KPFA - Hard Knock Radio

This week on Hard Knock Radio, we feature Poor News Magazine as they examine America’s ongoing war on the poor and its impact on disenfranchised communities.

Later in the show, we turn our attention to one of Mexico’s most influential and enduring artists, Frida Kahlo, and explore how her life and work continue to inspire a new generation of artists.

Producer Anthony Wallace shares the story of Thania Betancourt Alcazar, a member of the Latina artist collective The Phoenix Fridas, in a piece from In Confianza with Pulso.

For Alcazar, the art and legacy of Frida Kahlo became a lifeline — a powerful source of resilience, identity, and empowerment.

In this story, Alcazar reflects on her experience as a Mexican immigrant, the isolation she once felt as an outsider, and the profound moment of recognition she experienced when she began to see herself, her culture, and her story reflected in the growing celebration of Frida Kahlo and her art in the United States.

Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson.

The post Poor News Magazine and Frida Kahlo appeared first on KPFA.

In part two of Hard Knock Radio’s conversation, longtime host Davey D continues his discussion with Dhoruba Bin Wahad, the former political prisoner, veteran Black Panther, freedom fighter, and Ghana based political analyst, by digging deeper into Libya, West Africa, global power shifts, and what all of this means for Black communities in the United States.

The conversation picks up with Libya and the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi. Davey D recalls reports that Black people in Libya were persecuted and even enslaved after NATO backed forces removed Gaddafi. Dhoruba argues that Gaddafi was targeted not simply because he was labeled a dictator, but because he had a serious plan for a United States of Africa funded by Libyan oil wealth and backed by an independent currency outside the U.S. dollar. In his view, that vision threatened Western control over African resources and had to be crushed.

From there, Dhoruba widens the lens. He argues that the struggle over Africa is really a struggle over global wealth, minerals, oil, and political power. He points to the Congo, Sudan, Nigeria, Ghana, and the Sahel as key battlegrounds where the United States, Europe, Israel, Ukraine, Russia, China, and BRICS aligned forces are all competing for influence. He says the removal of French and U.S. footholds in parts of West Africa has pushed those powers to find new entry points, especially through Nigeria and Ghana. He also warns that the war with Iran is spreading politically into Africa, with governments being pressured to choose sides.

A major thread in this part of the interview is Dhoruba’s belief that U.S. foreign policy abroad mirrors white supremacist domestic policy at home. He connects wars in Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America to immigration crackdowns, policing, gentrification, attacks on public education, and economic instability in Black communities. He argues that these are not separate issues, but part of the same global system of domination.

As the conversation moves toward a close, Dhoruba shifts from analysis to strategy. He urges listeners to study history, organize locally, and build genuine grassroots power rather than rely on either major political party. He calls for community control of public safety, opposition to police militarization, and the creation of an independent political movement rooted in the needs of poor and working people. He also stresses the need for communities to become more self reliant, including developing local emergency response capacity and stronger institutions that can withstand political and economic crisis.

Throughout part two, Davey D grounds the discussion with pointed questions and helps translate Dhoruba’s sweeping geopolitical analysis into terms listeners can connect to everyday life. The interview ends on a warning and a challenge: the world is entering a dangerous historical moment, and Black communities must prepare, organize, and build alliances that protect their long term survival.

Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson.

The post Dhoruba Bin Wahad: Iran and History Part Two appeared first on KPFA.

Longtime Hard Knock Radio host Davey D sits down with Dhoruba Bin Wahad, a former political prisoner, veteran Black Panther, freedom fighter, and Ghana based political analyst, for a far reaching discussion on Iran, Palestine, and the growing instability across Africa. In this first part of their conversation, Bin Wahad argues that the crises unfolding in the Middle East and on the African continent cannot be understood outside the history of colonialism, imperialism, and white supremacist power.

The discussion opens with Iran. Davey D frames the confusion many people in the United States are facing, where the war is often presented as a necessary fight for democracy or national security. Bin Wahad pushes back on that framing and says the real story begins with history. He traces the roots of the current moment through the creation of Israel, British colonial strategy, and the long pattern of Western intervention in the region. He argues that the 1953 CIA backed overthrow of Iranian leader Mohammad Mossadegh was a turning point, replacing an elected government with the Shah in order to maintain Western control over oil and regional power.

From there, Bin Wahad connects these global struggles to Black political history in the United States. Drawing from his experience in the Black Panther Party, he recalls the solidarity that existed between Black liberation movements and Palestinian and African anti colonial struggles. He argues that Black people should not see what is happening in Iran, Palestine, or elsewhere as distant matters, but as connected to the same systems of domination that shape repression at home. He points to attacks on civil rights, the rollback of DEI, the rewriting of history, and the rise of reactionary politics as evidence that foreign and domestic policy are deeply intertwined.

