Groundings is a place where organizing, theory, and history come in contact with dialogue, experience, and storytelling. It's where the past meets the present, and political education happens. The title "Groundings" is in honor of the revolutionary educator Walter Rodney, whose concept of "groundings" as a form of radical, political, and communal education inspires the conversations on this podcast. Groundings: we sit, we listen, we talk, we share, and we learn.
Zellie Imani joins the Groundings Podcast and defines “harm reduction” - and how it shows up in the community organizing work of his organization, Black Lives Matter Paterson, in New Jersey. He dispels the mainstream misunderstanding of harm reduction as a voting practice, some of the major stigma they fight to keep people alive, and re-commits to the origins of harm reduction: a community…
Dr. Orisanmi Burton discusses his book “Tip of the Spear”, defining counter-insurgency and describing the prisoner struggle in what he calls the “Long Attica Revolt.” The conversation highlights how prison reform has been used as a tactic to defang the radical demands of those captured at the same time pacifying non-politicized prisoners and the ways that political prisoners maneuver through…
Dr. Augustus Wood discusses his book "Class Warfare in Black Atlanta," defining class warfare and the “Black worker,” arguing gentrification is tied to labor, policing, surveillance, and repression, and criticizing the idea that gentrification equals development. The conversation highlights the role of Black women in grassroots struggles, the impact of the Olympics and metro-area displacement, and…
January 12, 2026 - In this broadcast, hosts Leyla, Musa, and taylor discussed the ways capitalist media is weaponized as propaganda in support of imperial interests. Using Michael Parenti's framework from Inventing Reality as a key framework, the hosts analyzed current events to discern how media tactics are being deployed in coverage of US aggression across the Global South. We cover 5 mechanisms…
In this broadcast, co-hosts taylor, Leyla, and Dartricia discuss the ongoing Atlanta city council elections and the theft of the Crown Jewels from the Louvre Museum in France. They are joined by guest Dr. Akinyele Umoja to talk about the book he co-edited, The Memoirs of Robert and Mabel Williams: African American Freedom, Armed Resistance, and International Solidarity. They cover topics such as…
In this broadcast, co-hosts Dartricia and Musa give a history of the New Jewel Movement and the Grenada Revolution and the U.S. Invasion and overthrow in 1983 under the Reagan Administration. The discussion includes wins of revolution including a powerful literacy campaign, better healthcare, and the construction of an airport. They also make connections to the U.S. Monroe Doctrine and U.S.…
We explore the historical strategies of black radicals to resist repression, the evolution of fascism and what it means today, and the importance of mutual comradeship in sustaining movements. The discussion includes an analysis of where anti-communism and anti-Blackness intersect, the Biden administration's role in facilitating repression, the historical context of fascistic practices in the…
In this episode of Groundings, we talk to guest Erica about the Stono Rebellion. We commemorate the rebellion on its anniversary, explore the harsh conditions faced by our enslaved African ancestors in colonial South Carolina, and their struggle for freedom. Erica provides insights into the role of heritage interpretation, the impact of African cultural retention, and the drastic shifts in laws…
Host Musa and new co-host Dartricia Rollins discuss our backgrounds and motivations for the podcast, our excitement for the upcoming season, and highlight some key episodes and guests we've got coming up. Dartricia introduces herself as an oral historian, archivist, and organizer, and Musa talks about the educational mission and origins of Groundings. Also... how Musa hates podcasts. We tease…
In commemoration of Fanon's centennial, the interview covers his biography, many writings, including his books A Dying Colonialism, Wretched of the Earth, Black Skin, White Masks, and more. As well as Fanon’s participation in the Algerian revolutionary struggle and his theories of violence and decolonization. The broadcast also features the news of Fanon's daughter, Mirelle Fanon, being banned…