Reparations: The Big Payback

Erika and Whitney return! In this special bonus episode, the co-directors discuss their latest adventures, including the PBS premiere of their reparations documentary, The Big Payback. And, with a little help from NAACP President Derrick Johnson, they dissect the shaky state of reparations. Can a flood of burgeoning local reparations movements supercharge the perpetually landlocked HR40 initiative in congress? Or will a new strategy, and an executive order from The White House, finally right the rocky ship of reparations? 

Make sure to check out The Big Payback film on the PBS Video app. Streaming free until April 15th.

Film: pbs.org/bigpaybackfilm

#BigPaybackFilmPBS

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If a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, how many miles will it take for reparations for America's enslaved descendants to find a home? Backed by Analog Players Society and Masta Ace's debut hit, Home In America, Erika and Whitney do a deep dive into their first season's journey and uncover shades of gray and pain in their unusual black and white partnership. But first, a Lord Of The Rings, epic-remix, monologue tells the story of the long, harrowing journey begun by reparations pioneers long ago. Then a new playlist is created to entice their favorite reparations warriors, and opponents, to reappear and bear witness to their reparations journey today. While the pair revisit their best hits, the duo is encouraged to make an all-out sprint toward their season's final destination, slavery's home, The Whitney Plantation in southern Louisiana. And, like the haunted place inspired by Toni Morrison's mythological "Sweet Home," this plantation tells the story from the slave's point of view. Finally, the pair retrace their steps, only to find themselves at the beginning of the end, in the mother of all lands, the great continent of Africa. Now in the belly of the beast, at the Cape Coast slave dungeons, they ask the ultimate question, can America go through the door of no return and come out the other side, whole? Or will America's impractical arrangement and immoral history destroy its own home from the inside out? 

“Home in America” is by Analog Players Society and Masta Ace, produced by Ben Rubin. The single will be released on all platforms on June 18 by Ropeadope Records." "'Home in America" features NYC jazz greats: tenor saxophonist Donny McCaslin (David Bowie/Blackstar), pianist Orrin Evans (the Bad Plus), bassist Dezron Douglas (Ravi Coltrane), and drummer Eric McPherson (Fred Hersch Trio).

https://www.analogplayerssociety.com/ 

https://benrubin.com/

https://www.mastaace.com/

https://ropeadope.lnk.to/HomeinAmerica

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It's groundhog day in America. As Erika and Whitney mourn the brutal death of Andrew Brown Jr, another unarmed Black man shot and killed by police, they ask themselves; Does America have the willpower to make reparations to the descendants of slaves? To find answers they travel across the ocean to Poland to hear the story of 77-year-old Mr. Waldemar Ogrodniczak. His Polish parents were forced laborers in WWII, taken from Poland to Germany to build the Third Reich and now as an adult, Waldemar continues his decades-long search for redress and reparations from the German government. Meanwhile, Erika grabs the comedy mic and serves up a spicy monologue to demonstrate the perils of the begrudged debtor who avoids being confronted by the aggrieved creditor. "Stop triggering me, man!" Finally, natural-born genius Killer Mike, helps them to face the ugly truth, that America's biggest business is the business of race, and that business may be too big to fail. 

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It’s mourning' time in America. Erika and Whitney reflect on their reparations journey and calculate the personal toll it's taken. The great Reverend Barber resets the room and builds a powerful theological case, through the lens of “The Five Pillars.” A case that exposes the moral repercussions of reparations, and what the bondsman's price will be if America continues to ignore the bill. Then, after 28 years, Erika returns to her father's grave at Rosemont Cemetery in Elizabeth, NJ to share her personal theory on individual moral justice, while also looking to absolve her father's case for debts paid in full, through his own pain and suffering. And finally, we get an encore visit from Erika’s mother, Ms. Sammie, who gets the last word and gives us a Star-Spangled Banner 'drop the mic' performance. Step back, Mahalia!

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Erika and Whitney ask the trillion dollar question, “Who qualifies for reparations?” To find answers they take to the streets of downtown Brooklyn. They also consult ‘who gets it’ experts, Killer Mike, Dr. William Darity, Mary Frances Barry and ADOS co-founder Yvette Carnell. But if you’re still unsure you’d qualify, they reveal a helpful service that with a ‘ding!’ or a ‘dong!’ can tell you if you qualify for the big payback. Cool, right? You’re welcome Black America! 