The conversation then shifts toward Africa, where Bin Wahad says another major battle over resources and power is underway. He describes Sudan as one of the most urgent humanitarian crises in the world and argues that outside forces are helping drive the violence because of the country’s gold, oil, and strategic value. He also revisits Libya, saying Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown not simply because of dictatorship claims, but because he was advancing a vision of African unity, independent development, and economic systems outside the dominance of the U.S. dollar.

Throughout the interview, Davey D helps unpack Bin Wahad’s wide ranging analysis by asking pointed questions that make the geopolitics more accessible. Part one lays the foundation for a broader critique of empire, showing how war, economic control, and political repression abroad are inseparable from the conditions Black communities face at home.

Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson.

The post Dhoruba Bin Wahad: Iran and History Part One appeared first on KPFA.

This week on Hard Knock Radio, we take you deep into the archives as we celebrate Women’s History Month—honoring the voices, vision, and leadership of women who have shaped movements and culture. We revisit a powerful and timeless speech, along with an intimate interview, from the late Elandra Williams, captured at Take Back America and the U.S. Social Forum. Her words remain as urgent and inspiring today as ever, offering insight, clarity, and a call to action.

Later in the show, we shift gears to a dynamic conversation with entertainment icon Queen Latifah and her longtime business partner, Shakim. Together, they reflect on building an empire, navigating the industry, and creating opportunities that extend far beyond the spotlight.

It’s a celebration of legacy, leadership, and lasting impact—this week on Hard Knock Radio.

Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson.

The post From the Archives: Women, Leadership, and Lasting Impact appeared first on KPFA.

This week on Hard Knock Radio, we take you deep into the archives as we celebrate Women’s History Month—uplifting the voices, vision, and leadership of women who have shaped movements and culture. We revisit a powerful speech and intimate interview from the late Elandra Williams, recorded at Take Back America and the U.S. Social Forum. Her words remain urgent and resonant, offering both reflection and a call to action.

Later in the show, we bring you a compelling conversation with entertainment icon Queen Latifah and her longtime business partner, Shakim. Together, they discuss building a lasting legacy, navigating the industry on their own terms, and creating opportunities that extend far beyond the spotlight.

It’s a dynamic celebration of influence, innovation, and impact—this week on Hard Knock Radio.

Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson.

The post Power in Her Voice: Women’s History Month on Hard Knock Radio appeared first on KPFA.

Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson.

The post Fund Drive Special: Freedom Frequency Series appeared first on KPFA.

Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson.

The post Fund Drive Special: appeared first on KPFA.

Davey D opened with the widely watched Democratic primary between Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico and asked Roland if he was surprised Crockett lost. Roland said he was not surprised and argued that endorsements and momentum do not win elections. Campaigns win through boots on the ground and infrastructure. He pointed to Talarico’s early start, fundraising, and a large volunteer operation with training, town halls, door knocking, and disciplined coordination.

Roland zoomed out to explain Texas math. Yes, the biggest counties matter, but Texas has 254 counties total. He described how candidates can stack small margins across dozens of rural and mid sized counties to build an overall win. In his view, Crockett leaned too heavily on a big county strategy while failing to run up the margins she needed in places like Dallas and Harris. He framed it as a numbers game, not vibes, not celebrity, not name recognition.

That set up a deeper talk on celebrity culture in politics. Roland said if a campaign is going to chase entertainers for endorsements, they should be Texas figures with local networks that can actually move voters and volunteers, not just famous names.

Davey D then raised concerns about voter suppression, especially in Dallas and Williamson counties where voters could not use countywide vote centers on Election Day and had to vote only in their precincts. Roland said Republicans created obstacles on purpose, but he emphasized campaigns still have a responsibility to educate voters, push early voting, and message relentlessly. He noted he received texts from multiple campaigns on Election Day, but not from Crockett’s.

Looking ahead, Roland said the Texas general election depends heavily on the Republican runoff and argued Republicans tend to unify while Democrats often splinter. He stressed the wild card is turnout. Texas is majority minority, but most voters are still white. He pointed to large numbers of eligible Black voters not voting and said real power comes from maximizing turnout, especially Black and Latino participation, backed by voter registration and a massive ground game.

He closed by widening the lens nationally, saying Democrats have pathways in key Senate races, but only if voters stop relitigating primaries, focus on power, and turn out.

Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson.

The post Fund Drive Special: Journalist Roland Martin breaks down what a high profile Texas primary revealed about elections, voter turnout, and the real mechanics of winning statewide. appeared first on KPFA.

As part of a Black History Month celebration at San Francisco State University, Hard Knock Radio host Davey D sat in conversation with longtime organizer and formerly incarcerated activist Dorsey Nunn. What unfolded was not a ceremonial talk, but a grounded and at times raw discussion about violence, prison life, reentry, and the deeper systems that shape who is allowed to change and who is permanently punished.

