In Search of Black Power

Oct 22 2024 69 ep. 50 mins 110
In Search of Black Power Podcast artwork

In Search of Black Power challenges conventional narratives around Black policy, Black movements, and Black Life. We focus on creating a new language to discuss the issues presenting Black America, with a focus on independent institutional building and seeing Black folks as the solutions to our own problems. 

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Pre-Election Special: Kamala Harris's Black Male Agenda and Cannabis Legalization

Oct 22 2024 57 mins  
Send us a textKamala Harris released her Black Male Opportunity agenda amid discussions about lower support from Black men compared to Black women, with even Barack Obama criticizing "the brothers." In this episode, we examine how Harris balances appealing to Black men while avoiding policies directly targeting them. We also critique her cannabis legalization strategy, which may hi

The White Liberals Keep the Score: An African Centered Critique of The Body Keeps the Score (Part 2)

Oct 02 2024 75 mins  
Send us a textIn this episode, Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle Director of Research, Lawrence Grandpre, critiques the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) framework, showing how it centers Eurocentric norms of trauma—focusing on individual and family experiences—while neglecting African-centered views of cultural and political trauma.We discuss how institutional responses to AC

The White Liberals Keep the Score: An African Centered Critique of The Body Keeps the Score (Part 1)

Sep 04 2024 62 mins  
Send us a textBessel van der Kolk's The Body Keeps the Score has become a global sensation, shaping mental health services and public conversations by centering trauma. Originally aimed at improving doctor-patient relationships, trauma-informed analysis has evolved into a political tool, with some advocating for its use in resource allocation to historically oppressed communities.

Guiding Black Youth: The legacy of African-Centered Rites of Passage

Aug 07 2024 69 mins  
Send us a textAfrican-centered Rites of Passage is a cultural practice and intervention that uses traditional African culture to facilitate the transition of young people to adulthood. Andre "Akintola" Turner, with over 20 years of experience in education and public health, provides an in-depth analysis of this practice through the Baltimore Rites of Passage Initiative. As a Senior

Sacrificing “Sum of Us”: Why Black Power Can’t Help Everyone (Part 2)

Jul 03 2024 71 mins  
Send us a textIn part two of our podcast analysis of Heather McGhee’s book “The Sum of Us,” hosted by Lawrence Grandpre, we use a historical lens to examine the effectiveness of multiracial positive-sum politics. We challenge McGhee’s argument that multiracial coalitions can effectively address global warming, showing that the history of political advocacy complicates this

Sacrificing “Sum of Us”: Why Black Power Can’t Help Everyone (Part 1)

Jun 05 2024 43 mins  
Send us a textHeather McGee’s book, The Sum of Us, is touted as a new approach to racial justice. Her arguments, showcased from TED Talks to late-night shows, suggest that framing investments in Black communities as beneficial for everyone can counter white backlash. However, this emotional appeal to multiracial coalitions undermines Black autonomy by decentering demands for Blac

Anti-Blackness and progressive approaches to Economic Redistribution

May 01 2024 61 mins  
Send us a textIn this episode, Lawrence explores the intersections of race and economic redistribution. Advocates of "race-neutral" economic redistribution policies have rebranded them as "race-conscious," asserting that policies like baby bonds and Universal Basic Income (UBI) would disproportionately benefit Black people while mitigating political backlash. This discussion expose

Baltimore's Fight for Reparations

Apr 03 2024 37 mins  
Send us a textIn May 2023, Baltimore’s City Council unanimously voted to establish the Community Reinvestment and Reparations Commission to oversee the distribution of funds granted by the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund, making Baltimore City the first jurisdiction in Maryland to establish a commission like this. In this episode Dayvon Love, Director of Public Policy for

Revolutionary Tools: The Practical Applications of African Spirituality for Black Liberation

May 17 2023 37 mins  
Send us a textIn this thought-provoking interview, Dayvon speaks with Shawna Murray-Browne, founder of Kindred Wellness, about the intersection of African spirituality and revolutionary struggles for Black Liberation. With a wealth of knowledge and experience as a healer, therapist, and community leader, Shawna shares valuable insights into the ways in which traditional African spi

White Environmentalism Towards Grassroots Environmental Justice

May 10 2023 28 mins  
Send us a textLawrence and Rasheem discuss the intersection of environmentalism and racism in the United States. They explore the ways in which environmental racism has become a key focus of anti-racist discourse and organizing, drawing on the influential book "Dumping in Dixie" by Robert Bullard. Through a critical analysis of legal strategies and grassroots organizing, they offer