7 chapters across the catalog
The discussion explores how major corporations like CBS and later Spotify used grants and scholarships to appear supportive of the black community while maintaining control. Dr. Westbrook notes that CBS hired Baron Taylor specifically to distribute funds to black organizations. The hosts compare this to modern $100 million "grants" for podcasters like Charlamagne Tha God, framing it as a way to amplify preferred voices.
Dr. Westbrook details how record labels used black artists to fundraise for the Congressional Black Caucus and support politicians like Jimmy Carter. He credits "Black Godfather" Clarence Avant with connecting Carter to the black power structure. The hosts argue that this tradition continues today with figures like Jay-Z and LeBron James, suggesting that black political influence is often hijacked by corporate interests.
Karen Hunter's commentary on the Obama endorsement is analyzed, specifically her claim that Obama didn't put his "full force" behind Hillary Clinton in 2016. The hosts refute this by playing clips of Obama "scolding" the black community at the Congressional Black Caucus, where he called a failure to vote for Clinton a "personal insult" to his legacy. They highlight the condescending tone he allegedly uses only when addressing black audiences.
Representative Karen Bass, chair of the subcommittee on crime and terrorism, calls for the FBI to retract the Black Identity Extremist document. She argues the designation is a "declaration of open season" on young black activists and compares it to her experiences with police repression in Los Angeles. The hosts examine her claim that the FBI should focus on white identity extremists instead.
Using a clip from the television show Rock, the hosts illustrate the community frustration that led to political demands for stricter law enforcement. The discussion focuses on the 1994 Crime Bill, explicitly naming Joe Biden as its primary author. The segment criticizes the "Boule politicians" and the Congressional Black Caucus for their roles in supporting legislation that led to mass incarceration.
Peter Kirsanow, a member of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, presents data suggesting that illegal immigration has a devastating impact on the wages and employment levels of low-skilled black men. He claims that up to 40% of the decline in labor force participation among black males is attributable to competition from illegal labor. Kirsanow notes that his attempts to engage the Congressional Black Caucus and President Obama with this data were met with "crickets."
The definition of "African American" has shifted since the presidency of Barack Obama, as mass immigration from Africa has changed the demographic meaning of the term black. Yvette Carnell and Antonio Moore, known as Tone Talks, coined the ADOS hashtag to provide a specific identity for descendants of slaves. Tensions exist within the Congressional Black Caucus, as members like Ilhan Omar represent immigrant backgrounds rather than the specific lineage of American descendants of slavery.
