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On this edition of Hard Knock Radio, host Davey D sat down with Selena Wilson, CEO of East Oakland Youth Development Center (EOYDC), to discuss the upcoming 4th Annual Black Futures Ball”a vibrant celebration of Afrofuturism, community resilience, and youth empowerment.

Held on Saturday, August 2 at the Chabot Space and Science Center, this years event pays tribute to the legendary Sun Ra and his 1974 cult classic film Space Is the Place, which was filmed in Oakland. The timing couldnt be more aligned, as the Sun Ra Arkestra is also set to perform in the Bay Area that same weekend. It felt like a harmonic convergence, Wilson said, emphasizing the spiritual and cultural alignment.

Wilson explained the Black Futures Balls deeper purpose: to fund college scholarships for youth served by EOYDC. The event raises more than $150,000 annually for students”providing not only financial support but also a platform to amplify imagination, creativity, and radical vision. Inspired by works like Black Panther, Ironheart, and the new Superman, the Ball offers a space for attendees to dream boldly, dress boldly, and imagine liberating futures rooted in joy and Black excellence.

Davey D and Wilson spoke about the power of Afrofuturism to nurture imagination, especially in times of political disillusionment. Theres a continuum, Wilson explained, acknowledging both despair and creativity among youth. While some are discouraged by attacks on education, climate change, and systemic injustice, many are thinking beyond the limitations of the current system building apps, designing curricula, and leveraging AI for social good.

The Ball itself promises a vibrant collision of fashion, science fiction, ancestral reverence, and dance-floor vibes. Think Met Gala meets AfroPunk meets Comic-Con. Its a space where people come in full regalia”from cosmic alien fits to ancestral robes, Wilson said. This year, EOYDC is collaborating with the Black Cultural Zone to host jewelry-making workshops and fashion pop-ups to help attendees build their look.

Wilson also spotlighted Oaklands rising representation in pop culture, celebrating creators like Ryan Coogler and Shanaka Hodge, who are shifting narratives through media and imagination. Films like Freaky Tales and the newest Superman reflect the Bays indelible imprint on futurist storytelling.

Throughout the conversation, the message was clear: collective vision, grounded in justice and creativity, is our most powerful tool. It took more than Superman, Wilson noted. It took a whole team.

For more info and tickets, visit EOYDCs social media and website. VIP doors open at 6 PM; general admission starts at 8 PM. Costumes encouraged”Sun Ra energy welcomed.

In the second half of the show, we pay tribute to the tragic loss of actor and humanitarian Malcolm-Jamal Warner, best known as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show. His contributions to the arts, activism, and Black representation will not be forgotten.

Mac Mall Reflects on Legacy, Vallejo’s Impact, and the Power of Real Connection

On this episode of Hard Knock Radio, Bay Area icon Mac Mall sat down with Davey D to reflect on his legacy, the deep cultural roots of Vallejo Hip Hop, and the life lessons earned through decades in the game.

Now entering OG status, Mac Mall embraced the gray hairs and fatherhood, sharing stories from his journey that began as a teenager. At just 15, he recorded his first album Illegal Business, a record that celebrated its 30th anniversary with a live band performance at Oaklands historic Yoshis. The performance, he said, was a thank you to the fans whove ridden with him since the start.

Beyond music, Mac Mall is a self-published author. His book My Opinion chronicles the journey of chasing dreams”and what happens when you catch them. Its an American story, he said. About growing up in Hip Hop. He announced his second book, Thizz or Die, which continues where the first left off, carrying his distinct voice rooted in the tradition of Donald Goines and Iceberg Slim.

The Vallejo legend broke down the often-overlooked cultural power of his city, citing pioneers like Mac Dre, E-40, and N2Deep, and newer stars like LaRussell. We made it okay to say you’re from Vallejo and be proud, he declared. Weve been holding it down and bringing platinum plaques to the Bay.

Mac Mall also uplifted Vallejos deep musical lineage”from Sly Stone and Con Funk Shun to the church-based musicians who formed the backbone of early production. We had more live musicians than samples, he said, reminding listeners that Vallejo was incorporating live instrumentation long before it was trendy.

He paid homage to Tupac, who directed his first major video, and talked about the responsibility of paying it forward. Recognize someones looking up to you. That person might be the one who saves the world.

On writing, Mac Mall emphasized the importance of real pen game and human connection in an industry now driven by algorithms and shortcuts. We had to get out and shake hands, meet people. Thats whats missing now”human connection.

As he looks ahead, Mac Mall continues to evolve”performing, writing, and even acting. But through it all, he stays grounded in community and craft. The game is thick, the pen is thick”we still with it.

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.

