The Black Myths Podcast

In this episode, we discuss the case of current death row prisoner Marcellus “Khaliifah” Williams to examine why the death penalty doesn't work. Marcellus “Khaliifah” Williams is scheduled for execution on September 24, despite DNA evidence proving his innocence. The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney has filed a motion to vacate his conviction, citing the exculpatory DNA evidence. A hearing is set for August 21 to review this evidence. The case against Williams was based on unreliable witness testimony, and forensic evidence from the crime scene does not match him. Despite these findings, the Missouri Attorney General is pushing for his execution. This case highlights issues of wrongful convictions and racial bias in the justice system. Please feel out the petition below! Petition https://innocenceproject.org/petitions/stop-the-execution-of-marcellus-williams-an-innocent-man/?p2asource=_madpmo Case https://www.freekhaliifah.org/ Patreon https://www.patreon.com/blackmyths #FREEKHALIIFAH

In this episode, we return with the full Black Myths Crew to discuss the myth that X-men comic characters Professor X and Magneto of X-Men are based on Martin Luther King Dr. and Malcolm X. We attempted to have fun with this episode. However, research still unveiled some troubling truths about the origin of this myth. We trace the origins of the myth, analyze the limitations of pop culture as a prism for Black political thought, and examine the impact the military-industrial complex plays in the movies we watch.    Readings    https://vocal.media/geeks/actually-stan-lee-didnt-base-marvels-prof-x-and-magneto-on-malcolm-x-and-martin-luther-king-jr   https://nymag.com/nymetro/arts/features/3522/   https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/x-men-wolverine-jean-grey-chris-claremont-five-key-storylines/   Patreon patreon.com/blackmyths

In this episode, we continue our discussion on "Laundering Black Rage" with an emphasis on cities. We return with Rasul Mowatt to discuss cities as sites of spatial construction, bedazzled labor camps, and what can be done to address the plight of cities under capitalism.  Also, we are beginning a fundraising drive for the Pendleton 2 legal defense fund. Please donate here https://chuffed.org/project/free-pendleton-2 Laundering Black Rage https://www.routledge.com/Laundering-of-Black-Rage-The-Washing-of-Black-Death-People-Property/Black-Mowatt/p/book/9781032573779 Patreon patreon.com/blackmyths

Rasul Mowatt returns to the show to further discuss Laundering Black Rage: The Washing of Black Death, People, Property, and Profits—the co-authored book with our host, Too Black. In this episode, we discuss cities' role in the laundering concept. We revisit the emergence of the capitalist state, the function of cities in socializing us into laundering, and the idea of wealth.    Also, we are beginning a fundraising drive for the Pendleton 2 legal defense fund. Please donate here    https://chuffed.org/project/free-pendleton-2   Laundering Black Rage  https://www.routledge.com/Laundering-of-Black-Rage-The-Washing-of-Black-Death-People-Property/Black-Mowatt/p/book/9781032573779   Patreon patreon.com/blackmyths

This episode explores the myth and common retort "What about the Congo?" We return with our guests Nicholas Richard-Thompson and Tunde Osazua to break down Palestine, the history of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the genocides that have occurred in the DRC, and the current geopolitical situation.  Crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo https://www.liberationnews.org/crisis-in-the-democratic-republic-of-congo/   Cobalt Red, How the Blood of the Congo Powers Our Lives https://blackagendareport.com/cobalt-red-how-blood-congo-powers-our-lives   Are DRC-China ties set to see an uptick? https://peoplesdispatch.org/2023/06/27/are-drc-china-ties-set-to-see-an-uptick/   China in Congo https://www.blackagendareport.com/china-congo Attempted coup? U.S. mercenaries captured as Congo political crisis takes new twist https://www.liberationnews.org/attempted-coup-u-s-mercenaries-captured-as-congo-political-crisis-takes-new-twist/   Patreon https://www.patreon.com/blackmyths

In this episode, we explore the myth that Africans don't value democracy with Nicholas Richard-Thompson and Tunde Osazua of the pro-peace anti-imperialist organization, Black Alliance for Peace. We discuss questions of liberal democracy across the continent, the political nature of coups, neocolonialism, and the political development of recent coups in the Sahel region.  https://www.afrobarometer.org/articles/do-africans-want-democracy-and-do-they-think-theyre-getting-it/

