Get Rich or Lie Trying delves into the darker side of the influencer economy, revealing stories of exploitation, misogyny, and environmental destruction behind the glamour of social media fame. The book questions whether the pursuit of online fame and wealth is costing society too much, highlighting a broken financial model that often resembles a pyramid scheme.
Track Record: Me, Music, and the War on Blackness is a powerful memoir by George the Poet, detailing his life journey from growing up in London to becoming a renowned artist. The book delves into themes of racism, capitalism, and the evolution of the UK music scene, offering a unique perspective on contemporary society. It combines personal narrative with critical commentary on social issues.
In 'White Malice', Dr. Susan Williams uncovers the covert operations pursued by the CIA from Ghana to the Congo to the UN, aimed at frustrating and denying Africa’s new generation of nationalist leaders. This book challenges the conventional belief that African nations failed to establish effective, democratic states on their own accord, revealing instead how the US intervened to control the region as European powers withdrew. The book is based on extensive archival research and numerous written and oral sources from eight countries and the United Nations.
Mehrsa Baradaran's "The Color of Money" provides a comprehensive analysis of the historical and ongoing challenges faced by Black banks in the United States. The book explores how discriminatory lending practices, redlining, and economic segregation have created and perpetuated the racial wealth gap. Baradaran examines the role of Black banks in providing financial services to underserved communities and their struggles for survival in a systemically biased environment. The book offers insights into the systemic nature of racial inequality and proposes potential solutions for addressing the racial wealth gap. It's a crucial read for understanding the complex interplay between race, finance, and economic justice.
As a performer, London-based George the Poet has helped elevate genres ranging from traditional spoken word to rap and grime over recent years as well as having become a well-known voice commentating on social issues. He has a popular BBC podcast, Have You Heard George's Podcast?, which won the Peabody Award. Plus, last year he curated the writing collection Part of a Story That Started Before Me: Poems about Black British History. This year he returns with a new book – a memoir – Track Record: Me, Music, and the War on Blackness. As well as reflecting on George Mpanga’s own life, it’s a study of broader issues including the cultural forces shaping the music industry and the inherent discrimination within wider capitalism. Joining him in conversation for this episode is Symeon Brown, the award-winning journalist whose work often focuses on how culture and technology interacts with race and class. Brown is a correspondent for Channel 4 News and the author of Get Rich Or Lie Trying, his book focusing on the influencer economy.
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