Black Power Talks

The People's War Radio Show, Episode #52: 1-year anniversary celebration

Listen in to current and former hosts of The People's War radio show for a recap and celebration of the events, topics and guests of the past year, in our 1-year anniversary broadcast.

The People's War Radio Show, Episode #51: Project Black Ankh and the leadership of African women building revolutionary self-determination

We talk with two African women playing leading roles in the work of the All African People's Development and Empowerment Project (AAPDEP) about the group's work to organize African health care providers, scientists, agriculturists and other skilled intellectuals to tackle the crisis of COVID and other colonial assaults on the health and well-being of the African community. 
AAPDEP organized a nurse midwifery school, conducted Ebola community education and built rainwater harvesting in Sierra Leone. They organized disaster relief and rescue operations during Hurricane Harvey in Houston and have initiated backyard and community gardens throughout the U.S. 
Kundai Bajikikayi and Michelle Odom discuss the group's current initiatives that include:
COVID outreach and public education teaching health and safety protocols in African communities across the U.S. and in Africa.
Free Telehealth program offering online consultation with doctors and other healthcare professionals.
"Ask the Doctor" online education broadcasts.
Kundai Bajikikayi is volunteer coordinator for the All African People’s Development and Empowerment Project and an organizer with the group's economic development program, "Zenzele Consignment" in Huntsville, Alabama.
Michelle Odom is the Mental Health Programs Coordinator for the All African People’s Development and Empowerment Project and producer of their “Ask the Doctor” series. She is a professional counselor and educator.
The People's War radio show is produced by WBPU 96.3 FM "Black Power 96" in St. Petersburg, Florida. It is hosted by Dr. Matsemela Odom and Muambi Tangu, bringing an African Internationalist perspective to the important issues of our world.

The People's War Radio Show, Episode #50: Free Mumia! Interview with Mike Africa, Jr.

66-year-old black political prisoner Mumia Abu Jamal has tested positive for COVID-19, is having trouble breathing, has congestive heart disease and cirrhosis of the liver due to delayed hepatitis C treatment.
Mumia joined the Black Panther Party at age 14. By age 16 he was Lieutenant of Information for the Panthers. He served as President of the Philadelphia Black Journalists Association. When the MOVE Family Africa was brutally attacked and their house burned by Philadelphia police under the direction of the notorious mayor Frank Rizzo in 1978, Mumia was MOVE's most vocal defender. 
In 1981 Mumia was framed for the murder of a Philadelphia cop. He was initially sentenced to death, reduced to life in prison without parole in response to public pressure. People around the world continue to demand his immediate release. 
We talk with Mike Africa, Jr., son of Debbie and Mike Africa, two of the survivors of the 1978 police attack on the MOVE house. Debbie and Mike Sr. were among the 9 MOVE members framed for the murder of the Philadelphia cop who died on the scene of the attack. Debbie was 8 months pregnant at the time and gave birth to Mike Jr. in prison. 
The program includes statements in support of Mumia from former San Francisco 49er quarterback Colin Kaepernick and MOVE member Pam Africa, as well as a recording of Mumia from prison and Mike Africa Jr.'s 2020 release "Time to Rise".
The People's War radio show is produced by WBPU 96.3 FM "Black Power 96" in St. Petersburg, Florida. It is hosted by Dr. Matsemela Odom and Muambi Tangu, bringing an African Internationalist perspective to the important issues of our world.

The People's War Radio Show, Episode #49: Justice for Kevin Desir who died in custody of Broward County, FL Sheriffs

On January 27, 2021, Kevin Desir, a 43-year-old black man, died in the custody of the Broward County (Florida) Sheriffs Department - a week after an "altercation" with jail staff had left him in a vegetative state with irreversible brain injury.
Desir had been arrested and charged with possession of marijuana despite the fact that he holds a legal medical marijuana card issued by the state of Florida.
He is survived by a loving family including two young daughters. His brother Mikco said Kevin had "dealt with mental illness for 21-22 years, but he didn’t let that define him. He worked full time. He was an entrepreneur. “
Desir's family has asked Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony to release the a video of the incident that resulted in Desir's death. Tony has so far refused, claiming the video is confidential and exempt under Florida law. 
We talk with Life Malcolm, longtime Tampa community organizer and legal assistant with the Tampa Asilia Law Firm that is representing Desir's family. 
We discuss the legacy of police violence against the African community across the state of Florida, the call for "Black Community Control of the Police" and Desir's family's efforts to obtain video recordings of the actions taken by Broward Sheriffs deputies that resulted in Desir's death.
The People's War radio show is produced by WBPU 96.3 FM "Black Power 96" in St. Petersburg, Florida. It is hosted by Dr. Matsemela Odom and Muambi Tangu, bringing an African Internationalist perspective to the important issues of our world.

