In Search of Black Power
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.
Episodes
69 episodes
Pre-Election Special: Kamala Harris's Black Male Agenda and Cannabis Legalization
Kamala 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 t...
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Season 4
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Episode 7
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57:33
The White Liberals Keep the Score: An African Centered Critique of The Body Keeps the Score (Part 2)
In 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 experie...
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Season 4
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Episode 6
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1:15:30
The White Liberals Keep the Score: An African Centered Critique of The Body Keeps the Score (Part 1)
Bessel van der Kolk's The Body Keeps the Score has become a global sensation, shaping mental health services and public conversations by centering trauma...
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Season 4
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Episode 5
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1:02:23
Guiding Black Youth: The legacy of African-Centered Rites of Passage
African-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 ...
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Season 4
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Episode 4
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1:09:14
Sacrificing “Sum of Us”: Why Black Power Can’t Help Everyone (Part 2)
In 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 multiraci...
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Season 4
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Episode 4
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1:11:38
Sacrificing “Sum of Us”: Why Black Power Can’t Help Everyone (Part 1)
Heather 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 ...
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Season 4
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Episode 3
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43:02
Anti-Blackness and progressive approaches to Economic Redistribution
In 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...
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Season 4
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Episode 2
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1:01:00
Baltimore's Fight for Reparations
In 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 fir...
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Season 4
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Episode 1
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37:02
Revolutionary Tools: The Practical Applications of African Spirituality for Black Liberation
In 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 know...
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Season 3
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Episode 32
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37:50
White Environmentalism Towards Grassroots Environmental Justice
Lawrence 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 bo...
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Season 3
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Episode 31
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28:04
Building Collective Power for Black-led Social Change
In this interview, Dayvon Love sits down with Jamye Wooten, the founder and CEO of CLLCTIVLY, to explore the critical need for collective economic development and narrative change to challenge myths of Black pathology in our communities. <...
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Season 3
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Episode 30
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20:25
Not Just "Food Deserts": Food Sovereignty for the Black Community
Lawrence and Rasheem engage in a stimulating conversation that challenges the "food desert" narrative and explores what true food sovereignty might mean for the Black community. They discuss the dangers of relying solely on grocery stores to fe...
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Season 3
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Episode 29
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38:34
The Intellectual Legacy of Mumia Abu-Jamal and Other Political Prisoners
In this insightful interview, we have the pleasure of speaking with Todd Steven Burroughs, a renowned author, historian, and expert on the contributions of Black political prisoners to the struggle for freedom and justice. In this video, Todd s...
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Season 3
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Episode 28
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1:04:58
2022 Midterms: Reflections & Moving Forward
On this special episode, Lawrence Grandpre hosts a discussion on how the Black community should process the results of the 2022 Midterm Election.
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Season 3
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Episode 27
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1:27:55
The Myth and Propaganda of Black Buying Power
In part two of our interview with Dr. Jared Ball - he discusses his book, “The Myth and Propaganda of Black Buying Power”, and addresses the folly of Black capitalism.Jared A. Ball is a father and husband. After that, he is a Professor ...
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Season 3
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Episode 26
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27:34
Mass media propaganda against Black liberation
We sit down with Dr Jared Ball - co-founder and host on the Black Power Media (BPM) digital platform. In part one of our interview, he lays out the ways that mass media and propaganda are used against struggles for Black Liberation.Jare...
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Season 3
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Episode 25
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29:48
The political impacts of marginalizing Black/Pan-Afrikan Nationalism
In part two of our examination of Black nationalism, we look at the political implications of the marginalization of Black nationalism. We analyze the limitations of current progressive Black political formations through the lens of not learnin...
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Season 3
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Episode 24
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36:46
Revolutionary Black/Pan-Afrikan Nationalism: Beyond the Caricature
In the first of this two-part episode, we take a look at some of the historical successes of Black nationalism as a political methodology. We then juxtapose those successes with the caricatures and stereotypes used to marginalize Black national...
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Season 3
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Episode 25
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30:45
The Colonial Imagination's impact on African People (Part 2)
In part two of our interview with Dr. Cleo Manago - we discuss the dynamics of intra-racial violence amongst Black people, particularly sexual and gender minorities.Cleo Manago is an African American activist and social architect who co...
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Season 3
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Episode 24
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37:20
The Colonial Imagination's impact on African People (Part 1)
On this episode, we sit down with Dr. Cleo Manago - founder of the AmASSI Center in Baltimore, Maryland. We discuss the impact of colonialism and white supremacy on the collective attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of people of African descent.<...
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Season 3
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Episode 24
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35:47
The Legacy of the Black Arts Movement
We sit down with Ernest Shaw Jr. to discuss parallels between the Black Arts Movement and contemporary Black arts and Politics. Shaw is a globally renowned painter, teacher and mural artist from Baltimore City.He’s currently an artist i...
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Season 3
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Episode 23
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56:26
Were Unions a Form of White Affirmative Action?
A common argument among the left is that cross-class multi-racial organizing is the key to defeating capitalism and inequity in general, with unions being the most potent tool to accomplish this task. In Part 2 of our examinati...
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Season 3
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Episode 22
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48:19
When the "New Deal" was White Affirmative Action
Universalist social policies like Social Security and Unemployment Insurance are praised as key to eliminating racial inequity. However, Ira Katznelson's book, "When Affirmative Action was White", challenges this argument. He explainins how Nor...
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Season 3
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Episode 21
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38:27
The Successes and Challenges of Criminal Justice Reform
Samantha Mellerson is with the W. Haywood Burns Institute, a national Black led organization that works to dismantle structural racism. We discuss the mainstream criminal justice reform movement and its successes and challenges. She also brings...
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Season 3
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Episode 20
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47:08
How the Child "Welfare" System destroys Black families (Part 2)
In the second part of this conversation, we discuss some of the critical political elements, including: The power dynamics within interracial adoptions The politics of the Democratic party and an over-reliance on ...
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Season 3
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Episode 19
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42:40