throughout the episode was provided graciously by Eva Dickerson, activist, educator, and all around comrade. Watch the full video in which this audio is from here.

Some of the books mentioned in the episode:

Rashad Shabazz, Spatializing Blackness: Architectures of Confinement and Black Masculinity in Chicago

Lester K. Spence, Knocking the Hustle: Against the Neoliberal Turn in Black Politics

Saidiya Hartman, Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments: Intimate Histories of Social Upheaval

The Philosophy of Amílcar Cabral's Actions Sep 23, 2019

We explore the philosophy and theoretical work behind the actions of Amílcar Cabral, African revolutionary from Guinea-Bissau who helped lead a succesful anti-colonial movement against the Portugese in Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde.

Reasearcher, writer, and organizer Zeyad El Nabolsy discusses Cabral's approach to culture and cultural liberation, dispels some eurocentric and racist myth surrounding Cabral's legacy, and looks at Cabral's relationship to Marxism.

You can find Zeyad's essays we reference here, as well as the essay by Blaut here which he mentions towards the end.

Intro/outro audio: Angela Davis on Amilcar Cabral, 1973

You can support me at Patreon.com/HalfAtlanta, and follow me on Twitter @halfatlanta.

The State VS Keith Davis Jr. Aug 07, 2019

If you don't know the story of #KeithDavisJr., make sure you listen to this episode of the #GroundingsPodcast.

Keith is being framed for murder by the Baltimore police and the state of Baltimore.

Police shot at Keith over 44 times, hitting him in the face and neck.

Keith has been in jail for a crime he didn't commit since 2015.

Keith has been through FOUR trials because Marilyn Mosby, the state attorney, is determined to see him behind bars.

Keith was the first high-profile police in shooting in Baltimore since Freddie Gray, and because Marilyn Mosby gave the allusion (at the time) of accountability for Freddie Gray's murder, she's now being as hard on Keith as possible to win back the trust of police, police unions, and prosecutors.

Virtually all evidence — surveillance footage, ballistics reports, firearms reports, firearms registries, witness testimonies — show that Keith is innocent.

Keith's wife, Kelly, was on the phone with him when police began to fire over 44 rounds at him. She has fought relentlessly to free him since that day.

We get into all of these details, the context for his involvement, who he is, the lies and scandal and coverup surrounding his case, in this episode.

You can donate to Keith's family here.

You can follow Bilphena and Amelia as well.

The School To Prison Pipeline May 12, 2019

In this episode, activist and writer Bilphena Yahwon get into the nitty gritty details of the school-to-prison pipeline, racial disparities in school disciplinary actions, how these disparities send Black children to prison, and the ways she uses restorative justice processes to combat it.

The (Current) Uprising Happening In Haiti Apr 18, 2019

Haiti is an island in perpetual revolution, and over the past few months massive island-wide mobilizations have been taking place as Haitians protest to oust their corrupt, neo-colonial, U.S.-installed government.

I speak with lawyer, activist, and director of the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti Brian Concannon, who gives a general overview of why Haitians are protesting, and how the corrupt and violent Moïse government has remained in power with support from Western empires like the US. Then we discuss the connection between the protests in Haiti and the imperialist aggression on Venezuela, and we compare the stark differences in Western media attention to both situations.

The struggle in Haiti is ongoing, and independent media outlets like the Haiti Info Project are critical to understanding what's happening on the ground there. Please follow and support their work!

If you like the podcast, make sure you subscribe, share it, and tweet at @halfatlanta to let Devyn know! You can also support the podcast efforts at Patreon.com/HalfAtlanta.

The Politics of Food and Blackness in Venezuela (Part 2) Feb 28, 2019

This is part two of a special report on Venezuela, in collaboration with Venezuelanalysis.com.

First I speak with Christina Schiavoni, scholar and activist who deals with issues of food, food sovereignty, and agriculture. Her work in Venezuela has been very important to dispelling misinformation about food, food shortages, and agricultural production in Venezuela, as well as the great strides towards food sovereignty that the Bolivarian Revolution has made. We specifically reference an essay of hers titled "The Politics of Food in Venezuela" that masterfully combats myths and intentional misinformation surrounding the subject.