In part 2, we return with educator and researcher Mikaela Nhondo Erskog of Tricontinental Institute. We review the current political and economic trends driving hyperimperialism, ways global south nations can exploit them for good, and what Pan Africanists can do to advance in light of recent trends.  Mikaela is an educator and researcher. She is part of the Pan Africanism Today Secretariat, which coordinates the regional articulation of the International People’s Assembly and is also part of the No Cold War coordination committee, a peace platform promoting multilateralism and maximum global cooperation. She is also part of Dongsheng, an international collective of researchers interested in Chinese politics and society, and hosts The Crane: An Africa-China Podcast   Hyper-Imperialism Document https://thetricontinental.org/studies-on-contemporary-dilemmas-4-hyper-imperialism/#toc-section-4-1 Patreon https://www.patreon.com/blackmyths

In this episode, we explore the myth of "The End of History". The End of History is the idea that Western civilization in the form of capitalism and liberal democracy has solved the question of civilization. This claim was asserted after the fall of the Soviet Union. This belief was that the United States would lead the world into a place of less conflict, less war, and more prosperity. This prediction has severely backfired, especially for the colonized people of the Global South. We sit down with researcher and organizer Mikaela Nhondo Erskog to discuss the Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research's new study entitled "Hyper-Imperialism: A Dangerous Decadent New Stage." This groundbreaking document demonstrates how the United States has further polarized the world toward destruction and gives a sense of what is to be done to change course. Hyper-Imperialism Document https://thetricontinental.org/studies-on-contemporary-dilemmas-4-hyper-imperialism/#toc-section-4-1   Patreon https://www.patreon.com/blackmyths

Continuing with themes related to the new book, Laundering Black Rage: The Washing of Black Death, People, Property, and Profits, we explore the myth that the State is reducible to government with our guest Rasul Mowatt, Department Head of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management in the College of Natural Resources and Affiliate Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at North Carolina State University. We explore the origins of the State, theorists of the State, and how it informs anti-colonial movements. If the State is not simply the government, then how are we to understand it? We explore this question and more.    Laundering Black Rage is now available on pre-order and will be available worldwide on April 11th. To purchase it at a discounted rate please follow the instructions below.     Type Discount code at checkout: EFLY01   https://www.routledge.com/Laundering-of-Black-Rage-The-Washing-of-Black-Death-People-Property/Black-Mowatt/p/book/9781032573779     Discounted Ebook   https://play.google.com/store/books/details?pcampaignid=books_read_action&id=cY_2EAAAQBAJ     Original Essays     Pt. 1 http://www.blackagendareport.com/laundering-black-rage     Pt. 2 http://www.blackagendareport.com/laundering-black-rage-part-2     Patreon https://www.patreon.com/blackmyths

In this episode, department head and North Carolina State University professor, Rasul Mowatt joins as a guest host to interview our host, Too Black regarding their joint coauthored book Laundering Black Rage: The Washing of Black Death, People, Property, and Profits.    We use the analytic framework of the book to explore the myth of a Racial Reckoning in 2020—the idea that after the murder of George Floyd by Derek Chauvin in 2020, the US began a reckoning with its racial history of oppression and brutalization towards Black people. We discuss the pitfalls of reckoning with empire, the laundering of Black Rage historically, and offer reflections on writing the texts. Laundering Black Rage is now available on pre-order and will be available worldwide on April 11th. To purchase it at a discounted rate please follow the instructions below.    Type Discount code at checkout: EFLY01   https://www.routledge.com/Laundering-of-Black-Rage-The-Washing-of-Black-Death-People-Property/Black-Mowatt/p/book/9781032573779   Discounted Ebook https://play.google.com/store/books/details?pcampaignid=books_read_action&id=cY_2EAAAQBAJ   Original Essays   Pt. 1 http://www.blackagendareport.com/laundering-black-rage   Pt. 2 http://www.blackagendareport.com/laundering-black-rage-part-2   Patreon https://www.patreon.com/blackmyths