George Jackson, political prisoner, member of the Black Panther Party, author of the celebrated book Soledad Brother, was murdered by prison guards on August 21, 1971. This year, 2021, and this August, there will be celebrations of his life and work.

Eric discusses the life and work his comrades and Soledad Brother George Jackson.

Eric talks about the life and work of Eric's comrade and Soledad Brother, George Jackson

This is SUCH an amazing show! This week on Voices From the Frontlines, Eric and Channing have a guest star; THE GREAT Mary Louise Patterson!!! 

She’s speaking with us about her book that she co-authored with Evelyn Louise Crawford, Letters From Langston; From the Harlem Renaissance to the Red Scare and Beyond!

Mary Louise Pattesron will in conversation with Eric and Channing about growing up with famous and most heroic parents, William L. Patterson and Lousie Thompson Patterson! 

This interview is very moving. Mary tells us how she became aware of who her parents were in the world as she, herself,  grew into the world. At different times her father was imprisoned and Mary was VERY grateful to have such political heavyweights in her life as extended Auntie’s and Uncle’s; Langston Hughes, Paul Robeson, W.E.B. De Bois, Altheus Huntons, James Jackson, Luis Bernum, etc. They were the best in the Black radical tradition who were comrades, friends, and extended family who were very close to Mary as she was growing into the world. As a Black person myself with a seemingly unlimited amount of “extended” (but we don’t call them extended) Auntie’s and Uncle’s, I/we know very well how important every last one of our Auntie’s and Uncle’s are in our lives, which makes us whole!!! Mary had some of the most prolific and monumental Black revolutionaries!

”At some point in one’s childhood or early adolescence, as one is intellectually maturing and becoming socially and politically conscious, one is faced with the need to accept or reject being or becoming like one’s parents. One can either accept or reject one’s parents place in history. I chose to accept mine, and in so doing, I was admitting a profound indebtedness to their major contribution to who and what I became—to whom I am today.” - MaryLouise Patterson

Give this episode a complete listen, comment, and email us at eric@voicesfromthefrontlines.com and kiyana@voicesfromthefrontlines.com. We would love to hear what you think. We will be doing a lot more work with Mary and many other Black revolutionaries, past present, and future! JOIN US, the fight for liberation isn’t over!!!

Voices Radio speaks with Mary Louise Pattesron on her book and growing up with Black radicals.

This week Voices Radio rebroadcasts this incredibly important interview with Mary Louise Patterson. 

She’s speaking with us about her book that she co-authored with Evelyn Louise Crawford, Letters From Langston; From the Harlem Renaissance to the Red Scare and Beyond!

Mary Louise Pattesron will in conversation with Eric and Channing about growing up with famous and most heroic parents, William L. Patterson and Lousie Thompson Patterson! 

This interview is very moving. Mary tells us how she became aware of who her parents were in the world as she, herself,  grew into the world. At different times her father was imprisoned and Mary was VERY grateful to have such political heavyweights in her life as extended Auntie’s and Uncle’s; Langston Hughes, Paul Robeson, W.E.B. De Bois, Altheus Huntons, James Jackson, Luis Bernum, etc. They were the best in the Black radical tradition who were comrades, friends, and extended family who were very close to Mary as she was growing into the world. As a Black person myself with a seemingly unlimited amount of “extended” (but we don’t call them extended) Auntie’s and Uncle’s, I/we know very well how important every last one of our Auntie’s and Uncle’s are in our lives, which makes us whole!!! Mary had some of the most prolific and monumental Black revolutionaries!

”At some point in one’s childhood or early adolescence, as one is intellectually maturing and becoming socially and politically conscious, one is faced with the need to accept or reject being or becoming like one’s parents. One can either accept or reject one’s parents place in history. I chose to accept mine, and in so doing, I was admitting a profound indebtedness to their major contribution to who and what I became—to whom I am today.” - MaryLouise Patterson

Give this episode a complete listen, comment, and email us at eric@voicesfromthefrontlines.com and kiyana@voicesfromthefrontlines.com. We would love to hear what you think. We will be doing a lot more work with Mary and many other Black revolutionaries, past present, and future! JOIN US, the fight for liberation isn’t over!!!

Voices Radio rebroadcasts this HIGHLY important interview with Mary Louise Patterson

This week on Voices From the Frontlines, Eric and Channing speak with Claude Marks and Nathaniel Moore of the Freedom Archives, about the life and legacy of George Jackson. We celebrate Jackson on the 50th anniversary of his assassination.

