This episode will focus on how the city of New York created the conditions for Hip Hop. We also discussed the meeting between rival gangs in the South Bronx that helped create the conditions for what became Hip-Hop to operate. We end with how we should understand Hip Hop with these new reveals in history.  https://www.amazon.com/City-Hip-Hop-Rob-Swift/dp/1032835516 Patreon https://www.patreon.com/blackmyths

Friend if the show Rasul Mowatt returns to discuss his new book "The City of Hip-Hop: New York City, The Bronx, and a Peace Meeting" and how the birth of Hip Hop needs to be reexamined. We explore the material conditions that produced Hip Hop (housing, public policy, city planning, etc) and how they don't correspond with the mainstream history Hip Hop's origins.  Book https://www.amazon.com/City-Hip-Hop-Rob-Swift/dp/1032835516 Patreon https://www.amazon.com/City-Hip-Hop-Rob-Swift/dp/1032835516

We debunk the myth that body cams hold the police accountable. To help us break it down, we interview civil rights lawyer, and social justice advocate Alec Karakatsanis about his recent paper "The Body Camera: The Language of our Dreams."  We explore the origins of body cams, how they help launder genuine outrage, and some of the alternatives to solving the issue of policing in the United States. https://campuspress.yale.edu/yjll/volume-4/3/ Patreon https://www.patreon.com/blackmyths

We review the Myths we explored in 2024.    https://www.patreon.com/c/blackmyths

We return for part 2 with organizer Max Rameau. We discuss his most recent piece, "Smash the Dupololy and Build Dual Power" and keys to organizing our movements structurally.  Max Rameau is a Haitian born Pan-African theorist, campaign strategist, movement scientist and organizer. Max is the National Coordinator of Black Alliance for Peace and is an organizer with Pan-African Community Action. He travels the country facilitating workshops, engaging in campaign strategy sessions and developing models for community control over land and the human right to housing. Smash Duopoly and Build Dual Power https://pacapower.org/duopoly-dual-power Patreon https://www.patreon.com/blackmyths

In this episode, we explore the faux phrase "It’s easier to organize under democrats" and all its complimenting lesser evil slogans. The phrase essentially argues that political organizing is better situated to take place under a democratic administration than a republican one. This is not a post-election episode but instead, a deep dive into the flaws of this framing, particularly how it relates to Black/Afrikan people. We discuss the proponents of the argument, radical community organizing, historical conditions for organizing in the US, and how better organizing conditions may be achieved. What Does It Mean To Be A Radical (Black) Organizer Today https://grassrootsthinking.com/2024/07/11/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-radical-black-organizer-today/ Show Stats https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XGOZdwZsJ72GOiJCRb-ZfYQt-u3teCeV2c0QjwOY26c/edit?usp=sharing Patreon https://www.patreon.com/blackmyths  

We return for part 2 with Dr. Felicia Denaud to delve specifically into the history of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party and what it can teach us about today. We explore how the MFDP came into fruition through local efforts, the challenges it faced nationally, and how these challenges impact the Democratic party and organizing more broadly in our current political moment.    SNCC Legacy Project  https://sncclegacyproject.org/#:~:text=Securing%20the%20Ballot,to%20Vote%20in%20Freedom%20Summer    Patreon    https://www.patreon.com/c/blackmyths    Study Guide    https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aj3wkt_TMhP8u-V3iHYcampOFQRO8IcVDtCTXGv5AbY/edit?usp=drivesdk

In this episode, we interview Africana Studies professor, Dr. Felicia Denaud. Our myth is "All Politics is Local." The Idea that all politics is local ultimately focuses on local (and regional) matters as opposed to national (or international) matters. All Politics is Local or other dismissive retorts to electoral criticism such as "do know your local congressman?” or “local politics is where the real power is” distorts the influence that national (and international) power plays in what happens locally.    The Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party is an historical example that highlights the power of local organizing and also the limitations. Thus, on this episode we will use the MFDP as a case study to demonstrate the limits of this myth but also what we can learn to build beyond the limits.    SNCC Legacy Project  https://sncclegacyproject.org/#:~:text=Securing%20the%20Ballot,to%20Vote%20in%20Freedom%20Summer   Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/blackmyths   Study Guide https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aj3wkt_TMhP8u-V3iHYcampOFQRO8IcVDtCTXGv5AbY/edit?usp=drivesdk

Joshua Briond, a contributor from Millennials are Killing Capitalism, and Momodou Taal from the Malcolm Effect engage in a critical dialogue on Black liberalism and its implications. They explore the intersections of Black identity, support for Palestine, and US imperialism, highlighting the limitations of narrow liberal interpretations. The conversation dives into the impact of online discourse on political perceptions and critiques the performative nature of representation in Black culture. They call for a broader understanding of collective struggles against oppression, emphasizing authentic political engagement.

For this episode, we interview Indiana political prisoner Christopher "Naeem" Trotter of Pendleton 2. Our myth is that Black August is a celebration when it is a commemorative month for Black political prisoners and Black radical history. Naeem shares his case and reminds us about not allowing Black August to be watered down, political prisoner definitions, and time on Supermax. We urge everyone to donate to the P2 Defense Committee legal defense fund. We have been fundraising all month, and it would be greatly appreciated. Donation https://chuffed.org/project/free-pend... $FreePendleton2 @FreePendleton2 Documentary about case  https://filmfreeway.com/projects/2740088 Patreon patreon.com/blackmyths