Topic: Black Agenda

In archival footage from 2010, Sharon Letterman Hicks discusses the "inclusion agenda" of the Obama administration. She outlines the NBJC's efforts to influence the Black church and historically Black colleges regarding LGBTQ issues. The segment argues that these efforts are part of a broader political strategy to align the Black community with the "Gay Inc." agenda through figures like Al Sharpton.

Diddy outlines the goals of "Our Black Party," which include defunding the police, guaranteed income, and electing 1,000 Black people to government positions. The agenda also calls for "statewide equity officers" to ensure all laws are viewed through a "justice lens." The hosts characterize these goals as a "hodgepodge" of sampled YouTube talking points and Democratic platform items.

Continuing the Tavis Smiley analysis, the hosts discuss how "too much deference" to Obama's symbolism prevented Black leaders from pressing a substantive agenda. They contrast this with the success of other interest groups, such as the LGBTQ community and Wall Street, who secured concrete gains during the same period.

Glenn Ford of the Black Agenda Report explains that the Democratic lock on the Black vote was not "magic" but a calculated move by the Kennedys. Ford argues that the Kennedys were not quintessential liberals and initially saw the Civil Rights Movement as a nuisance. The hosts discuss how both modern parties take the Black vote for granted, similar to the Republicans in the 1950s.

The hosts critique Roland Martin's defense of established civil rights organizations like the NAACP and various black fraternities and sororities. They play a clip where Martin suggests that individuals cannot make political threats without an organized entity behind them, which the hosts interpret as a "veiled threat" from the "Boule" establishment against independent figures like Diddy. They revisit the history of the NAACP, claiming it was founded by questionable figures like Joel Spingarn.

Radio host Karen Hunter expresses her dislike for Bernie Sanders, describing his supporters as "cultish" and his rhetoric as insulting to black people. Despite her criticisms, Hunter admits she will vote for whoever the Democratic nominee is, regardless of her personal preferences. This highlights a contradiction where media figures demand a "black agenda" but ultimately surrender their leverage to the party.

Karen Hunter advocates for moving away from charismatic black leadership, specifically citing Louis Farrakhan and Jesse Jackson as "dinosaurs" who have failed to produce tangible results. She proposes a "black agenda" delivered by an unseen council of technocrats rather than public figures who may be compromised by corporate checks. The segment critiques the transition of power to figures like Al Sharpton, who are integrated into mainstream media structures like MSNBC.

Loretta Ross explains the 1977 National Women's Conference in Houston, Texas, as the birthplace of the term "women of color." Originally, a group of activists brought a "Black Women's Agenda" to the $5 million federally funded event to replace an inadequate minority plank. The term was created as a negotiation tool to include other minority women in the agenda, though Ross notes that the original political intent has since been confused with biological destiny.

Charlamagne tha God discusses the role of The Breakfast Club in the 2020 election, expressing a preference for candidates of color over "old white males." The hosts critique Charlamagne for not pressing Kamala Harris on a specific black agenda or reparations during her appearances. Reference is made to an interview with The Grio where Harris reportedly declined to offer policies specifically for black Americans.