The People’s War Radio Show, Episode #48: “Judas and the Black Messiah”, COINTELPRO and African martyrs, part2

In this episode we talk with African People's Socialist Party Chairman about the recently released movie, Judas and the Black Messiah, putting it in context of the far-reaching U.S. government counterinsurgency program that militarily defeated the Black Power movement of the 1960s.
Judas and the Black Messiah recounts the FBI COINTELPRO (counterintelligence program) responsible for the assassinations of Illinois Black Panther Party Chairman Fred Hampton and member Mark Clark.
Chairman Omali Yeshitela is leader of the international struggle for the unification and liberation of Africa and African people. He is the founder of The Burning Spear newspaper and the Uhuru Movement, with branches and programs throughout the U.S., Africa and Europe. 
The People's War radio show is produced by WBPU 96.3 FM "Black Power 96" in St. Petersburg, Florida. It is hosted by Dr. Matsemela Odom and Muambi Tangu, bringing an African Internationalist perspective to the important issues of our world.

The People's War Radio Show, Episode #47: "Judas and the Black Messiah", COINTELPRO and African martyrs, part 1

On February 12, 2021, Judas and the Black Messiah, was released in theaters and on HBO. The film recounts the FBI COINTELPRO (counterintelligence program) responsible for the assassinations of Illinois Black Panther Party Chairman Fred Hampton and member Mark Clark.
We talk with L.A.-based activist, hip-hop artist, writer and student Honey Blu about the film and the legacy of the counterintelligence programs' war against the Black Power Movement of the 1960s.
Besides Judas and the Black Messiah, we also touch on Regina King’s motion picture One Night In Miami, 41st and Central and the HBO documentary film, Bastard of the Party.
This episode includes musical selections from former Panther leader Elaine Brown and from Honey Blu.
The People's War radio show is produced by WBPU 96.3 FM "Black Power 96" in St. Petersburg, Florida. It is hosted by Dr. Matsemela Odom and Muambi Tangu, bringing an African Internationalist perspective to the important issues of our world.

The People's War Radio Show, Episode #46: "How the streets were made", interview with Yelena Bailey

In this episode we talk with Dr. Yelena Bailey, author of How the Streets Were Made: Housing Segregation and Black Life in America.  The hood, the ghetto, the streets, regardless of what we call it, in her new book, Dr. Bailey argues that the streets are not just a physical geographical space but that they are a “ sociocultural entity that has influenced our understanding of blackness in America for decades.”
Dr. Bailey explains the role of government policies, advertising campaigns, colonial social sciences, and popular culture plays in shaping the confinement of Africans within these urban spaces.  A tradition of domestic and settler colonialism that she ties to the death of George Floyd.  
She explains the impacts of:
Creation of the FHA and redlining in undermining black homeownership
“The Secret of Selling the Negro”, a 1954 marketing film created by Johnson publications the parent company of Ebony magazine
"Boyz in the Hood", "Snowfall", "The Wire"
She also talks about African resistance and the way African cultural production reflects that resistance. The program includes excerpts from and discussion of music by the Fugees, Nipsey Hussle, Kendrick Lamar and Buddy.
Dr. Bailey was raised in the Minneapolis area and earned her Ph.D. in literature at the University of California, San Diego.  She has taught at a number of universities and colleges including Seattle Pacific University.
The People's War radio show is produced by WBPU 96.3 FM "Black Power 96" in St. Petersburg, Florida. It is hosted by Dr. Matsemela Odom and Muambi Tangu, bringing an African Internationalist perspective to the important issues of our world.

The People's War Radio show, Episode #45: African women organizing collective childcare and resisting the colonial state

In this week's episode we talk with Yejide Orunmila, President of the African National Women's Organization (ANWO) about:
Black Community Control of Childcare and the building of the Uhuru Kijiji Childcare Collectives in the U.S. and around the world
Struggles to defend African families and prevent Child Protective Services from taking African children from their homes
Critiquing "bourgeois feminism" and building African self-determination
The People's War radio show is produced by WBPU 96.3 FM "Black Power 96" in St. Petersburg, Florida. It is hosted by Dr. Matsemela Odom and Muambi Tangu, bringing an African Internationalist perspective to the important issues of our world.

The People's War radio show; Episode #44: African workers of the world unite and organize.

African people on the continent, in Europe, in the Caribbean and in the U.S. are facing dire conditions of poverty, lack of healthcare during a pandemic, denial of quality education and housing, and suffering violent oppression from the police and military occupation forces.
This episode's guests are African Internationalists - leaders of the African People's Socialist Party -working to unify and liberate African and African people worldwide. They join us to discuss today's common experiences of Africans in the U.S. and Africa, and tomorrow's vision for the end of colonial capitalism. 
Chimurenga Selembao was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida, he's is a lifelong member of the Uhuru Movement currently based in St. Louis, Missouri.  As the National Director of Organization for the African People’s Socialist Party USA, Chimurenga guides the work of Uhuru Movement organizations in the United States.
Tafarie Mugeri is the African Socialist International's Director of Organization for Africa. He's from Occupied Azania (South Africa) and organizes African workers throughout South, West and East Africa.  

The People's War Radio Show, Episode #43: All eyes on Louisiana, Justice for Reverend Errol Victor

Today's episode looks at the campaign for the release of Reverend Errol Victor, framed and imprisoned in retaliation for challenging the system in Louisiana. We talk with:
Belinda Parker-Brown, founder of Louisiana United International, Inc., and member of the Black is Back Coalition for Peace, Justice and Reparations.
Dr. Zena D. Crenshaw, Assistant Chief of Operations for Louisiana United International, Inc., legal scholar and human rights activist.