Black Liberation Media

Black Liberation Media is a collective of Black/Afrikan organizers, journalists, academics, and media personalities serving Black/Afrikan masses seeking to further grow in their understanding of themselves, their histories, and the African world through entertainment and news. Black Liberation Media is a media extension for  Black/Afrikan people, in the struggle for liberation.

Have you visited our Store?

Watch our Shows

Beyond Breaking Barriers

Mondays: 8pm

This episode of "Beyond Breaking Barrers" dives deep into the erasure of Black cowboys who shaped the American West. We'll take a look at exploitation in the music industry that stole Black musical traditions and built Country music on a foundation of silenced voices.

Get ready to:

Ride shotgun as we rewrite the history of the Wild West.
Unpack the cultural appropriation that whitewashed Country music.
Analyze lyrics to uncover hidden messages of resistance.

This episode is for:

Radical truth seekers who want to dismantle historical distortions.
Music lovers ready to explore the untold stories of Country music.
Hip Hop heads yearning to explore across genres.
Saddle up for a  critical exposé  that will challenge everything you thought you knew about Country music.

///\\\///\\\

Concept:
"Beyond Breaking Barriers” is an engaging & thought-provoking podcast that explores the influential role of Women identified folks in Hip Hop culture. The podcast aims to celebrate, understand, & critique the achievements, narratives, & experiences of Women who identify as artists, creatives, producers, DJs, emcees, dancers, musicians, authors, curators, organizers, activists, scholars, journalists, & industry professionals who have made contributions to the genre. 

Goals:
By centering Women in Hip Hop, "Beyond Breaking Barriers” seeks to empower, educate, & entertain the Black Power Media audience while fostering discussions that explore broader themes of intersectionality, feminism, & the importance of more than just representation.

"Beyond Breaking Barriers” highlights the intersectional experiences of Black Women & provides a platform to discuss issues of class, race, gender, ideologies, & empowerment within the context of Hip Hop culture.

This podcast aims to provide an unapologetically radical left voice within the Hip Hop media landscape.

Format:
"Beyond Breaking Barriers” will follow a conversational & interview-based format, combining engaging discussions, storytelling, & music. Each episode will feature commentary, interviews with authentic Women in Hip Hop & supporters, panel discussions, & moments for listener engagement through the chat. The host will guide the conversation, creating a welcoming & insightful atmosphere where guests can share their experiences & insights, & also offer opportunities for principled critiques.

Host:
Piper Carter is an Arts & Culture Organizer & Hip Hop Activist with focus on Environmental & Climate Justice, Black Liberation, Grassroots Hip Hop, Eco Feminism, Entertainment Justice, Education Justice, Food Sovereignty, & creating Maker Spaces.

She is Host of the Piper Carter Podcast on the Detroit is Different podcast network where she discusses Social Justice & Hip Hop to a world wide audience. She is co-Founder of We Found Hip Hop (A Foundation, uplifting, celebrating, & supporting Women in Hip Hop to help them build careers in a safer environment). 

We Found Hip Hop is a cultural revolution which crosses borders, links diverse communities, inspires ideas, influences behaviors, & encourages dialogues through art. It explores the historical, present & future context, dynamics, impacts, & potential of Hip Hop music & culture on Women, by bringing together leading figures to produce media, music, film & educational opportunities aimed at creating cross cultural exchange focusing on redefining the vital role of Women in Hip Hop.

The book “Women Rapping Revolution” features her work and all proceeds go to We Found Hip Hop: 
https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520305328/women-rapping-revolution

Connect + Engage BPM:
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/BlackPowerMedi1
INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/BlackPower_Media
FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/Blackpowermedia
DISCORD: https://discord.gg/TDP9a4f5Ez
WEBSITE: https://blackpowermedia.org

Connect + Engage WeFoundHipHop:
TIKTOK: https://tiktok.com/WeFoundHipHop
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/WeFoundHipHop
INSTAGRAM: https://Instagram.com/WeFoundHiphop
FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/WeFoundHipHop
FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/184082062146188
DONATE PAYPAL: https://tinyurl.com/donatewefoundhiphop
MERCH: https://products.wefoundhiphop.com
WEBSITE: https://wefoundhiphop.com

Connect + Engage Piper Carter:
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/pipercarter
INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/pipercarter
FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/pipercarter
VENMO: https://venmo.com/pipercarter
WEBSITE: https://pipercarter.com

#SocialJustice #Feminism #Activism #Equity #IntersectionalFeminism #HipHopMusic #ClimateJustice #Artivism #Sustainability #Justice #RapMusic #GenderEquity

This episode of "Beyond Breaking Barrers" dives deep into the erasure of Black cowboys who shaped the American West. We'll take a look at exploitation in the music industry that stole Black musical traditions and built Country music on a foundation of silenced voices.

