Evictions and housing insecurity aren’t new issues in this country; since the beginning of European colonization of the Amerikas, displacement, forced encampment, and enslavement have been critical to sustaining the wealth of a small number of white male settlers. The foundation of this U.S. occupation has always rested on the practices of extraction and expansionism, building over anyone who dares to challenge the corporate elite's gross mismanagement of the land. The call to “free the land” is not simply about grass, water, or territory; it’s a call for reclamation: of culture, autonomy, and community control.

This week on Race Capitol, co-host Nomi Isaac sits down with Haitian-born Pan-African theorist, organizer, and author of the book “Take Back the Land: Land, gentrification, and the Umoja Village Shantytown,” Max Rameau. We discuss the links between policing and housing--and reflect on how a small community of housing insecure people launched a 6-month long occupation to protest against gentrification in FL. 

In the spirit of Black August, we open the show with words + a call to action from New Afrikan prisoner, Shaka Shakur.

Take Back the Land! : Land, Gentrification, and the Umoja Village Shantytown

NEW EPISODE ALERT: This week on Race Capitol, we are kicking off the year with our very first COVID WATCH episode - all about community care in Richmond. We will dive into some local mutual aid efforts that have been addressing the lack of PPE in the RVA area with Lauren Garcia, a current pHD student at the University of Virginia and VCU alum and Natalie del Castillo of River City Harm Redux.

Be sure to subscribe to our Black independent media platform everywhere that you listen to podcasts

Support River City Harm Redux by donating via venmo @/rivercityharmredux

Support our independent media platform by becoming a monthly sustainer on #patreon www.patreon.com/racecapitol 

#WeTakeCareofUS #COVIDWatch #RVA #VA #MutualAid

COVID WATCH PART 1 (feat. Lauren Garcia + Natalie del Castillo)

We're talking budgets from Richmond to Henrico this week. Reverend Tyrone Nelson shares his story from growing up in Gravel Hill to his career as a pastor and his work as the second Black member of the Henrico County Board of Supervisors. Also joining the show this week is Taikein Cooper, Executive Director of Virginia Excels.

Episode #9: Politics from East to West

Dr. Erica Armstrong Dunbar talks about the life and legacy of Ona Judge, a once enslaved woman who escaped the grips of George and Martha Washington. Dr. Dunbar is the author of Never Caught: The Washingtons' Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge, which was a 2017 finalist for the National Book Award and winner of the 2018 Frederick Douglas Book Award. More on Dr. Dunbar's work is available at https://ericaarmstrongdunbar.com/work

#SayHerName: Dr. Erica Armstrong Dunbar Meets Ona Judge

Middle Finger to the Law" Black Youth Project 100 chant remix

ft Fresco Steez + BYP100 Choir

I use beats to fight for Black people's freedom.

"Middle Finger To The Law ft. Fresco Steez + BYP100 Choir (OnRaé LaTeal Mix)

On June 22, 2020, Black youth organizers announced it was time to #ReclaimRVA by renaming the space known as Richmond City Hall as Reclamation Square . Youth and allies held the space for over 7 hours until the Richmond Police Department and Virginia State Police approached the sit-in where a movie was about to begin in riot gear. The police then started tear gassing and shooting rubber bullets directly at the protestors. 

This week some of the youth organizers who are comrades of hosts Kalia Harris and Naomi Isaac join Race Capitol to talk about why that space was chosen, what happened that evening from their perspectives and what could come next for the #RichmondProtests

More from June 22 and our Hosts in the press:
-https://vpm.org/news/articles/14328/how-defunding-the-police-is-translating-into-policy-in-richmond
-https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/935kp5/police-turned-richmond-virginia-into-a-war-zone-last-night

All sample rights from the episode reserved from original source:
-https://youtu.be/eZmBy7C9gHQ 
-https://youtu.be/dFFWTsUqEaY
-https://soundcloud.com/onraewatkins/middle-finger-to-the-law-ft-fresco-steez-byp100-choir-onrae-lateal-mix

Reclamation Square RVA

We speak to jounralist Joshua Collins as he takes a rest from covering the deadly anti-police-violence clashes in Colombia.

- www.patreon.com/popularfront

- www.popularfront.co

- www.twitter.com/jake_hanrahan

- www.instagram.com/popular.front

93. On the Ground Amidst Colombia's Deadly Clashes

Race Capitol interrogates racial narratives in Richmond, Virginia, the former capitol of the Confederacy. www.racecapitol.com @RaceCapitol

Three Black feminist organizers deliver activist radio every Wednesday at 10am on WRIR LP 97.3 FM Richmond Independent Radio. Episodes loaded weekly. 

Created by: Chelsea Higgs Wise (she/her) 
Co-Hosts: Naomi Isaac (they/them) & Kalia Harris (she/her)

Take Back the Land! : Land, Gentrification, and the Umoja Village Shantytown

Race Capitol

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