George Jackson was assassinated in San Quentin prison on August 21, 1971. The following week, the prison released an inventory of the items in his cell, including his library of 99 books.

Voices Radio: Claude Marks' and Nathaniel Moore's tribute to George Jackson.

Good Morning Voices listeners!
Tune in today at 3pm PST for a conversation with Eric Mann, Channing Martinez, and Jessica Meany from Investing in Place. 
Jessica and Channing will discuss the recent motion passed by the Metro Board for fareless transportation for k-12 and community college students and the newly introduced Bus Riders Union Motion for Free Public Transportation. Please find the full text of the Bus Riders Union Motion below.
Please read the full text of the Bus Riders Union Motion and consider signing up to become a dues paying member of the Bus Riders Union Today.
The Bus Riders Union Motion for Free Public Transportation
The Bus Riders Union calls on Metro to implement complete free public transportation on buses and trains until January 2022. Thereafter we urge Metro to continue Free Public Transportation permanently. We urge board members who are not ready to continue the program to at the very most implement a $26 cap on any monthly passes indefinitely on the way to implementing a universal Free Public Transportation system. The universal $26 dollar pass shall not be tied to any low income programs and absolutely no income tests or self-attestation processes. We further call on Metro to implement a universal honor system and no enforcement of fares. Any additional dollars received by the Metro from state and federal sources shall be directed to support a Universal Free Public Transportation System.

Voices Radio: Eric Mann in Conversation with Channing Martinez and Jessica Meany, Investing in Place

Voices Radio; United All Workers for Democracy, and Defund Police in LA City Schools.

Nathan Thanki @n_thanki of Demand Climate Justice @gcdcj talks about the COP 26 in Glasgow 10/31-11/12. The people of the third world will be fighting to improve climate change. The US and the EU will be working to maintain capitalist, imperialist climate change.

We hear a clip of a call that Eric Mann, Channing Martinez, and Barbara Lott holland had with Nathan Thanki regarding the Green Climate Fund.

Eric Mann - “The first thing is that we are asking the governments of the World, as he is, that they have these intended goals and these intended goals must be mandatory, secondly there must be loss and damages paid to the third world, third is, the climate is moving towards 3% let along 1.5%. The strictest enforcement has to be begun with the United States and there has to be penalties for non-compliance, and it all hinges on giving the third world power at the United Nations, and that’s what Demand Climate Justice is all about.” @EricMannSpeaks

We also hear a report from Channing Martinez and the Bus Riders Union @BusRidersUnion on the racism on the Metro and the LAUSD.

The Strategy Center had a meeting with Metro CEO, Stephanie Wiggins @stephwiggins. The Strategy Center demands... @metrolosangeles
WE WANT:
- Free public Transportation
- No police on the buses and trains
- No enforcing of the fares and codes of conduct

We hear a song called Stimela, by Hugh Masekela @hmhf_za

@FightSoulCities

Voices Radio talks Climate Justice with Nathan Thanki. We get a report from the The Bus Riders Union

NEW AND EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS!!! Are you with us??? The primary conversation will be about Judas and the Black Messiah, and the very complex relationships that existed in the Black movement between women and men. 

The Strategy Center has formed the Strategy and Soul Thursday Night Revolutionary Organizers Film and Book Club. Also, the newest addition to the Strategy Center and Voices From the Frontlines is a feature with KPFK’s former News Director, now The Strategy Centers News Director, Ernesto Arce, called South Central/Third World News.

In addition we hear from Barbara Lott Holland and clips from the film Judas and the Black Messiah. 

KPFK is also in their winter fund drive. Donate to Voices from the Frontlines and other amazing independent and revolutionary voices on  KPFK by calling (818) 985-5735.

Voices Radio: Judas and the Black Messiah.

DIRECT FROM GLASGOW AND THE COP 26 CLIMATE CONFERENCE, THIRD WORLD NETWORK LEADER MEENA RAMAN IN CONVERSATION WITH ERIC MANN, LEADER IN UNITED NATIONS NGO STRUGGLE SINCE THE 2001 WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM.

 

Spoiler alert: The United States and the European Union and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson are lying, cheating, and stealing, as they make false promises about dramatically reducing CO2 emissions and worse, oppose any climate reparations, or payment for climate “loss and damages” or taking responsibility for the West’s creation of the climate catastrophe. 