Nunn, a co founder of All of Us or None, used the moment to push back against narrow definitions of public safety. He argued that safety is not delivered by policing alone, but built through sustained community engagement, accountability, and the willingness to stay long enough to transform conditions. He pointed to a two year period with no murders in East Palo Alto and Menlo Park as evidence that violence is not inevitable, but shaped by choices and culture.

Throughout the conversation, Nunn emphasized direct intervention. He described confronting street level violence by reframing it as harm done to one’s own home, not protection of territory. Organizers challenged outdated neighborhood identities and made clear that chaos only benefits systems already prepared to surveil and punish. For Nunn, staying present mattered. Leaving early, he warned, often means abandoning communities just as change becomes possible.

The work extended beyond the streets. Nunn spoke about going into prisons to meet with shot callers and ask hard questions about the supposed economics of violence. In neighborhoods already saturated with law enforcement, he challenged the idea that anyone was winning. These conversations revealed how influence continues behind prison walls and why violence prevention must include people who are incarcerated, not just those on the outside.

When Davey D raised the question of rehabilitation, Nunn flipped the lens. He questioned why formerly incarcerated people are constantly expected to prove transformation while society builds structures that never allow punishment to end. Structural discrimination, he argued, keeps people locked out long after sentences are served. Real rehabilitation, for him, came through relationships with other formerly incarcerated people who could speak honestly, share resources, and build trust without respectability politics.

Nunn described recovery spaces as informal reentry hubs. People shared job leads, pooled money, and made sure newcomers could meet basic needs. That mutual aid, he explained, was not charity, but a survival strategy rooted in dignity. He also spoke candidly about the hard boundaries reentry requires, including telling family members they could not live with him because police contact would follow them to his door.

The conversation closed on a personal and political note. Nunn reflected on how relationships change on both sides of prison walls, how grief reshapes identity, and how love evolves over time. He connected those lessons to policy work, reclaiming authorship of the Ban the Box campaign and reminding the audience that the most meaningful reforms are led by those directly impacted.

In the end, Nunn described himself as a revolutionary in recovery, tying personal discipline, collective care, and long term political struggle into one ongoing commitment.

Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson.

The post Fund Drive Special: What Kind of Bird Can’t Fly: A Memoir of Resilience and Resurrection appeared first on KPFA.

Davey D opens the conversation by naming the moment as intentionally chaotic and disorienting, with flashpoints piling up at once Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, Gaza, and ICE raids. He frames the goal as making sense of the noise, then brings in Medea Benjamin of Code Pink as someone who confronts power directly and has been in the middle of these foreign policy battles for decades.

They begin with Iran, and Benjamin immediately situates the crisis in the long history of United States intervention, arguing that outside interference does not produce democracy and usually makes conditions worse for people fighting for change inside a country. She warns that Israel and the United States are not acting out of concern for Iranian democracy, pointing to what she describes as Israel’s interest in destabilization and division, including renewed sectarian conflict. She also connects the conflict to global energy shocks, noting how actions around the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on energy infrastructure drive prices and escalate the situation.

Davey D presses on who is leading, and Benjamin says she believes Israel is the primary driver, with Trump pulled into a regime change agenda rooted in decades of United States hostility, including the 1953 overthrow of Iran’s secular, elected government. She emphasizes that Trump does not want a prolonged war because his base and broader public opinion do not support it, so he will look for an off ramp, while Israel may push to keep the war going.

As Davey D wrestles with the emotional complexity of people celebrating the death of an oppressive leader while also living under the shadow of genocide and foreign manipulation, Benjamin argues that sanctions and provocation strengthen repressive governments by tightening their grip on the economy. She says lifting sanctions would create more room for internal reform and notes Iran’s current president ran on a reform platform but is now boxed in by crisis.

The conversation then widens to Venezuela and Cuba. Benjamin describes both as divided societies where sanctions fuel hardship and propaganda obscures realities on the ground. In Venezuela, she argues the driving motive is oil, not democracy, and warns that consumers still pay the price even when leaders promise cheap gas. On Cuba, she gives a stark account of daily life under tightening pressure, limited electricity, failing infrastructure, scarce medicine, and rising mortality. She promotes a March 21 gathering in Havana as a hemispheric show of solidarity against the blockade, directing listeners to codepink.org.

They close on two big themes: the frightening expansion of advanced weaponry and AI driven warfare tested on populations, and the urgent need to break fossil fuel dependency. Benjamin points to Cuba’s rapid shift toward solar and electric transport as a forced but instructive example, while Davey D flags the moral danger of wars becoming testing grounds for new tools of killing and surveillance.

Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson.

The post Fund Drive Special: Iran, Gaza, and the Politics of Permanent Crisis appeared first on KPFA.