Conscientization 101

Conscientization 101

By James Stone and Zari SundiataNewsPoliticsMusicHistoryMusic Interviews
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Conscientization 101 episodes

  • EP.061: Is Apartheid Really Dead? Redux: A Dialogue with Dr. Julian Kunnie – Part 3 of 3
    Dr. Julian E. Kunnie, professor of religious, Latin American, Middle Eastern and North African studies at the University of Arizona.

    In the denouement of our three-part series with Dr. Julian Kunnie, we discuss the following:

    • The general lack of class consciousness within struggle.
    • An example of how neoliberal/neocolonial policies have had dire consequences for the people of Azania (South Africa).
    • Encapsulation of social movements.
    • And, much more!

      Dr. Julian Kunnie’s forthcoming book, The Earth Mother and the Assault of Capitalism: Living Sustainable with All Life, is scheduled for release November 11, 2025 (new release date as of September 17, 2025).

      This episode is dedicated to our beloved freedom fighter, distinguished elder, and now former political prisoner, LEONARD PELTIER! Your example of resilience and struggle has inspired many, and will continue to inspire many, well into the future via the beautyful ones that are not yet born. Welcome Home Dear Brother!

      This episode has featured music from:

      • Rakaa of Dilated Peoples & 2Mex – “Right This Wrong” and Buggin Malone – “Peltier’s Beat Goes On”, from the album Free Leonard Peltier: Hip Hop’s Contribution to the Freedom Campaign
      • Conscientization 101– “Decolonize This? Properly Defining Settlers – Part 1“
      • Akala – “Welcome to Dystopia” from his album Doublethink
      • A-Alikes (feat. M-1 & Raye 6) – “Whole Life” from their album Us Against Them
      • Raggo Zulu Rebel – “Tears of Gaia (Raggo Recitals)” from his album Arthur Fleck
      • The Podcast Was Just A Snippet Of The Interview. Want to Listen To The Unabridged Interview? Try C-101 Premium Podcast Free For 7 Days!
        1 hr 7 min
      • EP.060: Is Apartheid Really Dead? Redux: A Dialogue with Dr. Julian Kunnie – Part 2 of 3
        Dr. Julian E. Kunnie, professor of religious, Latin American, Middle Eastern and North African studies at the University of Arizona.

        In part two of our illuminating series with Dr. Julian Kunnie, we discuss the following:

        • How and why miscegenation has been used historically as a tool for colonial domination, referencing his book–The Cost of Globalization: Dangers to the Earth and Its People–and an article by Chinweizu–“Reparations for Darfur 4: A Resolution.”
        • The importance of understanding the term genetic colonialism.
        • Arab hegemony in Africa.
        • And, much more!

          Dr. Julian Kunnie’s forthcoming book, The Earth Mother and the Assault of Capitalism: Living Sustainable with All Life, is scheduled for release November 11, 2025 (new release date as of September 17, 2025).

          This episode features music from:

          • Conscientization 101– “Decolonize This? Properly Defining Settlers – Part 1“
          • Big Frizzle – “Fast”
          • Akala – “Maangamizi” from his album The Thieves Banquet  
          • Donnie Mossberg – “Tragedy Mix”
          • Raggo Zulu Rebel – “Unity”
          • Donnie Mossberg Instagram: @machingunfunk

            Chinweizu’s “Reparations for Darfur 4: A Resolution”, appears in our complied document The Chinweizu Reader.

            In reference to Akala’s The Thieves Banquet, see also Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o’s The Devil on the Cross.

            The Podcast Was Just A Snippet Of The Interview. Want to Listen To The Unabridged Interview? Try C-101 Premium Podcast Free For 7 Days!
            1 hr 6 min
          • EP.059: Is Apartheid Really Dead? Redux: A Dialogue with Dr. Julian Kunnie Part 1 of 3
            Dr. Julian E. Kunnie, professor of religious, Latin American, Middle Eastern and North African studies at the University of Arizona.