Meena Ramen of the Third World Network provides the most incisive and thoughtful assessment of COP 26 from the point of view of The Third World and The Global South. Eric's conversation on Voices today is produced by Ernesto Arce, the Strategy Center and Voices from the Frontlines' new producer and news director. He will also be doing his own 5 minute Voices South Central/Third World News on the podcast.

Photo from COP26 courtesy of AKGUL/AFP

VOICES Radio: COP26 Climate Change Emergency with Meena Raman and South to South News

This week on Voices from the Frontlines... THE TRIO IS BACK; Alan Minsky, Channing Martinez, and Eric Mann speak with Meena Roman from the Third-World Network, about moving forward the Black Nationalist, Third-World Alliance movement. The white-settler state that is the United States that has raped, pillaged, and created what they now call the "third-world" is afraid of being called the genocidal white-settler state that it is. Malcolm X began shifting the base of his leadership position from the Nation of Islam to one that was rooted in Black Nationalism. He understood that religion, at the base of his leadership, couldn't unify the Black nation in the United States, but a Black Nationalist platform could unify the Black Nation. 

The Pacifica Radio Archives is a massive collection of audio content from voices like Malcolm X, the last recording of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Angela Davis, Fannie Lou Hamer, James Baldwin, W.E.B. DeBois, Lorraine Hansberry, and thousands more.

During this episode we are also raising money for the Pacifica Radio Archives to preserve these voices and so many more, which are being obliterated by this white-settler state that under no circumstances wants to be called out for its atrocities and on-going oppression. 

Call (800)735-0230 and donate $250 to the Pacifica Radio Archives and get the Encyclopedia of Sound; 1600 hours of audio content from the most powerful voices in the world. The archives is working to digitize the ONLY recordings of these historic and massively powerful voices.

Voices Radio: Pacifica Radio Archives fund drive and a conversation with Meena Roman.

The United States is by far the most irresponsible nation regarding its primary contribution to climate change which is making life on planet Earth almost unbearable for most nations, including the US, but particularly nations in the global south - which, for hundreds of years now, continuously suffer social and economic infiltration, resource extraction, exploitation, sheer savagery, and genocide by the US!

In this episode Eric and Meena dig deeper into the conversation regarding the US and its creation and fueling of climate change coupled with the US's audacious refusal to acknowledge its central role in climate change.

Meena provides very compelling data and global perspectives on this administration and other major players in the theatrics of climate talks, whose results are nothing more than backdoor coal-mining deals and other mineral-extraction contracts at the end of corporate/political handshakes.

In addition to Eric and Meena's conversation, Ernesto Arce provides the Voices from the Frontlines South Central/Third World News update.

We are VERY excited to have him on the team!

Tune in, welcome Ernesto, share your thoughts with us, and join the movement!

Voices Radio: Eric and Meena Roman continue the conversation on the US's global effect on climate.

Welcome to Voices from the Frontlines, your national movement building show. We’ll begin with Victor Wallis, a long-time comrade who is doing a zoom exhibition of his mother’s painting—The Art of Diane Esmond—An appreciation by her son, to be video cast this Friday, November 26 at 11 AM PST. Please go to the Marxist Education Project Website and scroll to November 26 to register.

Then we’ll hear from Ernesto Arce and his dynamic South Central/Third World News as he discusses the commutation of the death penalty of Julius Jones and now the fight for his release for a murder he did not commit at the same time as Kyle Rittenhouse was release even before his trial for murders he did commit!

Then Eric will have a moving conversation with Mark Masaoka, one of the long-time leaders in the Japanese American community and United Auto Workers as we discuss his formative years and how we joined paths as auto workers and members of the League of Revolutionary Struggle. Part II of this III part conversation will play on subsequent shows.

Then, we’ll go out with Aguanile, the amazing, hypnotic, Afro-Cuban, Guaguanco, Santeria, orisha embodied by the Fania legend Hector Lavoe

We hope you enjoy our efforts and more complex, more time-consuming to produce, programming.. Please send us appreciations and comments at eric@voicesfromthefrontlines.com and go on our site, Voicesfromthefrontlines.com  to register so we know who you are and you can get our weekly mailings on the day of the show and later with the link to the podcast. Thanks to Ernesto Arce and Channing Martinez for production and publicity.