Get ready to:

Ride shotgun as we rewrite the history of the Wild West.
Unpack the cultural appropriation that whitewashed Country music.
Analyze lyrics to uncover hidden messages of resistance.

This episode is for:

Radical truth seekers who want to dismantle historical distortions.
Music lovers ready to explore the untold stories of Country music.
Hip Hop heads yearning to explore across genres.
Saddle up for a critical exposé that will challenge everything you thought you knew about Country music.

///\///\

Concept:
"Beyond Breaking Barriers” is an engaging & thought-provoking podcast that explores the influential role of Women identified folks in Hip Hop culture. The podcast aims to celebrate, understand, & critique the achievements, narratives, & experiences of Women who identify as artists, creatives, producers, DJs, emcees, dancers, musicians, authors, curators, organizers, activists, scholars, journalists, & industry professionals who have made contributions to the genre.

Goals:
By centering Women in Hip Hop, "Beyond Breaking Barriers” seeks to empower, educate, & entertain the Black Power Media audience while fostering discussions that explore broader themes of intersectionality, feminism, & the importance of more than just representation.

"Beyond Breaking Barriers” highlights the intersectional experiences of Black Women & provides a platform to discuss issues of class, race, gender, ideologies, & empowerment within the context of Hip Hop culture.

This podcast aims to provide an unapologetically radical left voice within the Hip Hop media landscape.

Format:
"Beyond Breaking Barriers” will follow a conversational & interview-based format, combining engaging discussions, storytelling, & music. Each episode will feature commentary, interviews with authentic Women in Hip Hop & supporters, panel discussions, & moments for listener engagement through the chat. The host will guide the conversation, creating a welcoming & insightful atmosphere where guests can share their experiences & insights, & also offer opportunities for principled critiques.

Host:
Piper Carter is an Arts & Culture Organizer & Hip Hop Activist with focus on Environmental & Climate Justice, Black Liberation, Grassroots Hip Hop, Eco Feminism, Entertainment Justice, Education Justice, Food Sovereignty, & creating Maker Spaces.

She is Host of the Piper Carter Podcast on the Detroit is Different podcast network where she discusses Social Justice & Hip Hop to a world wide audience. She is co-Founder of We Found Hip Hop (A Foundation, uplifting, celebrating, & supporting Women in Hip Hop to help them build careers in a safer environment).

We Found Hip Hop is a cultural revolution which crosses borders, links diverse communities, inspires ideas, influences behaviors, & encourages dialogues through art. It explores the historical, present & future context, dynamics, impacts, & potential of Hip Hop music & culture on Women, by bringing together leading figures to produce media, music, film & educational opportunities aimed at creating cross cultural exchange focusing on redefining the vital role of Women in Hip Hop.

The book “Women Rapping Revolution” features her work and all proceeds go to We Found Hip Hop: 
https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520305328/women-rapping-revolution

Connect + Engage BPM:
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/BlackPowerMedi1
INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/BlackPower_Media
FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/Blackpowermedia
DISCORD: https://discord.gg/TDP9a4f5Ez
WEBSITE: https://blackpowermedia.org

Connect + Engage WeFoundHipHop:
TIKTOK: https://tiktok.com/WeFoundHipHop
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/WeFoundHipHop
INSTAGRAM: https://Instagram.com/WeFoundHiphop
FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/WeFoundHipHop
FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/184082062146188
DONATE PAYPAL: https://tinyurl.com/donatewefoundhiphop
MERCH: https://products.wefoundhiphop.com
WEBSITE: https://wefoundhiphop.com

Connect + Engage Piper Carter:
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/pipercarter
INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/pipercarter
FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/pipercarter
VENMO: https://venmo.com/pipercarter
WEBSITE: https://pipercarter.com

#SocialJustice #Feminism #Activism #Equity #IntersectionalFeminism #HipHopMusic #ClimateJustice #Artivism #Sustainability #Justice #RapMusic #GenderEquity

122 2

YouTube Video UEw3X1gtVmVyb1dSdjd2SUV5RnRncHhuVEdtZGcxZUFvTC43MTI1NDIwOTMwQjIxMzNG

Unsaddling Black Roots, Stolen Melodies & the Betrayal of Country Music

In this episode of "Beyond Breaking Barriers"  from the project titled "Special Issue on Hip Hop Feminism" authored by: Aria S. Halliday & Ashley N. Payne, we dive deep into the world of Hip Hop feminism, exploring its role in empowering Black girls and femmes. We unpack the key concepts, delve into the works of leading scholars, and celebrate the creativity and resilience of Black women rappers.