Then Jeanette Charles of Venezuelanalysis.com interviews Dr. Akinyele Umoja, head of Georgia State University's Black Studies department and co-founder of the Malcom X Grassroots Movement. Akinyele is a friend of the Walter Rodney Foundation and has an incredible ability to tie relevant historical information in Black history with the social, political, and cultural movements of today. In this interview he discusses the long history of the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement doing solidarity work with Afro-Venezuelans, how the Bolivarian Revolution was a Black revolution, and how the government has taken great strides to help African people both in Venezuela and throughout the entire diaspora. Dr. Umoja has traveled several times to Venezuela, including for the International Meeting on Reparations for African peoples which was held in Caracas.

A very special thank you to Jonathan Chai-Chang Azterbaum, who did post-production for this episode, as well as part 1. If you missed part 1, where we cover the grassroots activist perspectives of the importance of the Bolivarian Revolution and elections in Venezuela, you can listen here.

The Bolivarian Revolution, Venezuela's Fight Against US Imperialism (Part 1) Feb 12, 2019

In collaboration with Venezuelanalysis.com, this is part one of a two-part special on current events in Venezuela, as well as the historical developments which have led to the country being the target of an international imperialist campaign, conducted by the U.S., to remove the popularly elected President Maduro and install a Western puppet via a coup. We remove the imperialist propaganda dominating the news and interview four different people whose analyses are key to understanding Venezuela, the Bolivarian Revolution, U.S. imperialism, grassroots activism, sanctions, race, gender and agriculture in the country, and so much more.

For part one, you will hear an interview with Jeanette Charles from Venezuelanalysis.com, who gives a general overview of what is occurring in Venezuela: Western governments, lead by the U.S., supporting a coup attempt by an unelected representative of an elite opposition party. Then we speak with human rights lawyer and author Dan Kovalik, who was an official observer of Venezuela's elections, who discusses the important process of elections and the trend of U.S. election meddling across the world.

Intro sound: "La Alborada"
Interview with Jeanette Charles
Transition sound: "La Alborada"
Interview with Dan Kovalik

The Green New Deal & Agrarian Revolution Jan 23, 2019

Writer, academic, and activist Max Ajl discusses his critique of the Green New Deal, which particularly looks at the ways in which the Green New Deals intentionally leaves out the Global South and functions to preserve a "green" version of industrial capitalism.

Then he explains what ecological catastrophe like global warming could mean for the Global South if left in our current state of global capitalism, and we explore revolutionary, agricultural alternatives to the Green New Deal that have emerged from the Third World. In short, full decolonization marks the future of hope in combating global ecological catastrophe.

Finally, we end on a conversation about food and agricultural sovereignty before Samir Amin's 'delinking' theory, which Ajl wrote about here, and says can be a powerful model for moving forward.

The Linkages of Black, Jewish, and Palestinian Solidarity Dec 09, 2018

Documentary filmmaker, activist, and writer Rebecca Pierce discusses her work documenting the resistance of those most oppressed by the Israel apartheid state. We discuss the ways her work highlights the oppression and resistance of African migrants in Israel, how Palestinians exercise solidarity with those migrants, and how many groups that are oppressed by Israel form linkages of solidarity and action.

We also discuss the recent mass shootings at a synagogue in Pittsburgh and a Kroger in Kentucky, specifically how these two incidents are connected by similar white supremacist violence and how Rebecca, as someone who is both Jewish and Black, was impacted by these events. Then we briefly cover the legacy of Black-Palestinian solidarity.

You can find Rebecca's documentary work here, follow her on Facebook here, and on twitter @Aptly_engineerd.

The (un)Logic of Afro-Pessimism and Anti-Blackness Nov 24, 2018

Organizer and academic Annie Olaloku-Teriba discusses her recent essay, which is a critique of Afro-Pessimism, "anti-blackness" theory, and how these two things often negatively impact organizing spaces. We try to break down lots of academic jargon and wordy concepts to dive into a conversation which is crucial right now for Black studies and the movements it represents.

