What the Black Intellectual Tradition Can Teach Us About American Democracy

11 snips

Jan 30, 2025

Guest

Jamelle Bouie

Guest

Melvin Rogers

Jamelle Bouie, a New York Times columnist, and Melvin Rogers, a political science professor at Brown University, dive deep into the Black intellectual tradition's influence on American democracy. They discuss key figures like David Walker and W.E.B. Du Bois, exploring their calls for equal citizenship and the moral imperatives of civic engagement. The conversation also touches on emotional appeals from activists like Ida B. Wells and James Baldwin, emphasizing the role of culture and law in the ongoing struggle for racial justice and equality.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Walker's Appeal to Founding Principles

David Walker used founding documents and revolutionary language to argue for Black citizenship and belonging.
He aimed to make his claims understandable and assert Black Americans' right to make demands on the nation.

INSIGHT

Civic Virtue and Race

Walker and other thinkers explored civic virtue in a republic with racial hierarchy.
They questioned what virtue demands when some citizens face obstacles to freedom and flourishing due to attitudes and beliefs.

INSIGHT

Delany's Pessimism and Emigration

Martin Delany, after being expelled from Harvard Medical School, advocated for Black emigration due to racial inequality.
He believed America's anti-Black racism prevented Black political equality and elevation.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

The Souls of Black Folk

Héctor Arnau

Patricia H. Hinchey

Eugene F. Provenzo

Slingshot Books

Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

W.E.B. Du Bois

Brent Hayes Edwards

Monty

Karl Simrock

Monica M. Elbert

Arnold Rampersad

Shawn Alexander

Prentice Onayemi

Farah Jasmine Griffin

Walter Covell

Published in 1903, 'The Souls of Black Folk' is a foundational text of American literature and sociology. The book explores themes of race, identity, and the quest for equality in an era marked by systemic racism and segregation. Du Bois reflects on the historical context of Emancipation, the double-consciousness of being both Black and American, and the struggles of the Black community. His prophetic remarks and critical insights have been cited as the intellectual framework for the Civil Rights movement and continue to influence contemporary writers.

A Voice from the South

Anna Julia Cooper

Till Justice Be Done

None

Kate Masur

The Condition, Elevation, Immigration, and Destiny of the Colored People

Martin Delany

The Darkened Light of Faith

Race, Democracy, and Freedom in African American Political Thought

Melvin Rogers

The Undiscovered Dewey

Religion, Morality, and the Ethos of Democracy

Melvin Rogers

An American dilemma

The Negro Problem and Modern Democracy

Gunnar Myrdal

Published in 1944, 'An American Dilemma' is a seminal work by Gunnar Myrdal that meticulously details the obstacles faced by African Americans in participating fully in American society. The book, funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, was written with the assistance of key researchers like Ralph Bunche. Myrdal's study emphasizes the 'American Creed' of individualism, civil liberties, and equality of opportunity, and how this creed contrasts with the pervasive racial discrimination of the time. The book was highly influential, cited in the landmark 'Brown v. Board of Education' case, and laid groundwork for future policies on racial integration and affirmative action.

Appeal to the Coloured Citizens of the World

But in Particular, and Very Expressly, to Those of the United States of America

David Walker

Published in 1829, David Walker's 'Appeal to the Coloured Citizens of the World' is a scathing critique of American slavery and racism. The pamphlet calls for the immediate abolition of slavery and equal rights for African Americans, criticizing white Christians for their hypocrisy in supporting slavery despite the principles of equality enshrined in the Declaration of Independence. Walker used underground networks to circulate the pamphlet throughout the South, which alarmed white slave owners and put his life in danger. The 'Appeal' remains a foundational document in Black political philosophy, advocating for Black self-reliance and the right to defend against oppression by any means necessary[1][3][5].

What the Black Intellectual Tradition Can Teach Us About American Democracy

Walker's Appeal to Founding Principles

Civic Virtue and Race

Delany's Pessimism and Emigration

Resources

Stay Connected and Learn More