            It has been over 20 years since the publication of Dr. Julian Kunnie’s prescient and perspicacious treatise, Is Apartheid Really Dead?: Pan Africanist Working-Class Critical Perspectives, and nine years since we first dialogued with Dr. Kunnie about his book (podcast episodes 9 and 10), so what is the political terrain of Azania (South Africa) today? Is the analysis of Is Apartheid Really Dead? in regards to post-apartheid Azania still relevant today? Is Azania finally a fully sovereign nation run by its autochthonous inhabitants? If not, is it on its way? Or worse, is Dr. Kunnie’s analysis just as relevant today as it was when his book was first published; which means Azania is still suffering under neocolonial hegemony, which makes true revolutionary Pan-African working-class sovereignty for Azania a mere chimera?

            On this episode of Conscientization 101 podcast, we present part one of a three-part dialogue with Dr. Julian Kunnie in regards to these vexing questions.

            And while the aforementioned book was the original impetus for this dialogue; we also incorporate Dr. Kunnie’s other publication, The Cost of Globalization: Dangers to the Earth and Its People (podcast episodes 23-25), his forthcoming book The Earth Mother and the Assault of Capitalism: Living Sustainably with All Life–scheduled for release on November 11, 2025 (new release date as of  September 17, 2025)–as well as a myriad of other topics.

            In part one of our scintillating series with Dr. Kunnie, we set the stage for parts two and three, by giving an analysis of the impact of imperialism on the world’s people and ecosystem, and much more.

            We also debut our new podcast intro: written, mixed, and performed by our esteemed brother Raggo Zulu Rebel! We also discuss details about our new Conscientization 101 Premium Podcast subscription; as well as the hand Raggo Zulu Rebel played in assisting us with our premium podcast subscription by introducing us to UK based music producer–and graphic designer we might add–Morfius! A very providential occurrence indeed.

            And if that wasn’t enough, we also discuss the following:

            • Settler colonialism, Palestine, and why resistance against settler colonialism is never a casus belli
            • The election of a choleric, misanthropic, septuagenarian to the U.S. presidency.
            • The utterly absurd, out of touch, and reactionary presidential campaign of the Democratic party
            • Neocolonialism and wokeness
            • And, much more!

              This episode features music from:

              • Conscientization 101– “Decolonize This? Properly Defining Settlers – Part 1“
              • Fela Kuti – “Confusion Break Bones (C.B.B.)” from his album Underground System
              • Wise Intelligent – “Robbers, Barons, And Bankers” from his album El Negro Guerrero
              • Raggo Zulu Rebel – “Freedom” (feat. Spliffy & Killa B) from his album The Rainmaker
              • Donnie Mossberg – “Tragedy Mix”
              • Excerpts for our Morfius anecdote were from the following:

                • Cyclonious – “My Name Is Morfius” from his Heroes For Hire album
                • Big Cakes – “The Outro” from his album CCC, and “Twitter” from his album KFC (we purchased this album on November 13, 2014, but when researching for the link to this album on November 26, 2024, we noticed the only place this was available was on Big Cake’s Bandcamp page, and this track no longer on the album)
                • Raggo Zulu Rebel – “Give It To Dem” (feat. Jayjayborn2sing) from his album The Return of Jah Messenger – Vol. 2, and “Babylon” from his album Ganja Music Vol. 2
                •  Morfius Instagram: @MorfiusUK

                  Donnie Mossberg Instagram: @machingunfunk

                  The Podcast Was Just A Snippet Of The Interview. Want to Listen To The Unabridged Interview? Try C-101 Premium Podcast Free For 7 Days!
                  2 hr 11 min
                • EP.058: MCE: Nationbuilding – Theory and Practice Part 2
                  Hip-Hop collective MCE. From left to right: Ced Adamz, Eshmelek Malakyah, and Obafemi Kiensiedilele.