What futures of Hip Hop feminism can we see from both our academic and lived experiences? How can we combine our analytical frameworks with our love for Hip Hop and blackness to locate liberatory potential? The essays in this special issue highlight our ever-developing answers to these questions and the multiplicitous ways you, dear reader, will be encouraged to answer them, too.

Please Share this episode with your friends, family, & comrades who appreciate the power of music & culture! 

///\\\///\\\

Concept:
"Beyond Breaking Barriers” is an engaging & thought-provoking podcast that explores the influential role of Women identified folks in Hip Hop culture. The podcast aims to celebrate, understand, & critique the achievements, narratives, & experiences of Women who identify as artists, creatives, producers, DJs, emcees, dancers, musicians, authors, curators, organizers, activists, scholars, journalists, & industry professionals who have made contributions to the genre. 

Goals:
By centering Women in Hip Hop, "Beyond Breaking Barriers” seeks to empower, educate, & entertain the Black Power Media audience while fostering discussions that explore broader themes of intersectionality, feminism, & the importance of more than just representation.

"Beyond Breaking Barriers” highlights the intersectional experiences of Black Women & provides a platform to discuss issues of class, race, gender, ideologies, & empowerment within the context of Hip Hop culture.

This podcast aims to provide an unapologetically radical left voice within the Hip Hop media landscape.

Format:
"Beyond Breaking Barriers” will follow a conversational & interview-based format, combining engaging discussions, storytelling, & music. Each episode will feature commentary, interviews with authentic Women in Hip Hop & supporters, panel discussions, & moments for listener engagement through the chat. The host will guide the conversation, creating a welcoming & insightful atmosphere where guests can share their experiences & insights, & also offer opportunities for principled critiques.

Host:
Piper Carter is an Arts & Culture Organizer & Hip Hop Activist with focus on Environmental & Climate Justice, Black Liberation, Grassroots Hip Hop, Eco Feminism, Entertainment Justice, Education Justice, Food Sovereignty, & creating Maker Spaces.

She is Host of the Piper Carter Podcast on the Detroit is Different podcast network where she discusses Social Justice & Hip Hop to a world wide audience. She is co-Founder of We Found Hip Hop (A Foundation, uplifting, celebrating, & supporting Women in Hip Hop to help them build careers in a safer environment). 

We Found Hip Hop is a cultural revolution which crosses borders, links diverse communities, inspires ideas, influences behaviors, & encourages dialogues through art. It explores the historical, present & future context, dynamics, impacts, & potential of Hip Hop music & culture on Women, by bringing together leading figures to produce media, music, film & educational opportunities aimed at creating cross cultural exchange focusing on redefining the vital role of Women in Hip Hop.

The book “Women Rapping Revolution” features her work and all proceeds go to We Found Hip Hop: 
https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520305328/women-rapping-revolution

Connect + Engage BPM:
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/BlackPowerMedi1
INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/BlackPower_Media
FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/Blackpowermedia
DISCORD: https://discord.gg/TDP9a4f5Ez
WEBSITE: https://blackpowermedia.org

Connect + Engage WeFoundHipHop:
TIKTOK: https://tiktok.com/WeFoundHipHop
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/WeFoundHipHop
INSTAGRAM: https://Instagram.com/WeFoundHiphop
FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/WeFoundHipHop
FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/184082062146188
DONATE PAYPAL: https://tinyurl.com/donatewefoundhiphop
MERCH: https://products.wefoundhiphop.com
WEBSITE: https://wefoundhiphop.com

Connect + Engage Piper Carter:
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/pipercarter
INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/pipercarter
FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/pipercarter
VENMO: https://venmo.com/pipercarter
WEBSITE: https://pipercarter.com

#SocialJustice #Feminism #Activism #Equity #IntersectionalFeminism #HipHopMusic #ClimateJustice #Artivism #Justice #RapMusic #GenderEquity

In this episode of "Beyond Breaking Barriers" from the project titled "Special Issue on Hip Hop Feminism" authored by: Aria S. Halliday & Ashley N. Payne, we dive deep into the world of Hip Hop feminism, exploring its role in empowering Black girls and femmes. We unpack the key concepts, delve into the works of leading scholars, and celebrate the creativity and resilience of Black women rappers.

