Vic Mensa Says The Division Between Black Americans And Africans Is Manufactured

Summary

Earn Your Leisure Podcast: Vic Mensa Says The Division Between Black Americans And Africans Is Manufactured

Date: January 27, 2026
Hosts: Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings
Guest: Vic Mensa

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Episode Overview

This episode of the Earn Your Leisure Podcast features musician and activist Vic Mensa. The discussion centers around the perceived division between Black Americans and Africans, exploring its origins, the impact of misleading narratives, and the importance of unity within the African diaspora. Vic Mensa offers a deeply personal and informed perspective as someone with both African and American heritage, emphasizing that divisions are often manufactured and serve broader systemic interests.

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Key Discussion Points

Vic Mensa's Unique Perspective on Identity

• Vic’s Background:

  • Father from Ghana; mother is white American (02:55).
  • Navigates both communities and recognizes the sensitivities and complexities inherent to each.

• On Being Discredited:

  • Recognizes some may try to dismiss his opinions because of his mixed heritage, especially in the context of modern movements like Foundation of Black Americans (FBA).
  • “As an African, that's like mixed race... I've got ways for people to discredit the situation, discredit my opinion as it pertains to Black American people. I mean, especially in the age of fba, you know what I'm saying?” — Vic Mensa (02:41)

Manufactured Division Between Black Americans and Africans

• The Core Argument:

  • Vic states the idea that Black Americans and Africans are fundamentally divided is a manufactured narrative, propagated as a form of control.
  • “The division between Black American people and Black African people is manufactured as an agent of the state... It's used to keep us divided so that we don't unify…” — Vic Mensa (03:12)

• Strategic Interest in Disunity:

  • Unification between the culturally influential Black Americans and the resource-rich and rapidly growing African continent is seen as a threat to the status quo.
  • “They don’t want Black American people, the most culturally impactful group on planet Earth, to link up with the most resource-rich continent…” — Vic Mensa (04:08)

Critique of FBA and Media Narratives

• FBA (Foundational Black Americans):

  • Vic supports the uniqueness and depth of Black American culture, but is critical of factions that push an anti-African narrative.

  • “I think the group online that is pushing an anti-African narrative, it's just misguided. And I feel like they're misguided by design...” — Vic Mensa (10:36)

  • He also recognizes similar flaws with anti-Black American narratives from African communities:

    • “In the same way that the Africans online that are pushing an anti Black American narrative are misguided. They're misguided by design…” (10:46)

• Role of Media in Stereotyping:

  • Media paint Black Americans in a derogatory light internationally, while simultaneously downplaying or erasing the contributions of Africans (“...the media has and continues to paint Africans as having no contribution to history, saying that the pyramids are created by, you know, aliens or goddamn look like Brett Favre…” — Vic Mensa, 12:00).

Call for Unity

• Need for Solidarity:
  • Vic appeals to both FBA and continental Africans to recognize the need for unity, as freedom and progress depend on collaboration:
    • “We don't get free until we all get free.” — Vic Mensa (13:30)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The division between Black American people and Black African people is manufactured. It is an agent of the state.” — Vic Mensa (03:12)
• “What the powers that be really don’t want is that Black American people who have been able to... dramatically change the landscape of culture globally... connect.” — Vic Mensa (08:47)
• “Whatever you want to call it, Black American people are obviously their own culture... I mean they have their own cuisine, their own dialects, they're basically their own language, their own literature, their own contributions to science, technology, math, art, everything.” — Vic Mensa (09:24)
• “The media has painted Black Americans in a certain light... intentionally derogatory... to keep them exploited.” — Vic Mensa (11:01)
• “The media... paint Africans as having no contribution to history, saying that the pyramids are created by aliens... just because they don't want to acknowledge the greatness of Black people.” — Vic Mensa (12:00)
• “We don't get free until we all get free.” — Vic Mensa (13:30)

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Key Timestamps

• 02:41: Vic shares thoughts on how his background invites criticism from both sides
• 03:12: Vic makes his main point about manufactured division
• 04:08: Discusses strategic interests behind keeping Black Americans and Africans apart
• 09:24: Affirms the distinctiveness and value of Black American culture
• 10:36: Critique of divisive online narratives within the diaspora
• 12:00: Commentary on media’s role in misrepresenting both groups
• 13:30: A call to unity — “We don't get free until we all get free.”

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Tone and Style

The conversation is thoughtful, candid, and occasionally humorous. Vic Mensa and the hosts blend seriousness with moments of levity, making the discussion both accessible and deeply resonant. The tone encourages open dialogue on sensitive subjects, underlining the podcast’s commitment to honest, unfiltered discourse about culture, identity, and solidarity.

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Summary Conclusion

This episode delivers a nuanced examination of the perceived rift between Black Americans and Africans. Vic Mensa, leveraging his unique heritage and global perspective, argues that this division is artificially imposed and serves to hinder the collective progress of people of African descent. The call to action is clear: only through solidarity can true liberation be achieved. For listeners new to these conversations, the episode provides rich context, historical insight, and a path forward grounded in unity and mutual respect.

Transcript

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[A]

Biscuits.

[B]

Biscuits. That's funny. I do think. I don't know, maybe. My big point though, man, is that like, I just think that like the group online that is pushing an anti African narrative, it's just misguided. And I feel like they're misguided by design though. You Know what I'm saying? In the same way that the Africans online that are pushing an anti black American narrative are misguided. They're misguided by design. Like I've had these conversations in Africa many times when African people will ask me, they say, black Americans, why are they so aggressive and you know, I mean, why are they so angry? And why can't they figure out how to rise in society? Like Africans are often colored with so many negative stereotypes of black Americans. Because the media has painted black Americans in a certain light. Yeah, I mean, intentionally derogatory light in order to keep them exploited, you know, I mean, and, and in order to make the world feel like. But I guess, yeah, my point being that it's just two different strokes of the same brush. Because at the same token, like the, the media has and continues to paint Africans as having no contribution to history, saying that the pyramids are created by, you know, aliens or goddamn look like Brett Favre, you know, saying like, just because they don't want to acknowledge the greatness of black people. And so, you know, I mean, I appeal to like both to, to both FBA and to African people of the continent to, you know, recognize our, our necessitated unity. Like, we don't get free until we all get free. You know, that's how I feel. Earnest, what's up? You ever walk into a small business and everything just works like the checkout is fast, the receipts are digital, tipping is a breeze, and you're out the door before the line even builds. Odds are they're using Square. We love supporting businesses that run on Square because it just feels seamless. Whether it's a local coffee shop, a vendor at a pop up market, or even one of our merch partners, Square makes it easy for them to take payments, manage inventory, and run their business with confidence, all from one simple system. One of the things we love most is seeing neighborhood businesses level up. There's this West Indian spot right in our community that started with a small takeout counterpart. Now with Square, they've been able to expand into a full sit down restaurant and even started catering events across the city. That's the kind of growth that inspires us. And it's powered by Square. Square is built for all types of businesses, from the corner bagel shop that turned into a local chain to the specialty market with thousands of unique items. To the stylist who's been holding you down for years. If you're a business owner or even just thinking about launching something soon, Square is hands down one of the best tools out there to help you start, run and grow. It's not just about payments, it's about giving you time back so you can focus on what matters most. Ready to see how Square can transform your business? Visit square.comgoeyl to learn more. That's square.comgoeyl don't wait. Don't hesitate. Let Square handle the back end so you can keep pushing your vision forward.

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