                   

                  After an arduous and acrimonious dispute with a housing contractor—oh what a crazy summer and fall—we conclude our two-part series with the multi-genius collective, MCE.

                  In part two of this insightful and trenchant series we discuss the following:

                  • The impetus behind the creation of the numinous RBG: The Ep (Red, Black, Green)
                  • How the psychological condition, discerned by the late Dr. Kobi K.K. Kambon–known as cultural misorientation–conditions African people to view “progress” as ascendency within the oppressor’s system; and as such, we ask whether the term “Black” is a priori rendered reactionary when not properly defined within an African-centered context.
                  • How MCE’s acuity and adroitness also extends into the children’s literary arena, with Everyday Is A Sunday, a children’s book written and illustrated by Brother Obafemi
                  • and, much more!

                    We also give a blistering, but shrewd and veracious, polemic on housing contractors, and info on MCE’s forthcoming EP Food, Clothes, & Shelter, dropping December 21, 2023.

                    You cannot afford to miss the conclusion to this percipient, sublime, and highly re-playable series!

                    This episode features music from:

                    • Conscientization 101 – “Decolonize This? Properly Defining Settlers – Part 1” from our Musical Commentaries collection
                    • MCE from their album Knowledge Of Self Vol.2 Death to White Supremacy: the tracks were “It’s A Go ft. Tahir RBG “, and “Liberation”. As well as the singles from RBG: The Ep (Red, Black, Green)
                    • MCE’s social media and affiliated websites:

                      • Website MCE
                      • YouTube MCE SolMuzik
                      • Instagram @mcesolmuzik
                      • Facebook MCE SolMuzik
                      • Bandcamp (search) MCE
                      • Amazon (search) MCE
                      • 2 hr 20 min
                      • EP.057: MCE: Nationbuilding – Theory and Practice Part 1
                        Hip-Hop collective MCE. From left to right: Eshmelek Malakyah, Obafemi Kiensiedilele, and Ced Adamz.

                        On this 57th episode of Conscientization 101 podcast, we present part one of a two-part dialogue with a collective of artists whose praxis embodies the definition of nationbuilding, MCE. This series is presented in its Unabridged Interview form, as a thank you to those who value Conscientization 101. Our sincerest thanks!

                        MCE is a collective of multi-talented artists hailing from Pine Bluff Arkansas; and while MCE possess a diverse skill set which ranges from drawing, painting, and the creation of murals, music production is their passion and primary endeavor!

                        Fueled by the lessons learned from our greatest teachers and scholars, MCE’s sound is the life blood of the people; MCE’s music inspires not merely consciousness but critical consciousness, which particularly focuses on people achieving an in-depth understanding of the world, allowing not only for their perception and exposure of social and political contradictions, but inspirational tools to change those contradictions.

                        MCE is comprised of emcees Obafemi Kiensiedilele (Magnum), Ced Adamz and soul singer Eshmelek Malakyah. With exemplary wordsmiths, complemented with melodic, harmonious, and ethereal vocals; MCE’s music is not only a paragon of conscientization in terms of subject matter (the quotidian struggles of African people worldwide), but it is also eloquent and euphonious, thus solidifying their status as a veritable and salient music group!

                        In part one of this perspicacious and epigrammatic series we discuss the following:

                        • The formation of MCE as a collective
                        • How being from Pine Bluff, AK has informed MCE’s praxis
                        • The strategies and tactics MCE developed to combat fatigue accrued through quotidian political struggle
                        • and, much more!

                          In addition to our dialogue with MCE, we also discuss Dr. Walter A. Rodney’s invaluable posthumously released books; The Russian Revolution: A View from the Third World and Decolonial Marxism: Essays from the Pan-African Revolution.