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In this powerful and timely conversation, Dr. Akinyele Umoja joins us to discuss The Memoirs of Robert and Mabel Williams: African American Freedom, Armed Resistance, and International Solidarity. Umoja, a scholar of African American history and co-editor of the memoirs, explores the legacy of Robert and Mabel Williams”radical Black freedom fighters who advocated for armed self-defense in the face of racial terror in the Jim Crow South. The conversation delves into their political activism, exile, and international solidarity work, including their time in Cuba and China, and their enduring impact on Black liberation movements in the U.S. and abroad.

Tune in for an insightful discussion about resistance, love, and the global dimensions of Black struggle.

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.

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Community activist Tony Coleman joins Davey D to discuss the trial of Johannes Mehserle, the former BART police officer convicted in the fatal shooting of Oscar Grant III. Coleman shares the community’s deep frustration and pain surrounding the trial and the broader issues of police violence and accountability. In a second audio clip, Coleman expresses his outrage over Mehserle’s attempt to be reinstated as a police officer following his release from prison, highlighting the ongoing struggle for justice and the lack of systemic change.

In the second part of the show, author and journalist Thandisizwe Chimurenga discusses her book No Doubt: The Murder(s) of Oscar Grant, a searing analysis of the 2009 police killing of Oscar Grant III and the social, legal, and political fallout that followed. Chimurenga examines the role of media, the justice system, and grassroots resistance in shaping the public narrative. As she states in the interview, “There was no doubt that Oscar Grant was murdered—the only question was whether the system would admit it.” Her insights offer a powerful lens into how Grant’s death became both a personal tragedy and a political catalyst, helping to lay the groundwork for the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement.

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: Fighting for Justice appeared first on KPFA.

In this powerful and timely conversation, Dr. Akinyele Umoja joins us to discuss The Memoirs of Robert and Mabel Williams: African American Freedom, Armed Resistance, and International Solidarity. Umoja, a scholar of African American history and co-editor of the memoirs, explores the legacy of Robert and Mabel Williams—radical Black freedom fighters who advocated for armed self-defense in the face of racial terror in the Jim Crow South. The conversation delves into their political activism, exile, and international solidarity work, including their time in Cuba and China, and their enduring impact on Black liberation movements in the U.S. and abroad.

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: In Conversation with Akinyele Umoja: The Memoirs of Robert and Mabel Williams appeared first on KPFA.

The People’s Court: Exposing Katrina’s Unpunished Crimes

In this historic 2007 session of the People’s Court, ACLU lawyer King Downing delivers a searing indictment of the U.S. government’s role in the human rights violations following Hurricane Katrina. Survivors, advocates, and witnesses offer devastating testimony—detailing state abandonment, police brutality, mass incarceration, environmental racism, housing theft, and the militarized occupation of New Orleans’ Black neighborhoods.

From prisoners left to die in flooded jails, to women and children trapped in unsanitary shelters, to vigilantes allowed to hunt Black residents with impunity—this tribunal laid bare a system where racism, profit, and neglect converged into catastrophe. Latino workers described modern-day slavery under guest worker programs, while New Orleans’ public schools and housing were systematically stripped from Black families under the guise of “recovery.”

Downing calls it what it is: a crime scene. He demands international recognition of genocide, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing. His call to action includes reparations, prosecution of federal officials, and global mobilization in support of Katrina’s displaced and abandoned.

This is not just testimony—it’s truth-telling as resistance. And the struggle continues. Downing is joined by Romel Madison, whose brother Ronald Madison was murdered by New Orleans police during the chaos following the storm. Together, they dissect the culture of impunity in law enforcement and highlight the devastating toll police brutality took on already traumatized communities. Their conversation is a call to remember the names, demand accountability, and break cycles of state violence.

And lastly, civil rights icon and movement lawyer Chokwe Lumumba closed the Hurricane Katrina Tribunal with a fiery indictment of U.S. government failures—from FEMA to local law enforcement—in the wake of the 2005 disaster. Speaking before a packed People’s Court on September 2, 2007, Lumumba didn’t mince words. He framed the government’s actions not just as negligence, but as crimes against humanity.

Citing powerful testimony from survivors, Lumumba called out systemic racism, environmental violence, mass displacement, and militarized repression—arguing that the government’s conduct during and after Katrina fits the legal definition of genocide. He laid out a blueprint for justice: full reparations for victims, prosecution of public officials, and international recognition of human rights violations.

Lumumba demanded that this tribunal report its findings to global human rights bodies and urged support for grassroots organizations still doing the work FEMA refused to do. He closed with a call to action: to build power from the bottom up, honor the voices of Katrina survivors, and never let their truth be buried under government spin.

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: Voices from the Katrina Tribunal: Romell Madison, and King Downing appeared first on KPFA.

