Topic: Black Women

A segment from a Macy's-sponsored podcast is played, discussing how Black women are starting businesses at 4.5 times the rate of other groups. The hosts argue that this economic acceleration, often supported by corporate and political initiatives, has created a gap where Black women feel there are "not enough eligible Black males." This is framed as a "wedge issue" that uses economic success to divide the Black community along gender lines.

A 2020 demand from Black women leaders published in the Washington Post emphasized that Joe Biden's path to victory relied on their mobilization. The hosts discuss the leverage used to secure a Black woman Vice President and Supreme Court Justice, while debating whether such "tokenism" benefits the broader Black community or only a specific elite class. They also mention James Clyburn's preferred candidate, J. Michelle Childs, who was passed over for Jackson.

A Vox segment details how Dr. Anthony Fauci rose to prominence during the AIDS crisis, eventually becoming a household name during the COVID-19 pandemic. The hosts critique the overrepresentation of Black women and gay men in modern pharmaceutical advertisements for HIV drugs despite claims that the crisis has subsided.

Actress Eva Longoria draws criticism after an MSNBC interview where she claimed Latinas were the "real heroines" of the election, seemingly downplaying the role of black women. The hosts analyze her comments through a "black bubble" lens, interpreting her statement as derogatory toward black voters. They note the media's shift from focusing on "black" identity to the broader "people of color" label.

Karen Hunter's analysis of the "Kanye group" of Black men is discussed, with the hosts agreeing that the Democratic Party's over-indexing on Black women has alienated men. They attribute the selection of Kamala Harris over a more "relatable" figure like Stacey Abrams to establishment hubris and a failure to read the room.

On the "Cocktails with Queens" panel, Claudia Jordan and others argue that Ice Cube's Contract with Black America neglects the specific needs of Black women. Mo Fax discusses the "gender war" within Black politics, suggesting that some activists view Black men as the "white people of Black people." They review clips of Black women claiming to be the "miracle workers" of the Democratic Party who are owed a vice presidency.

The Washington Post produced a video featuring prominent black women activists, including Alicia Garza and Sunny Hostin, demanding a black female vice president and Supreme Court justice. The video warns Biden that he "owes" black women for saving the Democratic Party. The hosts criticize this as "pick me" behavior, noting that Biden largely ignored the demands.

The Democratic Party's strategy to mobilize black women voters is discussed through the lens of Stacey Abrams' candidacy. The hosts analyze the optics of picking a "legit" black woman from the Deep South compared to Kamala Harris. A theory is presented that the party is seeking a "Mammy" figure to subconsciously rescue the Democratic ticket and secure the black vote.

Roland Martin discusses a poll by Black Pack suggesting Joe Biden's chances increase significantly if he selects a black woman as his running mate. The hosts note the immediate transition in the media from the Obama endorsement back to the "VP stakes." They argue that Obama has "lost his magic" and that the black woman VP pick now holds more perceived power within the Democratic Party.

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.

Shahrazad Ali's 1989 book, "The Black Man's Guide to Understanding the Black Woman," is introduced as a polar opposite to Michelle Wallace's work. Archival audio from the Geraldo Rivera show illustrates the firestorm the book caused by blaming black women for issues within the community. The hosts note the hostile media reception Ali received compared to feminist authors of the same era.

Symone Sanders, a senior advisor for Joe Biden's campaign, argues that white men should not be leading the Democratic Party and calls for more diverse representation at the DNC. The segment critiques the "black female political class" for potentially overinflating their ability to deliver votes. Mo suggests that Harris's failure to increase black voter turnout made her "useless" to the party apparatus.

Alicia Johnson, a staffer for Elizabeth Warren, describes the emotional toll Harris's exit took on black women in politics, mentioning a "group text" where staffers from rival campaigns mourned the loss. Mo interprets this as the political class realizing their value to the Democratic Party is diminishing if they cannot deliver the black vote.

Analysis of the 2020 election cycle suggests Democrats are pivoting to target black women as a "backbone" voting block to offset declining support among black men. This shift is attributed to Donald Trump's perceived effect on male voters. Modern derivatives of the "No Man in the House" rule, such as Section 8 income thresholds, are cited as ongoing factors in domestic policy.

The episode concludes by identifying "ego stroking" as the primary nudge used by the Democratic Party to secure the votes of black women. By framing them as the "backbone" of the race, the party seeks to maintain control without offering specific policy tangibles. The hosts preview the next episode, which will focus on Charlamagne tha God and the protection of Kamala Harris.

DNC Chairman Tom Perez has labeled black women the "backbone" of the Democratic Party, a move seen by some as a strategy to divide black men and women. This focus on black women followed the special election of Doug Jones in Alabama and is viewed as a modern iteration of the "No Man in the House" rule. Critics argue the elite use these gender-based strategies to destabilize the community and maintain a permanent "bottom rung" in the social hierarchy.