                          This episode features music from:

                          • Conscientization 101 – “Decolonize This? Properly Defining Settlers – Part 1” from our Musical Commentaries collection
                          • MCE from their album Knowledge Of Self Vol.2 Death to White Supremacy: the tracks were “War”, “Knowledge”, and “Sleepin’”. As well as the single “Working On Myself”.
                          • MCE’s social media and affiliated websites:

                            • YouTube MCE SolMuzik
                            • Instagram @mcesolmuzik
                            • Facebook MCE SolMuzik
                            • Bandcamp (search) MCE
                            • Amazon (search) MCE
                            • 1 hr 59 min
                            • EP.056: Dr. Walter A. Rodney Digitally Remastered Disquisition
                              Dr. Walter Anthony Rodney (March 23, 1942 – June 13, 1980)

                              Although it has been over forty years since the cowardly and brutal assassination of our dearly beloved brother Dr. Walter Anthony Rodney (aka Dr. W.A.R.), his intrepid spirit lives on with us today. While the quisling, pelf worshiping assassins succeeded in destroying Dr. Rodney physically, they paradoxically immortalized him. Dr. Rodney’s life was/is the epitome of an uncompromising intellectual who committed, what Amilcar Cabral called, class suicide in service of the people. Assiduously devoted to theory and practice, or better said conscientization, the life of Dr. Walter Anthony Rodney, from an African cosmological perspective, can be seen as an orisha or loi. The relevance of Dr. Walter Rodney’s life and work is now an eternal guiding principal or law that future generations can call upon to fortify themselves when in struggle and service to the people.

                              On this episode of Conscientization 101 Podcast, we proudly present a Conscientization 101 digitally remastered disquisition by Dr. Walter Anthony Rodney called Crisis in the Periphery: Africa and the Caribbean.

                              In addition, we also discuss the following:

                              • Walter Anthony Rodney’s magnum opus How Europe Underdeveloped Africa
                              • Cultural hegemony as it relates to the European worldview
                              • The recent passing of novelist, essayist, and poet George Lamming, and his relationship to the work of Dr. Walter Anthony Rodney
                              • The writings of Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o and how they relate to Dr. Walter Anthony Rodney. Also, the coincidental relationship between us finishing Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o’s novel Devil on the Cross in 2012, with the release of Akala’s 2013 album The Thieves Banquet
                              • and much more, such as our charm, ironic humor, sardonic quips, and wit to boot! You do not want to miss this episode!  

                                This episode features music from:

                                • Cyclonious – “We Back At it” from his album Heroes For Hire 2
                                • Conscientization 101– “Decolonize This? Properly Defining Settlers – Part 1” from our Musical Commentaries collection
                                • Akala – “The Thieves Banquet” from his album The Thieves Banquet
                                • Raggo Zulu Rebel – “99 Names” from his album God Complex
                                • Cyclonious – “Live Up” from his album Heroes For Hire
                                •  Books referenced in this episode:

                                  • Walter Rodney Speaks: The Making of an African Intellectual by Walter Rodney
                                  • How Europe Underdeveloped Africa by Walter Rodney
                                  • A History of the Guyanese Working People, 1881-1905 by Walter Rodney
                                  • Decolonial Marxism: Essays From The Pan-African Revolution by Walter Rodney
                                  • The Russian Revolution: A View from the Third World by Walter Rodney
                                  • Devil on the Cross by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o
                                  • Petals of Blood by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o
                                  • A Grain of Wheat by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o
                                  • In the Castle of My Skin by George Lamming
                                  •  

                                    2 hr 48 min
                                  • EP.055: Raggo Zulu Rebel Emeritus: The Eloquence of a Scribe Part 2

                                    On the long-awaited conclusion of our two-part series, Raggo Zulu Rebel Emeritus: The Eloquence of a Scribe, we discuss the following with Raggo Zulu Rebel:

                                    • An in-depth analysis of Raggo’s album Necromancy
                                    • The importance of understanding political economy, specifically understanding the superstructure as it pertains to Africanity/Blackness in Western societies
                                    • The comfort in the malaise and isolation people experience due to social media and how that relates to Guy Debord’s Society of the Spectacle
                                    • A critical critique of hashtag movements.
                                    • and, much more!