What futures of Hip Hop feminism can we see from both our academic and lived experiences? How can we combine our analytical frameworks with our love for Hip Hop and blackness to locate liberatory potential? The essays in this special issue highlight our ever-developing answers to these questions and the multiplicitous ways you, dear reader, will be encouraged to answer them, too.

Please Share this episode with your friends, family, & comrades who appreciate the power of music & culture!

///\///\

Concept:
"Beyond Breaking Barriers” is an engaging & thought-provoking podcast that explores the influential role of Women identified folks in Hip Hop culture. The podcast aims to celebrate, understand, & critique the achievements, narratives, & experiences of Women who identify as artists, creatives, producers, DJs, emcees, dancers, musicians, authors, curators, organizers, activists, scholars, journalists, & industry professionals who have made contributions to the genre.

Goals:
By centering Women in Hip Hop, "Beyond Breaking Barriers” seeks to empower, educate, & entertain the Black Power Media audience while fostering discussions that explore broader themes of intersectionality, feminism, & the importance of more than just representation.

"Beyond Breaking Barriers” highlights the intersectional experiences of Black Women & provides a platform to discuss issues of class, race, gender, ideologies, & empowerment within the context of Hip Hop culture.

This podcast aims to provide an unapologetically radical left voice within the Hip Hop media landscape.

Format:
"Beyond Breaking Barriers” will follow a conversational & interview-based format, combining engaging discussions, storytelling, & music. Each episode will feature commentary, interviews with authentic Women in Hip Hop & supporters, panel discussions, & moments for listener engagement through the chat. The host will guide the conversation, creating a welcoming & insightful atmosphere where guests can share their experiences & insights, & also offer opportunities for principled critiques.

Host:
Piper Carter is an Arts & Culture Organizer & Hip Hop Activist with focus on Environmental & Climate Justice, Black Liberation, Grassroots Hip Hop, Eco Feminism, Entertainment Justice, Education Justice, Food Sovereignty, & creating Maker Spaces.

She is Host of the Piper Carter Podcast on the Detroit is Different podcast network where she discusses Social Justice & Hip Hop to a world wide audience. She is co-Founder of We Found Hip Hop (A Foundation, uplifting, celebrating, & supporting Women in Hip Hop to help them build careers in a safer environment).

We Found Hip Hop is a cultural revolution which crosses borders, links diverse communities, inspires ideas, influences behaviors, & encourages dialogues through art. It explores the historical, present & future context, dynamics, impacts, & potential of Hip Hop music & culture on Women, by bringing together leading figures to produce media, music, film & educational opportunities aimed at creating cross cultural exchange focusing on redefining the vital role of Women in Hip Hop.

The book “Women Rapping Revolution” features her work and all proceeds go to We Found Hip Hop: 
https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520305328/women-rapping-revolution

Connect + Engage BPM:
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/BlackPowerMedi1
INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/BlackPower_Media
FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/Blackpowermedia
DISCORD: https://discord.gg/TDP9a4f5Ez
WEBSITE: https://blackpowermedia.org

Connect + Engage WeFoundHipHop:
TIKTOK: https://tiktok.com/WeFoundHipHop
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/WeFoundHipHop
INSTAGRAM: https://Instagram.com/WeFoundHiphop
FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/WeFoundHipHop
FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/184082062146188
DONATE PAYPAL: https://tinyurl.com/donatewefoundhiphop
MERCH: https://products.wefoundhiphop.com
WEBSITE: https://wefoundhiphop.com

Connect + Engage Piper Carter:
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/pipercarter
INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/pipercarter
FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/pipercarter
VENMO: https://venmo.com/pipercarter
WEBSITE: https://pipercarter.com

#SocialJustice #Feminism #Activism #Equity #IntersectionalFeminism #HipHopMusic #ClimateJustice #Artivism #Justice #RapMusic #GenderEquity

62 4

YouTube Video UEw3X1gtVmVyb1dSdjd2SUV5RnRncHhuVEdtZGcxZUFvTC5DNzE1RjZEMUZCMjA0RDBB

