theGrio Daily, Michael Harriot

"If white people thought we were violent, they'd stop treating us so poorly." Michael Harriot breaks down several white myths that are portrayed as fact throughout society. Things like white people's overwhelming support of pro-life policies and their patriotism. 

"It all started from stuntin'." Many of the items we use each day were created by Black people but were stolen and patented by White Americans. Michael Harriot clarifies why that practice was so common and explains that it still happens today, it's just been rebranded. 

"There are two Americas, a white one and an even whiter one." Michael Harriot takes us back to the years before the civil war and details some of the most racist laws you've likely never heard of.  Music provided by Transition Music 

"There was no cookout holiday until Black people freed themselves on June 19th, 1865." Not only are we celebrating Juneteenth, but it's also theGrio Daily's One Year Anniversary! With this full rotation around the sun, Michael Harriot gives a quick Juneteenth history lesson and explains how the news in Galveston, Texas led to the cookout traditions Black people are famous for.  Audio excerpt provided by The White House - June 17, 2021 Music provided by Transition Music 

"Pop music is what white poeple have cherry picked from Black culture and a lot of times it's detrimental to Black culture." Music journalist and theGrio writer Matthew Allen and Michael Harriot discuss the formula that is used to create pop music and highlight the Black people who pioneered the sound. Music Credits:  Song: “Black Steel in The Hour of Chaos”Artist: Public Enemy Label: Def Jam RecordingsProducer: The Bomb Squad Song: “What’s Going On?”Artist: Marvin Gaye Label(s): Universal Music Group, Motown Records, Tamla RecordsProducer: Marvin Gaye Additional Music Provided By Transition Music 

"All American music is Black music." The focus on Black Music Month continues as music journalist and theGrio writer Matthew Allen joins Michael Harriot to analyze society's relationship with pop music and Black artists' influence on the genre.  Music Credits:  Song: “Hit Me Baby One More Time” Artist: Britney SpearsLabel: Jive RecordsProducer(s): Max Martin, Rami Song: “West End Blues”Artist: Louis ArmstrongLabel(s): Sony Music Entertainment, Okeh Records, Brunswick RecordsProducer: Joe “King” Oliver Song: “Carless Whispers”Artist(s): Wham! featuring George Michael Label(s): Epic Records, Columbia Records, Sony Music EntertainmentProducer(s): Jerry Wexler, George Michaels  Song: “Nobody Loves Me But My Mother”Artist: BB KingLabel(s): Warner Bros. Classic, Alfred Music, ABC RecordsProducer: Bill Szymczyk Song: “Turkey in the Straw” Artist: George Washington DixonLabel: Columbia RecordsProducer: N/A Additional Music Provided By Transition Music 

"They don't want to say they're anti-Black history or pro-white, they want to say they're for something that's classical." Concerned parents are flooding school board meetings demanding that their children receive a "classic education" but what are they actually saying? Michael Harriot is here to call out their racist requests. Music Provided By Transition Music 

"Not all of us come from kings or queens." As we celebrate Black Music Month, Michael Harriot explains some of the original Grio(t)s in Black history, including Sister Rosetta Thorpe, the inventor of Rock n Roll.  Original air date: 6/24/22

"When was that time that you could just be racist?" Michael Harriot dismantles the excuse that racist ideology is a product of time. He explains why being racist has nothing to do with the time period in which you were born but instead is simply rooted in white supremacy that lives in the past, present, and future. Music Provided By Transition Music 

"What does reparations have to do with white people?" People love to use the post hoc fallacy against Black people and Michael Harriot explains why the assumption that one event preceded another event, so they must be related makes it easy to believe in racist policies. Music Provided By Transition Music