                                      In addition to and in conjunction with the dialogue with Raggo, we discuss how Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Ayi Kwei Armah’s Two Thousand Seasons, and Anthony Sampson’s Black & Gold Tycoons, Revolutionaries and Apartheid work elucidates the necessity of imperialism (via colonial domination) to foster divisions amongst the colonized population. The divisions created by the colonizer are merely the first tools of ideological and psychological domination of the colonized, for the goal of the colonizer is cultural hegemony. The apogee of this phenomena is apparent when the colonized internalize the colonizer’s most potent ideological weapon…INDIVIDUALISM!!!

                                      This episode features music from:

                                      • Raggo Zulu Rebel – Garden of Afrika
                                      • Fela Kuti – “Confusion Break Bones” from his album Underground System
                                      • Raggo Zulu Rebel: the tracks are “Elevator Musak”, “First Stone”, and “Mac Cheez” from his album Necromancy
                                      • Raggo Zulu Rebel: the tracks are “Where You Going” and “On The Wall” from his album The Chronicles of Jah Messenger
                                      • Mokadelic – “Doomed to Live” from the Gomorra – La Serie (Original Soundtrack – Expanded Edition)
                                      • Raggo Zulu Rebel social media and affiliated websites:

                                        • Twitter @raggozulurebel
                                        • Instagram @raggozulurebel and @raggozulunation
                                        • Facebook Raggo Zulu Rebel
                                        • Website https://www.raggozulunation.com/
                                        • Bandcamp (search) Raggo Zulu Rebel
                                        • Amazon (search) Raggo Zulu Rebel
                                        • And on Soundcloud (search) Raggo Zulu Rebel

                                          The Podcast Was Just A Snippet Of The Interview. Want To Listen To The Unabridged Interview? Try C-101 Premium Podcast Free For 7 Days!
                                          1 hr 50 min
                                        • EP.054: Raggo Zulu Rebel Emeritus: The Eloquence of a Scribe Part 1

                                          Emeritus is an appellation bestowed upon a person who has personified excellence in their respective profession, (usually a former holder of an office, especially a college professor) having retired but allowed to retain their title as an honor. On this 54th episode of Conscientization 101 podcast, we present part one of a two-part dialogue with Raggo Zulu Rebel to discuss his retirement from his over two decades musical career, and why he is deserving of the designation of emeritus.

                                          It has been an honor to be privy to the eloquence of this scribe, our dear brother, Raggo Zulu Rebel.

                                          In part one of this trenchant, evocative, and sapient series we discuss the following:

                                          • The thin line the music industry creates between commodifying music and true cultural expression
                                          • Bourgeois privilege given to artists
                                          • African-centered dilettantes/opportunists vs. growing into a real understanding of building an African-centered, working-class political economy, and much more!
                                          • This episode features music from:

                                            • Chairman Maf – This World from his album MUFF
                                            • Tha 4orce – My Brother’s Keeper (Instrumental) ,and
                                            • Raggo Zulu Rebel from his albums God Complex, Holy War, WildFire mixtape (official mix by D.J. Anansa),  God MC, Arthur Fleck, Necromancy, and No Sleep (No Days Off): the tracks are “Milli”, “Shut Em Down (feat. Doc4”, “Star of David (feat. Tony As)”, “No Gas (feat. Big Dutty Deeze & Dah1)”, “Magic Forest”, “Game of Thrones”, “Lonely People (feat. ID3AL), and “Study”, respectively.
                                            • Raggo Zulu Rebel social media and affiliated websites:

