theGrio Black Podcast Network is proud to announce that two of our original podcasts, theGrio Daily and Being Black: The '80s, have received nominations from The Lovie Awards for their outstanding work. Click here to vote for Michael Harriot and here to vote for Touré, and spread the word! Let's show the world we value Black storytelling....
"White Jesus can't walk on water, but he can build the hell out a slave ship." Michael Harriot explains why using religion and faith as a way to govern can be problematic. He discusses the many hypocrisies that are inflicted on the American people daily, including discriminating against the LGBTQ+ community but allowing divorce or racial segregation when the Bible states, "love thy neighbor."
"Every white person in America benefited from slavery." White Americans pedal several narratives about slavery that are historically inaccurate. Wypipologist Michael Harriot lists off some of the falsehoods and reveals the truth behind the most wild claims. Thanks to our loyal listeners for making theGrio Daily a Lovie Awards finalist in the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion category. Click here to cast your vote and help us bring home the win!...
Thanks to our loyal listeners for making theGrio Daily a Signal Awards finalist in the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion category. Click this link to cast your vote and help us bring in the win! https://vote.signalaward.com/ "Never in the history of America have white people actually participated in a free market." Michael Harriot refutes the theory that slavery was rooted in capitalism. He analyzes real estate, education, and entertainment to explain why white people have never been a part of f...
Thanks to our loyal listeners for making theGrio Daily a Signal Awards finalist in the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion category. Click this link to cast your vote and help us bring in the win! "You can't keep a Black person out of any place." Michael Harriot brings the laughs with his list of people you're bound to run into at every Black gathering. Which one are you? Drumroll sound effect from Pixabay...
"What they're worrying about is your kids learning about what white people did." Michael Harriot looks at the changes to school curriculums in places like Florida and Tennessee and finds that states aren't erasing Black history; instead, schools are leaving out white people's role in Black history.
"Black people see America in a different way." Michael Harriot wrote a book, y'all! Black AF History is the story of America through the lens of Black people. When it comes to history, we rely on historians to give us the facts, but because most of them are white, a lot has been left out. Slave revolts, the American Revolution, and the Obama presidency are just some of the historical events reexamined with a focus on life in the South.
"HBCUs do more with less." All month long theGrio is highlighting HBCU life, and Michael Harriot welcomes Ed Smith-Lewis from United Negro College Fund to discuss an exciting new investment that will enrich the college experience for students nationwide. The HBCU Transformation Project has received a $124M investment from Blue Meridian Partners to increase enrollment, improve efficiency, and restore struggling infrastructure. The pair discuss the value of focusing on HBCU campus needs just as mu...
"We were incorporated into a white-controlled society." The legal case Brown v. Board of Education is considered a pivotal moment in integrating white and Black America. Michael Harriot is here to tell you we're still not integrated.
"We gotta go take back stuff that white people have taken from us because that's what they do." Michael Harriot looks at the hypocrisy surrounding the Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action that claims to rid race-based admissions policies but keeps legacy and athletic favoritism that benefit white students. Anytime Black people advanced in America, it's because they demanded it; maybe that time is here yet again.
"If most of America were against slavery, then we would have ended the practice without a war." Every civilized society has had some form of slavery, but America is the only nation in modern history that constitutionally approved reducing people to chattel through an international human trafficking system. As Michael Harriot breaks down the history of America's race-based slavery system, he analyzes Africans' role in the process.
"We can't be surprised when a racist does something racist in a racist country." Michael Harriot and fellow podcast host Dr. Christina Greer discuss the deadly shooting in Jacksonville, Florida that killed three Black people. Dr. Greer has strong ties to the area and describes the racist history that her family experienced firsthand. The pair also analyze Florida's recent anti-Black policies that fuel hate and miseducation and call out the politicians who refuse to acknowledge that America has a...
"The N-word is a specific choice that is used to hurt somebody; it is the knife." Michael Harriot explains why there is no version of the "N-word" for white people. Despite some arguing that "Karen" or "cracker" is equally insulting, the words can't compare because white people have not been subject to the same disenfranchisement and inhumanity that Black Americans have.
"There is no form of American music that Black people didn't create." This episode is going to make you laugh and dance all at the same time. Michael Harriot breaks down the top ten Black people music categories, including "old people music," "fight song music," and more. Credits: “Turn It Up” Rare Essence and Dj Kool INgrooves, Rare One Records Rob “R.J.” Folson and Rare Essence “Congo Drum” The Huck a Bucks INgrooves, Sound By Charlie Roy Battle, Joseph Timms, Ricky Yancy “Burgers and Fries” C...