VOICES Radio: Victor Wallis on his Mother's Art; Mark Masaoka Veteran of the Asian Justice Movement

On this edition of Voices from the Frontlines, Eric Mann and Channing Martinez urge the MTA to “Stop Genocide Against Black Passengers". They say it's time for Voices listeners to get off the sidelines and join us on the Frontlines.

Support the Bus Riders Union motion to this Thursday’s MTA board by contacting Channing Martinez at Channing@thestrategycenter.org

We also have part two of a three-part discussion with Mark Masaoka, in conversation with Eric Mann. They share memories and analysis of the great work in the United Auto Workers by socialist and communists in the auto factories of Ford Pico Rivera, GM Southgate, and GM Van Nuys—Mark’s and UAW Local 645 in the fight against anti-Japanese chauvinism.

There are also segments with Ernesto Arce and the South Central Third World News, Vijay Prashad on the hypocrisy of US climate criminals passing the buck to China and India.

We'll hear the Great Horace Silver playing “Song for My Father” and a bit of background on the bop classic. 

Also, Channing Martinez joins us to invite listeners this weekend to Strategy and Soul located at 3546 W Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, just around the corner from the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza.

VOICES Radio: The MTA's Anti-Blackness; Mark Masaoka Talks Unionism, Racism at GM Plant

Hello Voices Listeners! On this edition, we feature Channing Martinez and Barbara Lott-Holland on the MTA’s Anti-Blackness and the Bus Riders Union campaign for Black Liberation

We're joined in discussion with Scott Houldieson and Michael Cannon, master organizers with UAWD, Unite All Workers for Democracy, on their historic victory to win the direct election of national officers in the United Auto Workers. Please support their work at www.UAWD.org

Ernesto Arce and the South Central Third World News explores the city of Los Angeles' crime data and how law enforcement agencies are using it to push for more policing budgets. Plus, the ongoing tragedy of police brutality especially when it joins forces with its corporate partners as was put on display last week during a police killing of an elderly disabled man at a Walmart in Arizona. Also, hunger and starvation across Latin America and the Caribbean increases to catastrophic levels.

Also, we'll hear Nina Simone's rendition of “I wish that I knew how it would feel to be free”

Please forward this notice that tomorrow, December 7 at 3 PM you can listen to Voices on KPFK 90.7 FM, Streaming Live on the Web at KFPK.org

Then Wednesday, listen to and forward the podcast from VoicesfromtheFrontlines.com

Are you listening? Send your comments, questions, and suggestions to eric@voicesfromthefrontlines.com.

Listen to Voices from the Frontlines Tomorrow at 3PM PST on KPFK 90.7FM OR click below to stream the show live on KPFK.

VOICES Radio: UAW Wins Major Victory; Bus Riders Fight MTA's Anti-Blackness

On today's edition, Eric Mann is in conversation with Mark Masaoka, this is the final of a three-part series with the UAW and Japanese-American leading organizer on the future of the Movement.

Alan Minsky, Executive Director of Progressive Democrats of America discusses the future of Democratic Party radical transformation.

Ernesto Arce and the South Central Third World News covers more exposed racism among police departments in Torrance and Long Beach, the unjust extradition of Julian Assange, and Amazon being held responsible for the death of several of its workers after the recent tornado disaster.

The Revolutionary Symphony features Fela Kuti—Water no Get Enemy. 

Vicente Fernandez, an homage to Latin@ giant who just passed at the age of 81, who gives us our opening and closing themes

KPFK is currently in Fund Drive with Alan and Eric asking for your financial support. 

For a $100 contribution, you'll get a copy of Eric Mann’s Playbook for Progressives: The 16 Qualities of the Successful Organizer

For a $250 contribution you'll get Paul Robeson: Portrait of an Artist, an amazing 4 DVD set

Please call 818-985-5735 between 3 and 4 today to support Voices and KPFK

VOICES: Alan Minksy Discusses Progressive Democrats, Mark Masaoka on Future of the Movement

Today on Voices from the Frontlines: 
Voices Radio First Show of 2022
Voices in the Tradition of Summer of Soul
Eric in conversation w/ Mumia Abu Jamal
Eric in conversation w/ Julian Bond
South Central Third World News


In the Spirit of Summer of Soul, an amazing film about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, Voices from the Frontlines fights to protect and publicize our revolutionary history. Stop complaining about fascism if you are part of the anti-communist, revisionist, “social justice” tendency that rejects the revolutionary achievements of the U.S. Communist Party, the Soviet Union, the People’s Republic of China, the Black Power Movement, and the Black Panther Party (who did security at the Festival.