                                              • Twitter @raggozulurebel
                                              • Instagram @raggozulurebel and @raggozulunation
                                              • Facebook Raggo Zulu Rebel
                                              • Website https://www.raggozulunation.com/
                                              • Bandcamp Raggo Zulu Rebel
                                              • Amazon Raggo Zulu Rebel
                                              • Soundcloud Raggo Zulu Rebel
                                              • Books referenced in this episode include:

                                                • Black Awakening in Capitalist America: An Analytic History by Robert L. Allen
                                                • The Eloquence of the Scribes: A Memoir on the Sources and resources of African Literature by Ayi Kwei Armah
                                                • Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o Speaks: Interviews With The Kenyan Writer edited by Reinhard Sander and Bernth Lindfors with the assistance of Lynette Cintrón
                                                • Blood in My Eye by George L. Jackson
                                                • The Podcast Was Just A Snippet Of The Interview. Want To Listen To The Unabridged Interview? Try C-101 Premium Podcast Free For 7 Days!
                                                  2 hr 12 min
                                                • EP.053: Wielding Words Like Weapons With Ward Churchill Part 3 of 3

                                                  In the riveting conclusion of our three part series with acclaimed American Indian Movement activist-intellectual Ward Churchill about his venerable book Wielding Words Like Weapons: Selected Essays In Indigenism, 1995-2005, we discuss the effects of the settler colonial polity of Canada on American Indians.

                                                  We investigate this phenomenon by examining the chapter titled “Kizhiibaabinesik”. The chapter is a poignant dedication to brother Ward’s late wife Leah Renae Kelly.

                                                  This episode features music from:

                                                  • Conscientization 101– “Decolonize This? Properly Defining Settlers – Part 1” from our Musical Commentaries collection
                                                  • Wise Intelligent feat. Black Page – “By Design” from his album Ponzie
                                                  • Be on the lookout for the forthcoming book from Ward Churchill available for pre-order, From a Native Son: Selected Essays in Indigenism, 1985–1995.

                                                    And for more works by Ward Churchill, click here.

                                                    The Podcast Was Just A Snippet Of The Interview. Want To Listen To The Unabridged Interview? Try C-101 Premium Podcast Free For 7 Days!
                                                    1 hr 10 min
                                                  • EP.052: Wielding Words Like Weapons With Ward Churchill Part 2 of 3

                                                    We continue with part two of our three part dialogue with Ward Churchill regarding his august book Wielding Words Like Weapons: Selected Essays In Indigenism, 1995-2005.

                                                    In part two of this puissant series we discuss Indigenous people in Western cinema. Specifically we discuss the functionality of pejorative depictions of Indigenous people in cinema to the settler colonial project known as the Americas, its effects on Indigenous people, and much more. We also begin a discussion about postality (i.e. post–colonial, post–racial, post–modernism, etc.), and why it is meretricious.

                                                    This episode features music from:

                                                    • Conscientization 101 – “Decolonize This? Properly Defining Settlers – Part 1” from our Musical Commentaries collection
                                                    • Big Cakes – “One Thing I know (Remix)” feat. Majical, Paperboi Enj, & Big Frizzle from his album No Expenses
                                                    • Books mentioned in this episode include:

                                                      • Kwame A. Akoto’s Nationbuilding: Theory & Practice in Afrikan Centered Education 2nd ed.
                                                      • Kobi K.K. Kambon’s Cultural Misorientation: Misorientation: The Greatest Threat to the Survival of the Black Race in the 21st Century
                                                      • Dee Brown’s Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee: An Indian History of The American West
                                                      • And for more works by Ward Churchill, click here.

                                                        The Podcast Was Just A Snippet Of The Interview. Want To Listen To The Unabridged Interview? Try C-101 Premium Podcast Free For 7 Days!
                                                        1 hr 9 min

                                                      About Conscientization 101

                                                      From the publisher's feed

                                                      Conscientization 101 podcast is a show published on Wednesdays which features workers, writers, artists, and others who are involved in the process of learning to perceive social, political, and…