Groundings

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

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

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.   

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.

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.

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.orgAlso, consider supporting the podcast at Patreon.com/HalfatlantaYou can access the clip you hear of Jamil Al-Amin speaking here. 

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. 

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.

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.

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. Patreon.com/HalfAtlantaCommunity Movement Builders - Stop Cop City Intro audio by Big Twen#StopCopCity Week of Action11Alive audio clipAndre Dickens doesn't like being called a "sellout"Atlanta Mayor Sleeping During Cop City ForumFebruary 4th Statement from Tortuguita's FamilyOn James Baldwin and the Atlanta Child MurdersPigs Have Higher Rates of Domestic Violence Than Other Professions