Episode Summary: "Welfare Queen" — My Momma Told Me

Release Date: August 5, 2025

Podcast Information:

• Title: My Momma Told Me
• Hosts: Langston Kerman and David Bore
• Guest: Blakely Thornton
• Produced by: Big Money Players Network and iHeartPodcasts

Overview: In the "Welfare Queen" episode of My Momma Told Me, hosts Langston Kerman and David Bore engage in a deep and provocative discussion with guest Blakely Thornton about the origins and implications of welfare systems in the United States. The episode delves into the conspiracy theory that welfare policies were intentionally designed to disrupt and weaken Black family structures by keeping Black men out of the household.

Key Sections:

1. Introduction to the Topic ([13:35] - [15:00])

   • The episode shifts focus as Blakely Thornton introduces himself and the central theme.
   • Blakely Thornton ([14:01]): "Hello, hello, hello. That is how the trouble began with the slave ships and me. We are ancestors' greatest dreams and white people's greatest nightmares."

2. Historical Context of Welfare Systems ([15:00] - [17:00])

   • Blakely provides a historical backdrop, tracing welfare systems back to post-Great Depression reforms.
   • Unnamed Speaker 1 ([15:59]): "I believe the inception was after the Great Depression to kind of help families and give a social safety net for everybody."
   • Discussion on how welfare was retooled during the Reagan administration to target Black communities specifically.

3. The "Welfare Queen" Conspiracy Theory ([17:00] - [25:00])

   • Blakely elaborates on the idea that welfare policies were weaponized to keep Black men out of the home, thereby destabilizing Black family units.
   • Blakely Thornton ([16:00]): "So then this is where it gets even nastier. Is that part of the propaganda that they spend is that they go, they're obsessed with welfare. They can't get enough of welfare. All the while these motherfuckers can't even get on welfare."
   • Unnamed Speaker 1 ([17:07]): "It's easier just to keep them out of the house than to have to deal with doing the overt, very hard to cover up."

4. Systemic Implications and Modern Reflections ([25:00] - [35:00])

   • The conversation transitions to contemporary issues, discussing privatized prisons and aggressive policing as tools to maintain systemic control.
   • Blakely Thornton ([46:45]): "Everybody's a coon who's sitting around eating watermelon, lazing around, whatever. Then that version of propaganda starts to not work the way they want it to because of changes in voting, changes in opportunities."

5. Propaganda and Public Perception ([35:00] - [45:00])

   • Exploration of how propaganda has been used to reinforce negative stereotypes about Black individuals, particularly focusing on the "welfare queen" myth.
   • Blakely Thornton ([43:39]): "Because black people were specifically forced into jobs where they were largely being paid in cash and off the books, they had no way of demonstrating that they had work."

6. Contemporary Racism and Systemic Barriers ([45:00] - [55:00])

   • Hosts and guest discuss modern manifestations of racism and how historical policies have left lasting impacts on Black communities.
   • Unnamed Speaker 1 ([45:23]): "It's targeted. [...] They go, they're obsessed with welfare. They can't get enough of welfare."

7. Conclusion and Insights ([55:00] - [63:00])

   • The episode wraps up with reflections on the discussed conspiracy theory, emphasizing the enduring challenges faced by Black families due to systemic policies.
   • Blakely Thornton ([46:27]): "Truly. I think so much about like the early transitions of like a post slavery race or like after slavery, the best thing that they could come up with as propaganda for how to pitch black people as like, not good was to say we were lazy."

Notable Quotes:

• Blakely Thornton ([16:00]): "So then this is where it gets even nastier. Is that part of the propaganda that they spend is that they go, they're obsessed with welfare. They can't get enough of welfare. All the while these motherfuckers can't even get on welfare."
• Unnamed Speaker 1 ([17:07]): "It's easier just to keep them out of the house than to have to deal with doing the overt, very hard to cover up."
• Blakely Thornton ([43:39]): "Because black people were specifically forced into jobs where they were largely being paid in cash and off the books, they had no way of demonstrating that they had work."

Insights and Conclusions: The hosts and Blakely Thornton present a compelling argument that welfare systems in the United States have been historically and intentionally manipulated to undermine Black family structures by excluding Black men from participating fully in household welfare benefits. This, in turn, has perpetuated cycles of economic disenfranchisement and social instability within Black communities. The episode underscores the importance of understanding the intersection of policy, propaganda, and systemic racism in shaping societal outcomes.

Final Thoughts: "Welfare Queen" offers a thought-provoking exploration of how systemic policies can be weaponized against marginalized communities. By combining historical analysis with contemporary reflections, My Momma Told Me provides listeners with a nuanced understanding of the deep-rooted challenges facing Black families in America today.