In advance of the New York primary election on June 23rd, BMC Deputy Director Anthonine Pierre interviews the candidates for Central Brooklyn's 57th State Assembly district: Walter Mosley and Phara Souffrant Forrest.

For more information, visit http://www.brooklynmovementcenter.org/elections2020.

This is the second episode of a special series focused on New York's June 23rd primary elections. How is the Black electorate shifting in Central Brooklyn, generationally and politically? Anthonine Pierre talks to local political analysts Theo Moore and Sandy Nurse. For more information, visit http://www.brooklynmovementcenter.org/elections2020.

This is the first episode of a special series focused on New York's June 23rd primary elections. Why is it important, particularly now, to hold elected officials accountable in Central Brooklyn? Mark Winston Griffith talks to three activist leaders: Esmeralda Simmons (Center for Law and Social Justice), Jawanza Williams (VOCAL-NY), and L. Joy Williams (Brooklyn NAACP). For more information, visit http://www.brooklynmovementcenter.org/elections2020.

Guest Host: Anthonine Pierre

Studio Guests: Max Freedman and Mark Winston Griffith

Show Description

On this special edition of Third Rail, Anthonine Pierre steps into the host chair and interviews Mark Winston Griffith and Max Freedman, the co-hosts and co-producers of the documentary podcast, School Colors. Representing Brooklyn Deep’s most ambitious project today, School Colors is a stirring and epic look at race, class, and power in American cities and schools through the lens of Central Brooklyn.

In the first segment, Anthonine goes behind the scenes with Mark and Max to give us a deep appreciation for the four-year process that resulted in the complex and personal stories of School Colors. And then, of course, we finish the episode with “Tell ‘em why you’re mad.”

In this episode of Third Rail we focus on those in Central Brooklyn who are on the front line of gentrification: tenants and renters. 

This past June, Governor Cuomo signed into law a sweeping new collection of rent regulations which re-set the bar for tenant protections and curtailed the power of landlords to dictate rates on rent stabilized units.  This will no doubt have a profound impact on the ways in which landlords are able to set the pace of housing displacement. 

Today, we’re joined by two members/allies of the Brooklyn Movement Center family who in their own ways have been enforcing the rights of tenants and fighting against harassment from landlords.  

Rae Gomes is a pioneering member-leader of the Brooklyn Movement Center and the emerging Central Brooklyn Food Coop. She most recently co-founded a tenants association in her building and has since become a crusader for renter rights in Black Brooklyn.  

 Accompanying her is Addrana Montgomery, a staff attorney at TakeRoot Justice, formerly known as the Community Development Project at the Urban Justice Center. Addrana has been leading the effort to establish a monthly pop-up tenants’ rights legal clinic here at the Brooklyn Movement Center.  

Host Mark Winston Griffith uses the top of the show to facilitate a discussion on the experiences of tenants, specifically those in small unit buildings in Central Brooklyn.  Next, we get into the brave new housing regulatory world in New York and how it will effect Central Brooklynites. 

 And then of course, we close with that on-going call to anger, "Tell em why you’re mad."

Engineer & Editor-Siad "Gypsy" Reid

Intro and Outro theme Music: “City Survival” by MC K-Swift featuring TreZure Empire.                   Episode Music: "Fallout",  Yung Kartz

In a special post Academy Award edition of Third Rail, we indulge our twin loves, BK and movies, by paying homage  -- and occasional shade -- to Black Brooklyn through the lens of cinema.

Specifically, we pose the question, what are the best Black Brooklyn movies ever made? Joining Third Rail host Mark Winston Griffith and engineer Siad “Gypsy” Reid, is Curtis Ceasar John, Director of the Luminal Theater.

Segment One: We walk through Curtis’ top five list and other honorable mentions.

Segment Two: We consider the dominating influence of Spike Lee on Black Brooklyn commercial cinema.

Segment Three: "Tell 'Em Why You Mad"

Intro and Outro theme Music:

“City Survival” by MC K-Swift featuring TreZure Empire.                  

Episode Music: "Fallout",  Yung Kartz

Segment One: We celebrate the power of food and hear stories of community building through culinary magic.

Segment Two: We take a critical look at the role that food plays - whether intentionally or unwittingly - as a marker of privilege. 

Segment Three: "Tell 'Em Why You Mad"

Intro and Outro theme Music:

“City Survival” by MC K-Swift featuring TreZure Empire.                  

Episode Music: "Fallout" by Yung Kartz.

 Second Segment: we examine what are the common interests between Black and Asian folk in New York, and what threatens to keep us apart.

 Intro and Outro theme Music:

“City Survival” by MC K-Swift featuring TreZure Empire.

Episode Music: “Tanzen”, KieLoBot

As historically “Black” districts in Central Brooklyn evolve, encompass various neighborhoods, and/or gentrify, Black candidates for elected office use tactics, voter targeting and coded messaging to appeal to different sub constituencies that cut across race, class and a variety of identity lines. 

Segment One: Together we review the Central Brooklyn races to watch in this political season. 

Segment Two: We use the recent near-upset of new comer Adem Bunkeddeko over veteran Congress person Yvette Clarke as a jump-off point to explore how Black candidates increasingly use divisions within gentrification, white progressivism and Black identity to build their base of voters.

Segment Three: "Tell 'Em Why You Mad"

Intro and Outro theme Music:

“City Survival” by MC K-Swift featuring TreZure Empire.                  

Episode Music: "Wide Eyes" by Chad Crouch.