Today on Voices we reprise two wonderful revolutionary Voices
Mumia Abu Jamal in a conversation with Eric Mann critiquing Stephen Spielberg’s white savior film Lincoln, (with no Frederick Douglass) and elevate the teaching of W.E.B. DuBois with Eric’s favorite Black Reconstruction in America and Mumia’s, favorite, Darkwater, Voices from within the Veil. Please work to help Mumia Abu Jamal get out of prison, Free Mumia can be reached at prisonradio at gmail dot com Please get involved

Julian Bond in conversation with Eric Mann at the 50th Anniversary of Mississippi Freedom Summer, 1964 in Jackson, Mississippi in the summer of 2014. Great appreciation to Catherine  Murphy, William Sabourin, and Julian Lamb, our amazing team that audioed and videod 10 wonderful conversations with veterans of the Civil Rights Movement. Julian Bond was a major leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, of whom, as Julian tells us, President John Kennedy called “those sons of bitches.” Check out his amazing bio on Wikipedia. It is very moving that in 2014, Julian and I had a discussion about the essential role of memory, as we keep losing comrades along the way. Julian said, “Many people here I will never see again” and at the time, I thought his reference was to “others” but very sadly, Julian died in 2015.

Check out Ernesto Arce’s terrific “South Central/Third World News” segment every week on Voices. 

The Strategy Center and Voices are working to build a Black Liberation, Third World Liberation, pro-communist, anti-imperialist, climate justice united front. Please join us.

Reach out to eric@voicesfromthefrontlines.com & Channing@thestrategycenter.org

Please help us build our podcast! (links below)

Listen to Voices from the Frontlines Today at 3PM PST on KPFK 90.7FM OR click below to stream the show live on KPFK at 3pm pst.

VOICES: Conversations with Mumia Abu-Jamal & the Late Julian Bond

Join us this week for a a conversation with Eric Mann, Channing Martinez, Barbara Lott-Holland and MaryLouise Patterson. MaryLouise is the Co-editor, along with Evelyn Louise Crawford, of Letters from Langston: from the Harlem Renaissance to the Red Scare and Beyond. 
Originally broadcasted in 2021, join us as we rekindle memories of a revolutionary conversation on Letters from Langston.  
Eric Mann will introduce the segment with a commentary on The Man in the High Castle and the fight to retrieve our stolen revolutionary memory. 
The Labor/Community Strategy Center has its roots in the deep revolutionary traditions of Black and Third World people. Inside that vaunted group were the Black Communists, true Black Red Giants—friends and members of the CPUSA whose names include (with many others of great import) Cyril Briggs, Harry Haywood, W.E.B DuBois, Paul Robeson, Claudia Jones, Benjamin Davis. This list also includes the writers of these letters, the prolific Langston Hughes along with William L. Patterson, defender of the Scottsboro Boys and author of We Charge Genocide, Louise Thompson Patterson who was a brilliant charismatic figure and organizer of movements, plays, and the Harlem projects for Black actors and playwrights, Matt Crawford, one of the Black 22 who went to make a film and study in the Soviet Union, and Nebby Crawford who was a great friend and confidante of Langston. Join us as we discuss and make history.
Ernesto Arce on South Central Third World News Advocates for the unhoused expose a troubling collaboration between CHP and CalTrans to harass, criminalize, and ultimately remove homeless residents from areas near and around Los Angeles freeways. Also, a big victory for Palestine activists, and healthcare workers at vaccine sites are under attack.  
Nina Simone will lead our revolutionary music segment today with To Be Young Gifted and Black.

Are you listening?  Send your comments, questions, and suggestions to eric@voicesfromthefrontlines.com.

Listen to Voices from the Frontlines Today at 3PM PST on KPFK 90.7FM OR click below to stream the show live on KPFK.

VOICES: MaryLouise Patterson Discusses Langston Hughes & Her Parent’s Legacy

We’re proud to present Eric Mann’s “All the Revolutionary King” article with a new introduction to bring into the present the everlasting legacy of Dr. King on the civil rights, Black Liberations, internationalist 3rd world movements of today.