On this edition of Hard Knock Radio, host Davey D dives into the alarming escalation of government crackdowns on protest with guest Akela Lacy, senior politics reporter at The Intercept and co-host of The Intercept Briefing podcast. At the center of their conversation is Lacy’s recent investigation into how ICE and federal agents are criminalizing those who resist immigration raids—not just migrants themselves, but anyone providing aid, protesting, or even identifying the agents involved.

Lacy details the case of Alejandro Orellana, a young man indicted simply for handing out face shields to protesters following Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to L.A. These were protective shields used to defend against rubber bullets and tear gas—common non-lethal weapons used on demonstrators. Still, prosecutors are arguing this act constitutes “aiding in civil disorder,” pushing a dangerous narrative that equates self-defense with aggression.

The conversation highlights how this legal framework is being used to target broader acts of resistance. According to Lacy, ICE agents are now going after individuals accused of “doxing” by identifying agents online—even though these agents often operate in unmarked vans and without visible badges, abducting people off the street. In one case, ICE raided a family home in Irvine, CA, over suspicions their son posted flyers with agent info. In another, protesters who organized bail funds or posted police misconduct flyers—as seen during Atlanta’s Cop City protests—are being hit with RICO charges.

Davey D draws parallels between these tactics and historical attacks on dissent, such as Arizona’s attempts to criminalize those who left water for migrants crossing the desert. He also raises concerns about unaccountable ICE operatives acting under federal cover, possibly without proper training or oversight—further blurring lines of responsibility and justice.

Throughout the interview, Lacy stresses that while the legislative push to formalize these crackdowns (like the “anti-doxing” bill introduced by Sen. Marsha Blackburn) may not yet be law, they still shape policy and intimidate activists. Meanwhile, federal agencies are signaling their intent to pressure media outlets and even journalists who publish identifying details about ICE agents, raising serious First Amendment concerns.

Despite the bleak outlook, Lacy encourages listeners to remain engaged. She urges communities to stay informed, support local resistance efforts, and build solidarity with those directly impacted. The judiciary may offer some temporary relief—as seen in a recent ruling ordering ICE to halt indiscriminate raids in Los Angeles—but lasting resistance will come from collective vigilance.

As Davey D puts it, knowing your community is a first line of defense. When the state moves in shadows, transparency becomes a revolutionary act.

Later we present to you famed journalist Chris Hedges. Chris Hedges speaks at the First Congregational Church of Oakland on Thursday, May 29th at his book release event sponsored by KPFA, A Genocide Foretold: Reporting on Survival and Resistance in Occupied Palestine.   Chris speaks in depth on his recent experience just coming back from Egypt and speaking to Palestinian refugees there and so much more. A profound evening with Chris Hedges and his profound knowledge of geopolitical history and tempered with his compassion for all the victims of war including the combatants. Hosted by Law & Disorder’s Cat Brooks. Cat starts off the evening with a powerful introduction and ends off the talk with an extensive question and answer period with the audience.

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.

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In this timely episode, Davey D speaks with civil rights attorney and author Alec Karakatsanis about his new book, Copaganda: How Police and the Media Manipulate Our News. Alec explains how police departments use strategic storytelling and media partnerships to shape public perception of crime, reinforce fear-based narratives, and justify inflated police budgets.

The conversation begins with Alec defining “copaganda” and exploring how misleading narratives—like the claim that shoplifting forced Walgreens to close stores—are often amplified in the press without evidence. He draws a direct connection between these narratives and the massive funding police departments receive, often at the expense of social services.

Alec then pulls back the curtain on the powerful PR machinery behind law enforcement. For example, the LAPD employs more than 40 full-time public relations professionals—tasked with feeding stories to local newsrooms, often without scrutiny or balance. This, he argues, creates a media ecosystem where police define the terms of public safety while masking their own violence and systemic failures.

In the final part of the interview, Alec shares a powerful example from Houston, where the police department worked quickly to present a caring, compassionate image after the murder of George Floyd. Behind the scenes, however, policies that criminalize and harm poor and marginalized communities remained unchanged. It’s a stark look at how image management often replaces real accountability.

Copaganda is a sharp, uncompromising critique of how police shape the news we consume. Through detailed research and firsthand legal experience, Alec Karakatsanis shows how police narratives dominate headlines, distract from structural harm, and sustain mass criminalization. The book challenges readers to question what they believe about crime and punishment—and who controls that narrative.

Alec Karakatsanis is the founder and executive director of Civil Rights Corps, a nonprofit dedicated to challenging injustice in the legal system. A former public defender, Alec has led national efforts to dismantle cash bail systems, fight police misconduct, and expose the legal system’s role in reinforcing racial and economic inequality. He is also the author of Usual Cruelty: The Complicity of Lawyers in the Criminal Injustice System.

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.

