BlackJacked

How The Civil Rights Movement Went Left: Episode 4

"White allies" have always been seen as indispensable to the civil rights movement and the larger progression of Black people. But they have their limitations and no vibrant Black movement can depend on them for success. History is replete with examples and this episode looks at a select number, including the treachery of Eleanor Roosevelt.

BONUS: Kamala, MLK & The (Black) Politics Of Fear

The politics of fear has driven Black politics since 1964. Dr. King broke from his longstanding practice of not endorsing candidates that year; he not only endorsed but campaigned for Lyndon Johnson. Rather than negotiate Black support, Dr. King backed Johnson without securing any firm promises because he was afraid of a Barry Goldwater presidency. Black leaders have continued that tradition and this campaign cycle is no different.

How The Civil Rights Movement Went Left: Episode 3

The civil rights movement was held back because no one wanted to submit to the expertise of a woman, Ella Baker. Not only were her organizing strategies better than the men, she also tried to warn movement leaders against top down leadership-- the very style Dr. King embodied. "Strong people don't need strong leaders," she said. Because we didn't submit to this woman's expertise, we're still falling for  scammers like Jay Morrison and pastors with no character, like Jamal Bryant.

How The Civil Rights Movement Went Left: Episode 2

Dr. King had a longstanding beef with the President of the National Baptist Convention, Rev. Joseph H. Jackson. That beef effectively crippled the movement, with consequences that linger to this day.

How The Civil Rights Movement Went Left: Episode 1.

The modern civil rights movement (1954 to 1968) won a number of things for Black folks...all of which were basically granted by the Civil Righs Act of 1866-- 100 years earlier. Should we have been fighting to get on paper what we got on paper 100 years ago? Probably not. How did we arrive at such a flawed idea? The movement's architects began with the assumption of white dominance and built on that idea.