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(HKR-07-08-25) Hard Knock Radio: Dr. Umi Vaughan on “Silencing the Drum” and Afro-Brazilian Religious Resistance

On this episode of Hard Knock Radio, host Davey D sits down with author, scholar, and cultural anthropologist Dr. Umi Vaughan to discuss his new book Silencing the Drum: Religious Racism and Afro-Brazilian Sacred Music (Amherst College Press), co-authored with Dr. Danielle Boaz. The conversation unpacks the ongoing attacks on Afro-Brazilian religions such as Candomblé and Umbanda, and the broader war on Black cultural expression in Brazil.

Dr. Vaughan explains how these spiritual traditions, rooted in West and Central African practices, use music—particularly drumming—as a central form of worship, healing, and cultural memory. The drum, or atabaque, is not just an instrument but a conduit to ancestral spirit, community connection, and divine presence.

Despite Brazil’s celebration of its Afro-cultural roots in tourism and festivals like Carnaval, the communities that birthed these traditions face discrimination, violence, and criminalization. The book opens with the shocking assassination of a Candomblé priestess inside her temple—just one example of escalating attacks on Afro-Brazilian practitioners by Evangelical extremists, law enforcement, and vigilante groups emboldened under former president Jair Bolsonaro.

Davey D and Dr. Vaughan explore the contradictions of a nation that profits off Black culture but persecutes those who live it. From noise ordinance laws weaponized against sacred drumming, to raids on terreiros (spiritual temples), Vaughan highlights how colonial mindsets and religious racism continue to suppress African identity under the guise of public health, morality, or Christian supremacy.

Yet, the book also centers resilience. Vaughan shares stories of ingenuity, like a priestess who blasted Christian music outside her temple while conducting sacred rituals inside. These creative forms of resistance reflect a long history of survival, adaptation, and spiritual defiance in the face of repression.

The interview also touches on Umbanda’s complex mix of African, Christian, and Indigenous elements, and the ways in which race and class play out within these religious spaces. Vaughan notes ongoing tensions around “religious gentrification,” where lighter-skinned or foreign practitioners claim cultural authority by accessing African traditions directly, often sidelining the Black Brazilian women who’ve held these practices down for centuries.

Looking ahead, Vaughan sees a glimmer of hope under the new Lula administration, which has embraced cultural inclusion, even appointing a Minister of Culture connected to Afro-Brazilian traditions. But he warns that the struggle isn’t over. “What’s happening in Brazil is a warning,” he says. “If we’re not careful, the same silencing can happen here.”

Vaughan urges listeners to read the book, reflect on what cultural practices they would fight to protect, and support grassroots efforts like Coletivo Merê. “This isn’t just about Brazil,” he says. “It’s about global Black survival and the right to be whole.”

You can purchase the book here https://services.publishing.umich.edu/Books/S/Silencing-the-Drum3

HKR-07-08-25 Dr Umi Vaughan The Silencing of Drums in Brazil

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(HKR-08-06-25)
Kalonji Changa Breaks Down the True Meaning of Black August 

On a recent episode of Hard Knock Radio, host Davey D sat down with longtime political and revolutionary organizer Kalonji Changa for a powerful conversation on the meaning and purpose of Black August. Changa made it clear from the outset: Black August is not a time for celebration. It is a time for deep reflection, resistance, and remembrance—especially for Black political prisoners and those martyred in the struggle for liberation.
Honoring the Fallen and the Forgotten

Changa began by laying out the origins of Black August, which was born inside California prisons in 1979 to honor the lives and legacies of eight men killed between 1970 and 1978—George Jackson, Jonathan Jackson, William Christmas, James McClain, W.L. Nolen, Alvin "Juggs" Miller, Cleveland Edwards, and Khatari Gaulden. These individuals, many affiliated with the Black Panther Party or the Black Liberation Army, were either assassinated or killed in combat while incarcerated. Their resistance and sacrifices remain foundational to the principles of Black August.

Changa highlighted George Jackson's transformation from an 18-year-old accused of robbery into one of the most feared political thinkers behind bars. Through study and leadership, Jackson became a symbol of revolutionary consciousness—his assassination in 1971 marked a turning point. Black August, Changa emphasized, was created to honor the legacy of such resistance, not to be turned into social events or seasonal trends.
Redefining Political Prisoners

Changa challenged the public to fully understand what a political prisoner is. Drawing from insights shared by OG Kamau Sadiki, he explained that a political prisoner is not only someone imprisoned because of their politics—but someone who continues the political struggle while behind bars. Figures like Mumia Abu-Jamal and Leonard Peltier embody this definition. Changa, who serves on Peltier’s legal team, underscored how many political prisoners are only released when they’re near death—and yet, none express regret for standing in the fight for freedom.
The Dangers of Co-optation and the Reality of State Violence

Changa issued a pointed warning about the co-optation of Black August. “It’s not Kwanzaa,” he said. “It’s about political prisoners and those who gave their lives. Not about barbecues or branding.” He also noted how even the FBI has labeled Black August as “gang activity,” highlighting the ongoing criminalization of Black resistance. In some prisons, inmates are placed in solitary confinement simply for possessing Black August materials.

The discussion turned to current political repression—from Cop City arrests in Atlanta to deportation campaigns. Changa said plainly: “You can’t reform white supremacy.” He urged people to move beyond electoral solutions and build power on the ground—through self-defense, food security, mutual aid, and community-based organizing.
A Call to Stay Grounded and Ready

Despite the weight of the conversation, Changa ended with a rallying call. The elders and political prisoners he has built with over the years, he said, all share a common message: Don’t give up the fight. As the state continues to criminalize dissent and suppress radical histories, Black August remains a sacred space for clarity, resistance, and recommitment to struggle.

HKR-08-07-25 Brother Kalonji Speaks About the History of Black August

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