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Erika’s mother, Sammie Alexander, grabs the mic and tells the story of her Black experience, growing up, raising Black children and facing racism, but she drops the mic to deliver a dire prediction for Black America’s reparations in a red, white n’ blue future. Then billionaire Tom Steyer rolls his ‘money ball’ to expose the financial barriers that continue to limit the economic growth of Black Americans. And Dr. William Darity returns to teach a master class, on how reparations can make our country a more perfect union. Finally, former Flint, MI Mayor Karen Weaver, tells a dark water story about the challenges she faced getting compensation for Flint residents and why it may never be enough. 

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Welcome to Reparations: Fight Club! A quick reminder folks, ‘snitches get stitches’! Let's go! In part two Erika and Whitney are back, ringside, calling the shots, as the battle heats up. When we last left off, The Case Against Reparations landed a surprise-whammy that floored The Case For Reparations. As we resume this battle we discover the reason the match flipped n' flopped. Then our next match pits The Big Easy’s Marc Morial, history buff and head of the National Urban League, against artful dodger and proud Evanstonian resident, John Foley. And finally...cue the bass note ya'll...our Thrilla! Heavyweight genius, Michael ‘Killer Mike’ Render, delivers a first-class, Black-BBQ-Roasting to White separatist, and 'man of constant White sorrow,' Jared Taylor! Will the case FOR reparations finally prevail? Or will the case AGAINST reparations remain undefeated?

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Welcome to Reparations Fight Club!The only rule about Reparations Fight Club is that in America there is no Reparations Fight Club! Erika and Whitney settle in ringside to call the shots, as the stakes are raised in this bare-knuckle bout between: The Case Against Reparations and The Case For Reparations! Evanston, IL history-maker, Alderwoman “I-got-it-done” Robin Rue Simmons, squares up against conservative talkie Larry “Get-out-my-face” Elder! And Houston’s favorite, Sheila “Action-Jack-you-up-son” Lee, delivers a flurry of HR40 flavored uppercuts to reparations gainsayer, Louisiana’s own Mike “Hell-no” Johnson! Folks it’s a blood feud, and a close match, but in the end is The Case For Reparations too weary to withstand the centuries of quicksand, inertia and f*ckery from The Case Against Reparations?!...Let’s listen! 

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Oh say can you FreakShow! Erika and Whitney become minstrel characters, “Mista’ Tambo n’ Mista’ Interlocutor,” to present the perverse-circus-sideshow oddities of America’s institutional and corporate racism. Star experts join them to bear witness and unveil slavery‘s toxic legacy, woven within modern corporate policies and legislation. Professor Adam Rothman chronicles the sordid history behind one of America's finest educational institutions, Georgetown University. Voting rights activist Desmond Meade disrupts the panhandle circus with Florida Amendment Four to restore voting rights to 1.4 million people with felony convictions. Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee illustrates how the sad perversities of fighting for systemic injustice persists. And the MLK of tipped wage workers, Saru Jayaraman, nails the corrosive tradition of tipping to slavery and the ongoing fight for fair wages within America’s largest private sector workers. Finally, Erika croons a new Swanee tune that makes the White Superiority hit list! “Step back Beyoncé!”

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Whitney commandeers the slave narrative along with a motley crew of allies, to prove that Whites can own and tell the truth about slavery. But first, the duo ‘forge a new nation’ in media, as Erika revisits a role she played on a miniseries - Ona Judge, the “beloved” runaway slave girl of George Washington. Later, New England patriot Katrina Browne owns her grisly, family legacy as the largest, slave-trading family in America. And bestselling author, Edward Baptist, describes the human cost and atrocities built within the industry of slavery, by conjuring up the lore of the dreaded “whipping machine.” Meanwhile, Erika reclaims the narrative, calling in a favor and advice from the ultimate disrupter, Rev. Al Sharpton. Finally, it’s Dow versus Alexander, when the pair asks, “What's in a name?” Whitney compares his centuries-long, British-American family history, from The Book of Dow to the smoky, white shroud covering Erika’s African-American history, and slave name, Alexander. 

Clips from "George Washington II: The Forging of a Nation" are courtesy of MGM Media Licensing.

For more info about this episode, please visit https://reparationsbigpayback.com

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