"We didn't invent race, so I don't know where we got the card from." Michael Harriot dives deep into some widely-held beliefs that white people have about race and identity. Michael Harriot addresses white concepts like race-baiting, playing the "race card," Black people playing the "victim," and more.
"The party makeup in America has always been about race." Michael Harriot explores the demographic makeup of America's most prominent political parties and explains what would have to happen for there to be a political party that fights for all the things Black people want.
"Most of the violence that has been committed on this continent has been committed by white people." We've all seen the Montgomery Melee, the Alabama Beatdown, or the Bama Brawl at that riverfront in Montgomery, Alabama. It was a sight to see, but there is more to it than you think. Michael Harriot is here to tell you the historical significance of that beatdown.
"Why doesn't Trump just go back to Africa if he doesn't like this country so much? It's obvious he hates America." Since the indictment of former president Donald Trump, his supporters suddenly no longer have faith in the country's criminal justice system. The same system they continuously tell Black people to respect and obey. To help ease this newfound hatred, Michael Harriot has some tips for MAGA nation on how to deal with the law.
"White people have made great strides in being racist." The attack on CRT and the word "woke" came out of nowhere, so Michael Harriot wants you to be more prepared for the next wave of backlash that is brewing. Michael predicts the educational practices that he believes will soon be under a microscope by conservatives.
"Woke is just the opposite of white supremacy." Michael Harriot dives into the educational disparities in the country's public school system and focuses on Alabama, where white students are the minority, yet, 90% of the history students are taught is white history. Michael explains that parents working to indoctrinate white history into the curriculum display white supremacy.
"Black people are the roots of American style comedy." As comedy month at theGrio comes to a close, Michael Harriot explains the history of comedy and the roles enslaved people played in making it what it is today. The Greeks are credited with creating the art form, but their version of humor is not what we enjoy today. Instead, that style was developed by enslaved people who used laughter to cope with their oppression.
"When someone asks you why Black people don't talk about Black-on-Black crime, it's because we're doing something about it." Michael Harriot debunks several myths often used against Black people to prove a point even though none of them are rooted in fact. Things like "Black on Black crime," or the assumption that Black people don't value education or refuse to comply with police.
"If you're just more racist out loud without hiding it, you can gain a more loyal group of supporters." With the election of former President Donald Trump came the death of the racist dog whistle, meaning being racist behind closed doors is no longer the norm. Instead, politicians and white nationalists now take pride in sharing their racist ideologies in public
"Most churches didn't split because of ideological or theological reasons; they split because of racial reasons." The history of religion and its relationship with race is examined. Michael Harriot explains that nine out of America's ten largest Protestant denominations split because of conflicting views regarding race and slavery.
"We live in a country where slavery is still legal. Every American is a slave catcher." Michael Harriot takes a deep dive into the fugitive slave clause in the U.S. Constitution that instructed white Americans to become slave catchers whether they owned slaves or not.
"Nobody wants policing to work correctly more than Black people." Data has proven time and time again that America's policing system is broken, but Michael Harriot believes the blame doesn't fall on individual officers. Instead, he explains that until racism, education, and economic disparities are dealt with, police can't successfully stop or solve crime fairly.
"Not all heroes wear capes." Daryl Atkinson has been crowned the winner of theGrio's inaugural Heroes Initiative meant to highlight everyday leaders who support, uplift and move Black communities forward. The attorney and activist from North Carolina has dedicated his life to legal advocacy, fair public policy, and inmate rights. Atkinson joins Michael Harriot to discuss some of the biggest hurdles facing his non-profit organization Forward Justice and highlight their recent legal wins. The pair...
"If you say what Black people need to do is just focus on crime, who do they think we are, Batman?" Michael Harriot explains why it's ignorant and racist to blame Black people for the violence in their communities and not keep that same energy when other demographics commit the same crimes. He explains that there are several issues like education, policing, and equal pay that have to be addressed by white America before real change can be achieved.
"If you really want to learn about white history, you have to start with the history of slavery." As America celebrates it's independence, Michael Harriot shares a history lesson that is left out of the July 4th discussion. He details how slavery was used to make the United States an economic superpower and explains why enslaving Africans was different from any form of slavery we've seen in history. Original airdate: 12/7/22
"The idea of a colorblind society or what they call race neutral society ignores the whole history of this country." Michael Harriot welcomes educator and fellow podcast host at theGrio Black Podcast Network, Dr. Christina Greer to discuss "race neutral" admissions following The Supreme Court's decision to effectively outlaw affirmative action. The pair agree the concept of race neutrality is absurd and not realistic and claim that Asian Americans are being used as pawns by conservative American...