Mapping Contemporary Hip Hop Feminism - Part 2

Black Myths Podcast

3rd and 4th Friday of every month: 7pm

National Black Radical Organizing Conference Table discussion

Register Now
https://communitymovementbuilders.org/product/2025-nbroc-general-admission-ticket/

Grounding Our Purpose
https://www.blackagendareport.com/grounding-our-purpose-second-national-black-radical-organizing-conference

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – April 7, 2025 – The Second National Black Radical Organizing Conference (NBROC) will convene approximately 500 Black/African/New Afrikan organizers from Friday, May 30th to Sunday, June 1st, 2025, at Butler University in Indianapolis, IN. This crucial gathering aims to build collective political power, advance revolutionary strategies, and craft a liberated future beyond capitalism, imperialism, patriarchy, and white supremacy.

Inspired by the historic 1972 National Black Political Convention, this year's conference, themed “Base-Building for Collective Power,” will focus on skill-building, political clarity, and fostering a movement rooted in self-determination, solidarity, and transformative change in the fight against fascism. A significant component of the conference will be a call to action regarding the Pendleton 2.

What: Second National Black Radical Organizing Conference (NBROC) - Action for Pendleton 2

When: May 30 - June 1st, 2025

Where: Butler University, Indianapolis 1000 W 42nd St, Indianapolis, IN 46208 Indianapolis, IN

Who: Featuring representatives from: the Black Alliance for Peace, Community Movement Builders, National Black Liberation Movement, Black Men Build, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, Cooperation Jackson, and more to be announced.

Why: To build collective political power, advance revolutionary strategies, and craft a liberated future beyond systems of oppression. The conference aims to address critical issues facing Black communities and strategize for transformative change. A specific action will be called for in regards to the Pendleton 2.

00:00:00 - Intro 
00:05:44 - Sponsoring Organizations 
00:09:22 - What is Organizing? 
00:20:03 - Historical Background
00:30:37 - What Will NBROC Offer?
00:43:20 - Organizing Against Fascism
00:56:06 - Pendleton 2 Rally
01:01:44 - Talking Last Questions

National Black Radical Organizing Conference Table discussion

Register Now
https://communitymovementbuilders.org/product/2025-nbroc-general-admission-ticket/

Grounding Our Purpose
https://www.blackagendareport.com/grounding-our-purpose-second-national-black-radical-organizing-conference

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – April 7, 2025 – The Second National Black Radical Organizing Conference (NBROC) will convene approximately 500 Black/African/New Afrikan organizers from Friday, May 30th to Sunday, June 1st, 2025, at Butler University in Indianapolis, IN. This crucial gathering aims to build collective political power, advance revolutionary strategies, and craft a liberated future beyond capitalism, imperialism, patriarchy, and white supremacy.

Inspired by the historic 1972 National Black Political Convention, this year's conference, themed “Base-Building for Collective Power,” will focus on skill-building, political clarity, and fostering a movement rooted in self-determination, solidarity, and transformative change in the fight against fascism. A significant component of the conference will be a call to action regarding the Pendleton 2.

What: Second National Black Radical Organizing Conference (NBROC) - Action for Pendleton 2

When: May 30 - June 1st, 2025

Where: Butler University, Indianapolis 1000 W 42nd St, Indianapolis, IN 46208 Indianapolis, IN

Who: Featuring representatives from: the Black Alliance for Peace, Community Movement Builders, National Black Liberation Movement, Black Men Build, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, Cooperation Jackson, and more to be announced.

Why: To build collective political power, advance revolutionary strategies, and craft a liberated future beyond systems of oppression. The conference aims to address critical issues facing Black communities and strategize for transformative change. A specific action will be called for in regards to the Pendleton 2.

00:00:00 - Intro
00:05:44 - Sponsoring Organizations
00:09:22 - What is Organizing?
00:20:03 - Historical Background
00:30:37 - What Will NBROC Offer?
00:43:20 - Organizing Against Fascism
00:56:06 - Pendleton 2 Rally
01:01:44 - Talking Last Questions

209 21

YouTube Video UEw3X1gtVmVyb1dSdng2YjlpRDBCT1pydkFPaWVIYmI4cC5EODgyNjY4MzA3QzY5RTkx

National Black Radical Organizing Conference | Roundtable

Broke-ish©

Shows released on the 1st and 15th of every month – New season begins in June!