This is one of my favorite episodes yet; a conversation which dives deep into the world and currently contemptuous debates occurring in Black Studies, however discussed without leaving unfamiliar listeners behind—we make sure at every step to explain the contexts and meaning to what we're discussing.

A few of the books mentioned:

Black Star, Crescent Moon by Sohail Daulatzai
Racecraft: The Soul of Inequality in American Life by Karen & Barbara Fields
Black Skin, White Masks by Frantz Fanon

The Anti-Indigenous, Imperialist, Racist Marketing of Coca-Cola Oct 15, 2018

(This episode was a Patreon exclusive for several days prior to release elsewhere. )

In this episode, Native activist and writer Dani Miller breaks down the various ways that the brand identity of Coca-Cola, a brand known and admired worldwide, is built on a mountain of anti-Indigenous tropes, racism, and what she calls "conglomerate imperialism." She then discusses the need for a Native anti-imperialist perspective, connecting Indigenous struggles in the U.S. to struggles globally, and explores how normalizing the racist, imperialist marketing tactics of corporations like Coca-Cola has material impacts on Indigenous communities everywhere.

You can support this podcast on Patreon, follow Devyn on Twitter, and make sure to subscribe to stay updated on the latest episodes. If you or someone you know would make a great guest for an episode, send a tweet to Devyn and let them know!

The Praxis of Abolition & Prison Strikes Aug 20, 2018

Co-host of Millennials Are Killing Capitalism Jared Ware joins me for a conversation on the material practice of prison abolition. Prison abolition is such an imaginative theory, but beyond simply discussing Abolition as an idea, we target the question of what does abolitionist organizing look like, and what are we doing to work towards abolition? More than just this, we discuss what abolition means on a global scale, especially given the colonial and imperialist roots of the global prison-industrial-complex.

Then Jared discusses prison strikes, both the ways they come about and how incarcerated revolutionaries sustain them. Finally, Jared gives us the context of the upcoming nationwide #August21 prison strike. Then, Jared gives context to the #August21 nationwide prison strike and how folks can find ways to get involved.

This episode is in collaboration with and cross-posted between the #GroundingsPodcast (which you can support here) and Millennials Are Killing Capitalism (which you can support here).

The Critique of TLGBQ "Inclusion" Aug 08, 2018

In this episode I speak with writer, activist, and academic Yasmin Nair, who is highly critical of liberal narratives of "diversity" and TLGBQ+ "inclusion" inside of violent and imperialist institutions like the US military. Recently, Nair co-wrote a piece with Eli Massey which gave a radical left and queer critique of the mainstream push for trans inclusion in the military, and that serves as the basis for our discussion. Then, we discuss the intentional erasing of the legacy of radical queer anti-capitalist/anti-imperialist organizing, the problematic nature of reactionary gay politics like "legalize gay" and how they serve a white/capitalist class. Finally, we discuss the book "Against Equality", which she co-wrote.

The Experiences of Detained Immigrants, In Their Own Words Jun 22, 2018

In this special interview, we speak over the phone with two Black immigrants who are detained in Atlanta City Detention Center, as well as Kevin Caron, a local Atlanta organizer and abolitionist that does tremendous work with immigrant communities. Throughout the interview you will notice difficulties with telephone connection and communication; we decided not to edit these things out, and instead to leave these various difficulties in the audio as to expose the listeners to the vast difficulties that often come with trying to communicate with incarcerated people.

Mohammed, who is from Ghana, discusses his journey of coming to the US, the difficulties he has faced being a Black, Muslim immigrant in jail, the impact incarceration has on mental health, and the impossible challenges he has faced in trying to navigate the US immigration system.

The Richard, from Jamaica, discusses the inhumane conditions they face within the jails/detention centers, the legal battles that he has endured, and how these issues of immigration specifically impact African and Caribbean immigrants.

Finally we end with an interview with Kevin Caron, a local Atlanta organizer and abolitionist who does tremendous work with detained immigrants and throughout many immigrant communities. Kevin works with both Georgia Detention Watch and A World Without Police.