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On this episode of Hard Knock Radio, host Davey D sat down with lawyer, journalist, and author Malaika Jabali to unpack her new book It’s Not You, It’s Capitalism. Drawing on her legal background and years of political reporting, Jabali challenges the myths surrounding capitalism and reframes our relationship to money, struggle, and systemic inequality.

Jabali explains that the idea for the book emerged during the pandemic, when people internalized their economic hardship as personal failure rather than a systemic flaw. Using the metaphor of a toxic relationship, she likens capitalism to a manipulative partner—gaslighting folks into believing they aren’t working hard enough while hoarding the fruits of their labor. “We’ve been conditioned to think this is the only way to live,” Jabali says, “and that’s the biggest lie of all.”

She and Davey dig deep into the psychological hold capitalism has on people, especially Black communities. From “prosperity gospel” churches pushing predatory loans, to celebrity billionaires being held up as aspirational goals, Jabali argues that capitalism sells false hope while hiding its exploitative roots. As Davey puts it, “That’s big pimping—the American way.”

The conversation also centers race and class. Jabali challenges the whitewashed history of socialism, highlighting Black revolutionaries like Assata Shakur, Martin Luther King Jr., Dolores Huerta, and Kathleen Cleaver, whose critiques of capitalism were often erased or watered down. She points out that capitalism in the U.S. was born through racial exploitation—enslaved labor, redlining, and now the prison-industrial complex—and can’t be separated from that legacy.

Jabali doesn’t shy away from tough contradictions, especially the debate around Black capitalism. She critiques the notion that individual wealth will liberate communities, pointing to Atlanta—a city known for Black excellence, yet riddled with inequality and displacement. “If Black capitalism was the solution,” she argues, “it would’ve worked by now.”

Davey also raises a sharp point about how billionaires collaborate and share resources, while everyday folks are conditioned to hustle alone. “They practice collective power,” he says, “and we’re taught individualism. That’s not by accident.”

To make the book accessible to younger readers, Jabali collaborated with illustrator Kayla E. to include visual breakdowns—like the cheeky timeline of exploitative “Johns,” from plantation owner to Silicon Valley CEO—all exploiting labor in different ways. She encourages readers to start with Chapter 1 (“Why Capitalism Is a Catfish”) and Chapter 2 (“The Boy Is Mine”) for a crash course in how race and class divisions keep working people fighting each other instead of the system.

In short, It’s Not You, It’s Capitalism is more than a critique—it’s an intervention. And it’s a call to remember that our worth isn’t tied to our wages, and our liberation won’t come from mimicking billionaires, but from reclaiming power—together.

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.

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On this edition of Hard Knock Radio, host Davey D sits down with Kamau Franklin—organizer, lawyer, and co-editor of No Cop City, No Cop World: Lessons from the Movement—for a deep and revealing conversation about the grassroots struggle in Atlanta and what it means for movements across the country.

Franklin lays out the origins of the “Stop Cop City” movement, born from the backlash to the 2020 uprisings over police violence. While masses called to defund or abolish the police, Atlanta’s response—despite its reputation as a Black Mecca—was to build Cop City, a sprawling, militarized training facility funded by corporate giants like Delta, Cox, and Waffle House. Located on land once promised to a working-class Black community, the site has drawn protest, organizing, and repression.

Kamau breaks down how Black political elites—what he and the late Glenn Ford call the Black misleadership class—helped enable Cop City’s creation. These are officials who use their identity to gain trust, but govern in ways that align with corporate and developer interests rather than the needs of working-class Black folks. “They’re not struggling with Black liberation politics,” Franklin says. “They’re trained to be transactional.”

Davey D and Kamau explore the dangers of identity politics when it’s weaponized for status quo governance. They also touch on the defanging of Black radical politics through state repression, corporate media manipulation, and the amplification of conservative Black voices that present themselves as “authentically hood” while pushing reactionary agendas.

Franklin highlights the importance of coalition-building, even as the Cop City fight has faced internal challenges and political repression—including terrorism and RICO charges against protesters. He names the essay by Ashley Dixon on base building as a must-read in the book, pointing to the hard, often unglamorous organizing work needed to sustain movements. He also lifts up moments of solidarity with Indigenous communities—especially the Muskogee Nation—who were displaced from the land now being bulldozed for Cop City.

In the final stretch, the conversation turns to the dangers ahead: the rise of white militias, expanded federal surveillance, and increasing use of anti-terror laws to stifle dissent. Kamau calls for a shift from “Know Your Rights” to “Community Defense.” He underscores the importance of building alternative infrastructure—from housing to farms to mutual aid—as a way to deepen political power beyond elections.

Listeners are encouraged to follow Kamau’s work at CommunityMovementBuilders.org and his YouTube platform, Black Liberation Media.

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.

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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.

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