Classical Breakdown

Thursdays: 11am

Dare 2 Struggle Dare 2 Win

Wednesdays: 6pm

Darker Than Blue/Luqman Nation

Fridays: 5pm and 6pm

iMWiL!

Mondays: 8am and more, Hit the Bell!!

In Search of Black Power

1st Wednesday of every month at 12pm (noon)

In the 90s and 2000s, a wave of academic texts emerged that challenge the dominate narrative of Black leadership and politics, claiming that the location of Black power in the Black church and “respectable” civil rights organizations limited Black politics. One of the most prominent of these texts is The Boundaries of Blackness, written by Cathy Cohen, which uses the example of the limited response to AIDS by Black civil society in the 80s/90s to argue that Black politics marginalized those most impacted by AIDS because the groups most impacted, drug users and those beyond heteronormativity, exceed the bounds of respectable Blackness. 

In this episode, we review this text, arguing that in its desire to challenge the limits of Black leadership, the text tells an overly critical tale of the Black community as innately locked into respectability. The text reads the Black used of genocide as a frame to understand AIDS as reflective of an inability to center non-respectable drug users and same gender loving individuals. This obscures the value of the genocide concept from a Black communities perspective in providing a comprehensive frame which includes serving those impacted by AIDS, as well addressing the role drugs /addiction played in destabilizing the Black community and larger systems of oppression. 

By largely preferring a politics of centering the marginalized over a frame of community mobilizing against genocide, the author centers a politics of representation which ultimately requires recognition from white power to be successful. By largely dismissing African centered and Afrocentric politics, the text fails to see the indigenous public health, drug use, and gender sexuality variant idea with Black/ African centered communities that could have been alternative frameworks for representation for marginalized identities, like the work of Mutulu Shakur at Lincoln Detox. It also obscures the role of white supremacy and “injecting oppression” play in forcing so-called “respectability strategies” in the Black community. 

While challenging existing Black political leadership, the text fails to challenge the larger dynamic of elite interest convergence black folks must depend on for change, leading to a diversification of the elite power brokers but failing to challenging the fundamental disempowerment of black communities. Finally, the text has been misinterpreted by some to argue the Black community is too innately conservative to be trusted with resources and power, thus being wielded as a tool against the Black community political power building.

Support the show:
https://lbsbaltimore.com/sustain
____________
WEBSITE: https://blkliberationmedia.org
PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/blackliberationmedia
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/blackliberationmedia
TWITTER/X: https://x.com/BLM_edia
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/BlkLiberationMedia
DISCORD: https://discord.gg/TDP9a4f5Ez

In the 90s and 2000s, a wave of academic texts emerged that challenge the dominate narrative of Black leadership and politics, claiming that the location of Black power in the Black church and “respectable” civil rights organizations limited Black politics. One of the most prominent of these texts is The Boundaries of Blackness, written by Cathy Cohen, which uses the example of the limited response to AIDS by Black civil society in the 80s/90s to argue that Black politics marginalized those most impacted by AIDS because the groups most impacted, drug users and those beyond heteronormativity, exceed the bounds of respectable Blackness.

In this episode, we review this text, arguing that in its desire to challenge the limits of Black leadership, the text tells an overly critical tale of the Black community as innately locked into respectability. The text reads the Black used of genocide as a frame to understand AIDS as reflective of an inability to center non-respectable drug users and same gender loving individuals. This obscures the value of the genocide concept from a Black communities perspective in providing a comprehensive frame which includes serving those impacted by AIDS, as well addressing the role drugs /addiction played in destabilizing the Black community and larger systems of oppression.

By largely preferring a politics of centering the marginalized over a frame of community mobilizing against genocide, the author centers a politics of representation which ultimately requires recognition from white power to be successful. By largely dismissing African centered and Afrocentric politics, the text fails to see the indigenous public health, drug use, and gender sexuality variant idea with Black/ African centered communities that could have been alternative frameworks for representation for marginalized identities, like the work of Mutulu Shakur at Lincoln Detox. It also obscures the role of white supremacy and “injecting oppression” play in forcing so-called “respectability strategies” in the Black community.

While challenging existing Black political leadership, the text fails to challenge the larger dynamic of elite interest convergence black folks must depend on for change, leading to a diversification of the elite power brokers but failing to challenging the fundamental disempowerment of black communities. Finally, the text has been misinterpreted by some to argue the Black community is too innately conservative to be trusted with resources and power, thus being wielded as a tool against the Black community political power building.