[DISCLAIMER: This interview was recorded in the beginning of May, and a few weeks after this interview was recorded we got word that Mohammed was freed in June and has safely returned to his home in Ghana.]

listen to our other episodes at Groundings.Simplecast.fm
follow Devyn on Twitter @HalfAtlanta
and check out Christopher's radio show Rhythm & Resistance on WRFG.

The Way Capitalism Underdevelops Hip-Hop May 04, 2018

Multi-disciplinary artist Bocafloja, one of Mexico's first rappers, discusses global politics and capitalism where they intersect with hip-hop. He also discusses his documentary Nana Dijo which explores anti-Blackness in Latin America. Along with this, we also have an in-depth conversation on navigating the capitalist music industry, cultural hegemony, and the social construct of the "conscious rapper."

The Assassination of Walter Rodney Mar 06, 2018

"Your consciousness can come from anywhere. but the point is, it needs to come urgently." — Asha Rodney

An Interview with Asha Rodney, scholar-activist, lawyer, and youngest child of Walter Rodney. Asha discusses the assassination of her father by the hands of an immensely repressive Guyanese government in 1980, describes what a "groundings" session is, and gives us suggestions for how to implement her father's work and legacy in our organizing today.

Asha Rodney, along with the rest of the Rodney family, has spent many years seeking justice for the assassination of her father, the revolutionary Walter Rodney. Walter Rodney was assassinated in 1980 by an explosive device which was hidden in a walkie-talkie, provided to him by Gregory Smith who was later revealed to have been an operative for the Guyanese government. Asha covers not only meticulous details of her father's assassination, but describes the political climate and context in which it occurred: an incredibly repressive, western-backed regime eliminating and outlawing all forms of dissent.

Along with covering the assassination, Asha also teaches us about the process of investigation surrounding the assassination; the decades it took to have an official commission of inquiry into Walter's murder, the hundreds of Guyanese people who testified for the commission of inquiry, how incredibly damning the results of the investigation are, and just how hard the Guyanese government has tried to suppress this information.

Finally, Asha brings this fight for justice to the current day and discusses why the commission of inquiry, as well as Walter Rodney's assassination, are very important for activists and organizers around the world. We then discuss the 'groundings' concept, and putting Walter's theories into practice.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea Beyond Propaganda Feb 21, 2018

Organizer and educator Derek Ford gives a historical context for the current imperialist aggression surrounding the DPRK, explains the 'Juche' ideology, and recounts some firsthand propaganda-shattering experiences from his travels inside the country.

The day after US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson announced the travel ban for US citizens to North Korea, Derek Ford traveled to the country on a fact-finding delegation. In this episode, he shares many of those firsthand experiences with me, and discusses how what he saw in person was quite different from the propaganda he'd been told in the US.

Along with this he discusses the 'Juche' ideology, which is essentially the guiding philosophical ideology of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and gives a quick history lesson on both the Juche ideology and the country itself.

The Black Arts Movement Feb 08, 2018

Revolutionary Pan-Africanist writer, artist, and organizer Sobukwe Shakur gives a first-hand account of the history of the Black Art Movement, a movement which took place in the 1960s and 1970s and ran parallel to the Black Power Movement.

Sobukwe Shukur is a multi-media cultural worker, the host of the Revolutionary African Perspectives radio show on Georgia's independent WRFG station, a cadre and organizer in Nkrumah’s brainchild, the All-African People’s Revolutionary Party (A-APRP) and a former chair of the National Network On Cuba (NNOC).

The conversation begins with Sobukwe setting the context for the Black Arts Movement, one of global Black political consciousness at its height, before diving into first-hand experiences as a school student during the early 1960s before transforming into an organizer and cultural worker within the movement itself. In discussing the politics of the Black Arts Movement, he discusses how various ideologies existed simultaneously, at times in conflict, and how this was embraced and seen through the act of a multi-plural cultural revolution that took place. In the final third of the interview we discuss the legacy of the Black Arts Movement; how it has influenced us today compared to the Harlem Renaissance, and how Black arts of today reflect a deeply different dominant ideology being reflected in the art.

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