Podcast
Black Autonomy Podcast
Hosted by Black Autonomy Federation · EN
The Black Autonomy Podcast is a series of discussions on anarchism and the relevance of its revolutionary ideals to the ongoing Black Liberation Movement.
The show is hosted by JoNina Abron-Ervin and Lorenzo Kom'boa Ervin, two veteran organizers, former Black Panther Party members and co-founders of the Black Autonomy Federation. The show is produced by a collaboration between writer William C. Anderson (@williamcson) and the Black Autonomy Federation.
JoNina Abron-Ervin is a former editor of The Black Panther newspaper, author of Driven by the Movement: Activists of the Black Power Era, and a co-founder of the Black Autonomy Federation.
Lorenzo Kom'boa Ervin is the author of Anarchism and the Black Revolution, a co-founder of the Black Autonomy Federation, and a former member of the Black Panther Party.
(Artwork by Theo Thirdaye [@Thirdayetheory]. Introduction music is an instrumental version of "Song 33" by Noname.)
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Rejecting Black Fascism, Nativism, and Right-Wing Movements
Sep 2400:44:19Tap to summarizeLorenzo and JoNina offer a scathing criticism of today's Black nativist and reparations-based movements. In this episode, they unpack the reactionary politics and limitations of Black US nationalist movements like ADOS, FBA, and Black Voices for Trump. By pointing out their shared xenophobia and anti-Black sentiments, they talk about why it's important to build social revolutionary politics instead. Listen and learn, and don't forget to support us on Patreon.
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Driven by the Movement: Exploring JoNina Abron-Ervin's Three Decade Project
Aug 2200:41:37Tap to summarizeCo-host Lorenzo Komboa Ervin interviews JoNina Abron-Ervin about her new book Driven by the Movement, which collects the stories of twenty rank-and-file people in the Black liberation struggle between 1965 and 1975. These activists came from across the US and all walks of life--single working mothers, clergy, students, teachers, military veterans--to organize against police brutality, poverty, hunger, substandard schools, and colonialism. Listen as JoNina recounts her struggles bringing the text to wide publication and details what she hopes the project will accomplish. Buy this landmark text on AKpress.org or wherever books are sold. And don't forget to support us on Patreon.
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Rebuilding the City From the Bottom Up (Part II)
May 12, 202500:20:04Tap to summarizeListen to Lorenzo Kom'boa Ervin and JoNina Abron-Ervin speak with the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc), one of the nation's few independent architecture schools. They discuss urbanism, architecture, and planning in a rare speculative treat. In part two of this two-part episode, JoNina talks about the significance of urban rebellions, the Kerner Commission, spatial deconcentration, and the killing of Yulanda Ward. This event took place in front of the Mobile Architecture Platform Apparatus (MAPA), a bicycle-powered mobile archive of scanned building parts for co-envisioning new worlds out of dismantled old ones, part of the "Views of Planet City" exhibition at the SCI-Arc Gallery (September 13, 2024 – February 14, 2025). You can watch the full video on Youtube with an introduction by John Cooper. Additionally, thanks to Theo Parrish for letting us use his track "Serengeti Echoes" in the show.
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Rebuilding the City From the Bottom Up (Part I)
Mar 22, 202500:32:07Tap to summarizeListen to Lorenzo Kom'boa Ervin and JoNina Abron-Ervin speak with the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc), one of the nation's few independent architecture schools. They discuss urbanism, architecture, and planning in a rare speculative treat. In part one of this two-part episode about rebuilding the city, Lorenzo recounts some of his educational history with urbanism, city planning, and local struggles organizing with the Black Autonomy Federation in Atlanta. This event took place in front of the Mobile Architecture Platform Apparatus (MAPA), a bicycle-powered mobile archive of scanned building parts for co-envisioning new worlds out of dismantled old ones, part of the "Views of Planet City" exhibition at the SCI-Arc Gallery (September 13, 2024 – February 14, 2025). You can watch the full video on Youtube with an introduction by John Cooper. Additionally, thanks to Theo Parrish for letting us use his track "Serengeti Echoes" in the show.
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Students, Fight for Your Right To Protest!
Jun 20, 202400:31:38Tap to summarizeOn this episode, Lorenzo and JoNina reflect on the student protests in response to the ongoing genocide in Gaza. As veterans of many struggles prior, including the student and anti-war protests of the 1960s, they offer invaluable perspectives. Listen in as these movement elders discuss the history of the student movement, police brutality, counterviolence, and the limits of "rights."
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Live From Detroit: Black Anarchist Legacies Part 2
Dec 28, 202301:15:32Tap to summarizeThis episode was recorded live from the Institute for Social Ecology's 2023 Summer Intensive Course in Detroit. Lorenzo Kom'boa Ervin, JoNina Abron-Ervin, and Modibo Kadalie reflect on their personal histories in the Black Power movement, and how their experiences in hierarchical revolutionary organizations - such as the Black Panther Party and the League of Revolutionary Black Workers - led them to anarchist/anti-authoritarian politics. Facilitated by William C. Anderson. Discuss this episode with your friends and family and, as always, support Black Autonomy on Patreon.
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Live From Detroit: Black Anarchist Legacies Part I
Sep 25, 202301:21:01Tap to summarizeThis episode was recorded live from the Institute for Social Ecology's 2023 Summer Intensive Course in Detroit. Lorenzo Kom'boa Ervin, JoNina Abron-Ervin, and Modibo Kadalie reflect on their personal histories in the Black Power movement, and how their experiences in hierarchical revolutionary organizations - such as the Black Panther Party and the League of Revolutionary Black Workers - led them to anarchist/anti-authoritarian politics. Facilitated by William C. Anderson. Discuss this episode with your friends and family and, as always, support Black Autonomy on Patreon.
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Rent Is Theft! Housing Is Our Right!
Sep 26, 202200:29:05Tap to summarizeIn this episode Lorenzo and JoNina discuss how US capitalism oppresses us through the housing crisis. They reflect on what's rent and housing mean in the context on the broader society and reflect on past defense tactics. Discuss this episode with your friends and family and, as always, support Black Autonomy on Patreon.
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Prison Abolition and Struggle Against Mass Imprisonment.
May 9, 202200:31:13Tap to summarizeThis episode is about the Black anarchist struggle against prisons and state slavery. Lorenzo and JoNina discuss the relevance of overturning the entirety of the state apparatus in the struggle for prison abolition rather than stopping at mere reforms.
Transcribe →Love and Struggle
Feb 14, 202200:34:37Tap to summarizeThis special Valentine's Day episode is about Lorenzo and JoNina's relationship. Listen as they recount the story of their encounter and discuss how they relate to one another as partners, thinkers, and coconspirators. This episode covers topics like gender roles, dating, and conflict resolution.
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