Support the show:
https://lbsbaltimore.com/sustain
____________
WEBSITE: https://blkliberationmedia.org
PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/blackliberationmedia
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/blackliberationmedia
TWITTER/X: https://x.com/BLM_edia
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/BlkLiberationMedia
DISCORD: https://discord.gg/TDP9a4f5Ez

4 0

YouTube Video UEw3X1gtVmVyb1dSdW1FWFhfcW45ZEFYaEt3WWVtejIxQy4xM0YyM0RDNDE4REQ1NDA0

What critics of Black Respectability Politics miss - Black Power Beyond The Boundaries of Blackness

April 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of the #BaltimoreUprising, a series of protests sparked by Freddie Gray’s death in Baltimore Police custody in 2015.

Baltimore has long reflected America’s racial and political anxieties, making the Uprising a frequent subject of academic analysis. In this episode, Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle’s Lawrence Grandpre and Dayvon Love critique two books: Beyond Black Lives Matter by Cedric Johnson and Invisible Weapons by Marcus Board Jr.

While Johnson critiques BLM and Board affirms it, both argue that Baltimore’s working-class grassroots were misled by neoliberalism, rendering their responses to Freddie Gray ineffective. This view overlooks successful grassroots political interventions by groups like LBS, which led protests during the Uprising and continues to advance community-driven agendas. By oversimplifying Black identity as manipulation by elites—whether through neoliberalism (Johnson) or patriarchy (Board)—both books fail to capture the political and ideological complexity of Baltimore’s working-class Black communities. They also neglect to examine how academic detachment can distort analyses of Baltimore, Black life, and Black politics.

#InSearchOfBlackPower

Support the show:
https://lbsbaltimore.com/sustain

____________
WEBSITE: https://blkliberationmedia.org
PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/blackliberationmedia
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/blackliberationmedia
TWITTER/X: https://x.com/BLM_edia
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/BlkLiberationMedia
DISCORD: https://discord.gg/TDP9a4f5Ez

April 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of the #BaltimoreUprising, a series of protests sparked by Freddie Gray’s death in Baltimore Police custody in 2015.

Baltimore has long reflected America’s racial and political anxieties, making the Uprising a frequent subject of academic analysis. In this episode, Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle’s Lawrence Grandpre and Dayvon Love critique two books: Beyond Black Lives Matter by Cedric Johnson and Invisible Weapons by Marcus Board Jr.

While Johnson critiques BLM and Board affirms it, both argue that Baltimore’s working-class grassroots were misled by neoliberalism, rendering their responses to Freddie Gray ineffective. This view overlooks successful grassroots political interventions by groups like LBS, which led protests during the Uprising and continues to advance community-driven agendas. By oversimplifying Black identity as manipulation by elites—whether through neoliberalism (Johnson) or patriarchy (Board)—both books fail to capture the political and ideological complexity of Baltimore’s working-class Black communities. They also neglect to examine how academic detachment can distort analyses of Baltimore, Black life, and Black politics.

#InSearchOfBlackPower

Support the show:
https://lbsbaltimore.com/sustain

____________
WEBSITE: https://blkliberationmedia.org
PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/blackliberationmedia
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/blackliberationmedia
TWITTER/X: https://x.com/BLM_edia
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/BlkLiberationMedia
DISCORD: https://discord.gg/TDP9a4f5Ez

42 1

YouTube Video UEw3X1gtVmVyb1dSdW1FWFhfcW45ZEFYaEt3WWVtejIxQy5ERkUyQTM0MzEwQjZCMTY5

#BaltimoreUprising Ten Years Later: Grassroots Truths vs the Ivory Tower - In Search of Black Power

Life. Study. Revolution.

Thursdays: 4pm

RealTalk: History as a Weapon for Black Liberation with Dr. Sundiata Keita Cha-Jua

2nd and 4th Thursday of every month: 7-8:30CST/8-9:30 EST

Remix Morning Show

Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays: 8am

Rootwork

3rd and 4th Thursdays at 7am PST/10am EST; 2nd Tuesdays at 4pm PST/7pm EST

Saturdays with Renee

Saturdays: 11am

Sundaze Radio/The Dr's Office

Sundays: 8pm

Our Show List

Support Our Work

You can materially support the work of Black Liberation Media by becoming a paid member on Patreon.

You can also follow and share our content on any of our social media platforms.