Black Agenda Radio - 06.26.17

Welcome, to the radio magazine that brings you news, commentary and analysis from a Black Left perspective. I’m Glen Ford, along with my co-host, Nellie Bailey. Coming up: The nations leading anti-war organization held its national conference in Richmond, Virginia. And, James Baldwin, the great author, essayist, playwrite, and political thinker, is the subject of a three-day celebration, at the Saturday Free School, in Philadelphia.

The activists of the United National Anti-War Coalition, UNAC, certainly have their work cut out for them. The War Party is firmly in charge on both sides of the political aisle, among the Republicans in Congress and the White House, and the Democratic so-called opposition. Nevertheless, three hundred activists gathered in Richmond, Virginia, to explore strategies for peace  including a sizeable delegation from Black Agenda Report. This year’s conference was the most heavily Black in the history of UNAC, with Blacks making up about a third of the speakers. This week, we’ll bring you ten of those speakers from the conference in Richmond, beginning with Charo Mina-Rojas, a Black community organizer from the South American nation of Colombia.

In Philadelphia, the Saturday Free School, a favorite venue for progressive activists, thinkers, and students of all ages -- and where Dubosian Scholar Dr. Anthony Monteiro can often be found – will hold a three-day celebration of the Life of James Baldwin. The event takes place July 7, 8 and 9 at Philadelphia’s historic Church of the Advocate, where the Saturday Free School is located. Artists, entertainers, educators and activists from around the region will honor Baldwin, who died in 1987. Baldwin wrote essays, articles, books and plays, but he didn’t write political manifestos, and was not active in conventional movement organizations. So, why is James Baldwin so important, historically and politically? We asked two members of the Free School collective: Elias Gonzalez and Kayla Watkins.

And that it’s for this edition of Black Agenda Radio. Be sure to visit us at BlackAgendaReport.com, where you’ll find a new and provocative issue, each Wednesday. That’s www.BlackAgendaReport.com. It’s the place for news, commentary and analysis, from the Black Left.