Robin D. G. Kelley listens back to the oral histories that became his groundbreaking book Hammer and Hoe. Music in this piece is by Nathan Bowles.

Conor Gillies is the audio editor at Jacobin, where he makes shows such as Long Reads and People's History. 

This story was produced by Conor, and edited by Liza Yeager and Omar Etman. Additional editorial support from Jackson Roach, Annie Rosenthal, Lio Wong, and the Issue One cohort.

Music in this story is by Nathan Bowles, except for the song “Long-Haired Preachers” by Harry McClintock, courtesy of Smithsonian Folkways.

Special thanks to Jacobin Radio, where a longer series based on this story is forthcoming.

Support the show