The Black Myths Podcast

We return for part 2 with Dr. Felicia Denaud to delve specifically into the history of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party and what it can teach us about today. We explore how the MFDP came into fruition through local efforts, the challenges it faced nationally, and how these challenges impact the Democratic party and organizing more broadly in our current political moment.    SNCC Legacy Project  https://sncclegacyproject.org/#:~:text=Securing%20the%20Ballot,to%20Vote%20in%20Freedom%20Summer    Patreon    https://www.patreon.com/c/blackmyths    Study Guide    https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aj3wkt_TMhP8u-V3iHYcampOFQRO8IcVDtCTXGv5AbY/edit?usp=drivesdk

In this episode, we interview Africana Studies professor, Dr. Felicia Denaud. Our myth is "All Politics is Local." The Idea that all politics is local ultimately focuses on local (and regional) matters as opposed to national (or international) matters. All Politics is Local or other dismissive retorts to electoral criticism such as "do know your local congressman?” or “local politics is where the real power is” distorts the influence that national (and international) power plays in what happens locally. 

  The Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party is an historical example that highlights the power of local organizing and also the limitations. Thus, on this episode we will use the MFDP as a case study to demonstrate the limits of this myth but also what we can learn to build beyond the limits.    SNCC Legacy Project  https://sncclegacyproject.org/#:~:text=Securing%20the%20Ballot,to%20Vote%20in%20Freedom%20Summer   Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/blackmyths   Study Guide https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aj3wkt_TMhP8u-V3iHYcampOFQRO8IcVDtCTXGv5AbY/edit?usp=drivesdk

In this crossover pod, Joshua Briond of Millennials are Killing Capitalism and Momodou Taal the Malcolm Effect join forces with Too Black to discuss the perils of Black liberalism, #FreePalestine, and the primary contradiction of US imperialism. We ground the conversation in the two pieces recently written by Too Black and Taal: 

Unburdened by Palestine: Shedding Black liberalism for anti-imperialism 

https://mondoweiss.net/2024/08/unburdened-by-palestine-shedding-black-liberalism-for-anti-imperialism/

Dear Black liberals: Palestine TikTok activists aren't the enemy 

https://www.newarab.com/opinion/dear-black-liberals-palestine-tiktok-activists-arent-enemy

00:00:00 Opening arguments

00:18:55 Online and offline Discourse

00:34:50 Black Culture and Imperialism

00:59:52 Black Women and Empire

01:20:23 Hope and Fear

01:43:20 Blackness and Imperialism

For this episode, we interview Indiana political prisoner Christopher "Naeem" Trotter of Pendleton 2. Our myth is that Black August is a celebration when it is a commemorative month for Black political prisoners and Black radical history. Naeem shares his case and reminds us about not allowing Black August to be watered down, political prisoner definitions, and time on Supermax. We urge everyone to donate to the P2 Defense Committee legal defense fund. We have been fundraising all month, and it would be greatly appreciated.

Donation https://chuffed.org/project/free-pend... $FreePendleton2 @FreePendleton2 Documentary about case

 https://filmfreeway.com/projects/2740088

Patreon patreon.com/blackmyths

In this episode, we discuss the case of current death row prisoner Marcellus “Khaliifah” Williams to examine why the death penalty doesn't work. Marcellus “Khaliifah” Williams is scheduled for execution on September 24, despite DNA evidence proving his innocence. The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney has filed a motion to vacate his conviction, citing the exculpatory DNA evidence. A hearing is set for August 21 to review this evidence. The case against Williams was based on unreliable witness testimony, and forensic evidence from the crime scene does not match him. Despite these findings, the Missouri Attorney General is pushing for his execution. This case highlights issues of wrongful convictions and racial bias in the justice system. Please feel out the petition below!

Petition

https://innocenceproject.org/petitions/stop-the-execution-of-marcellus-williams-an-innocent-man/?p2asource=_madpmo

Case

https://www.freekhaliifah.org/

Patreon

https://www.patreon.com/blackmyths

#FREEKHALIIFAH

In this episode, we return with the full Black Myths Crew to discuss the myth that X-men comic characters Professor X and Magneto of X-Men are based on Martin Luther King Dr. and Malcolm X. We attempted to have fun with this episode. However, research still unveiled some troubling truths about the origin of this myth. We trace the origins of the myth, analyze the limitations of pop culture as a prism for Black political thought, and examine the impact the military-industrial complex plays in the movies we watch. 

  Readings    https://vocal.media/geeks/actually-stan-lee-didnt-base-marvels-prof-x-and-magneto-on-malcolm-x-and-martin-luther-king-jr   https://nymag.com/nymetro/arts/features/3522/   https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/x-men-wolverine-jean-grey-chris-claremont-five-key-storylines/   Patreon patreon.com/blackmyths

In this episode, we continue our discussion on "Laundering Black Rage" with an emphasis on cities. We return with Rasul Mowatt to discuss cities as sites of spatial construction, bedazzled labor camps, and what can be done to address the plight of cities under capitalism. 

Also, we are beginning a fundraising drive for the Pendleton 2 legal defense fund. Please donate here

https://chuffed.org/project/free-pendleton-2

Laundering Black Rage

https://www.routledge.com/Laundering-of-Black-Rage-The-Washing-of-Black-Death-People-Property/Black-Mowatt/p/book/9781032573779

Patreon

patreon.com/blackmyths

Rasul Mowatt returns to the show to further discuss Laundering Black Rage: The Washing of Black Death, People, Property, and Profits—the co-authored book with our host, Too Black. In this episode, we discuss cities' role in the laundering concept. We revisit the emergence of the capitalist state, the function of cities in socializing us into laundering, and the idea of wealth. 

  Also, we are beginning a fundraising drive for the Pendleton 2 legal defense fund. Please donate here    https://chuffed.org/project/free-pendleton-2   Laundering Black Rage  https://www.routledge.com/Laundering-of-Black-Rage-The-Washing-of-Black-Death-People-Property/Black-Mowatt/p/book/9781032573779   Patreon patreon.com/blackmyths

This episode explores the myth and common retort "What about the Congo?" We return with our guests Nicholas Richard-Thompson and Tunde Osazua to break down Palestine, the history of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the genocides that have occurred in the DRC, and the current geopolitical situation. 

Crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo https://www.liberationnews.org/crisis-in-the-democratic-republic-of-congo/   Cobalt Red, How the Blood of the Congo Powers Our Lives https://blackagendareport.com/cobalt-red-how-blood-congo-powers-our-lives  

Are DRC-China ties set to see an uptick?

https://peoplesdispatch.org/2023/06/27/are-drc-china-ties-set-to-see-an-uptick/   China in Congo https://www.blackagendareport.com/china-congo Attempted coup? U.S. mercenaries captured as Congo political crisis takes new twist https://www.liberationnews.org/attempted-coup-u-s-mercenaries-captured-as-congo-political-crisis-takes-new-twist/   Patreon https://www.patreon.com/blackmyths

In this episode, we explore the myth that Africans don't value democracy with Nicholas Richard-Thompson and Tunde Osazua of the pro-peace anti-imperialist organization, Black Alliance for Peace. We discuss questions of liberal democracy across the continent, the political nature of coups, neocolonialism, and the political development of recent coups in the Sahel region. 

https://www.afrobarometer.org/articles/do-africans-want-democracy-and-do-they-think-theyre-getting-it/