Eric Mann will read this great new introduction and piece of the article on Voices from the Frontlines tomorrow at 3pm PST on KPFK Pacifica 90.7fm (kpfk.org to stream the audio live at 3pm).

Tune into the full show and please send your thoughts, reelections and even your enthusiastic plans of how you plan to help rebuild a world movement against “Racism, Poverty and Militarism” to eric@voicesfromthefrontlines.com and channing@thestrategycenter.org


Ernesto Arce on South Central Third World News LAPD gets caught playing games on duty while blaming “defunding” on the shutdown of a local precinct station. With the west coast on tsunami alert, Santa Monica bosses want their workers to show up for the job regardless, and Russia says U.S./NATO need to stop issuing threats.

Stevie Wonder wishes Dr. King a very happy, happy birthday

Are you listening?  Send your comments, questions, and suggestions to eric@voicesfromthefrontlines.com.

Listen to Voices from the Frontlines Today at 3PM PST on KPFK 90.7FM OR click below to stream the show live on KPFK.

VOICES: All Hail the Revolutionary Dr. Martin Luther King

Join us TODAY for a Revolutionary Rhapsody to celebrate music of defiance and protest against injustice and oppression. Eric Mann and Ernesto Arce take you from Cuba to Detroit, Ghana to Jamaica for a liberation of the body, mind, & soul as well as a dance marathon. 

Eric's musical selections are: Languta by Hugh Masekela and the Hedzoleh Sounds, Quimbara by Celia Cruz & the Fania All Stars with Johnny Pacheco, and Mississippi Goddamn followed with Pirate Jenny both by the beloved Nina Simone.

Ernesto's musical selections include Turn Me Loose by Al Campbell, Home is Where the Hatred Is by Gil Scott Heron, Solidarity by Black Uhuru, and Send Me by Hugh Masekela.

South Central Third World News Solidarity with Cuba and the People's Forum U.S. defies the embargo to deliver a huge shipment of powdered milk to Cuba. U.S. intelligence agencies admit the Havana Syndrome is a fabrication. Wells Fargo gets called out for its lip service in honoring Dr. King, and Africa and the world remember the revolutionary legacy of Burkina Faso's Thomas Sankara.

Are you listening?  Send your comments, questions, and suggestions to eric@voicesfromthefrontlines.com.

Listen to Voices from the Frontlines Today at 3PM PST on KPFK 90.7FM OR click below to stream the show live on KPFK.

VOICES: A Revolutionary Symphony, A Celebration of Protest Music

This week on Voices from the Frontlines, Eric Mann gives a scathing film review of Belfast, which he argues glosses over the great history of the Northern Ireland, Irish Catholic fight for Civil Rights, yes, in Belfast.

“Belfast, written, invented, and directed by Kenneth Branagh, is the story of a white, Protestant family in Belfast in 1969—In Northern Ireland—at a time of mass, Catholic civil rights demonstrations against British-supported Fascist Protestant 'Unionists'."

Belfast ultimately sends the viewer the message that you should turn your back on the oppressed, raise superficial criticisms of the occupying Protestants and British, stay inside your pathetic, nuclear family, and get the hell out of there when the opportunity arises.

It is only because we are in the midst of a great Counter-revolution in which imperialism is on the ideological ascendancy against the colonized masses that a film like Belfast could ever have been made. Today, Belfast may be nominated for an Oscar. But the only award his film deserves is a Thatcher.”

Don't miss this important historical lesson and a critical view of Hollywood's imperialist white washing.

ALSO,

Ernesto Arce on South Central Third World News Santa Monica police use aggressive intimidation tactics against street vendors but the sellers are fighting back. The current capitalist capitulation to private industry has left a crumbling infrastructure as witnessed in this weekend's Pittsburgh bridge collapse. Also, Burkina Faso's coup leader appears to be a thoroughly U.S.-trained Pentagon asset.

Are you listening? Send your comments, questions, and suggestions to eric@voicesfromthefrontlines.com.

Listen to Voices from the Frontlines Today at 3PM PST on KPFK 90.7FM

VOICES: Scathing Review of 'Belfast' plus Third World South Central News

This week we highlight Robin Kelley's keynote talk on movement lessons from Walter Rodney in How Europe Underdeveloped Africa. Walter Rodney's text as the perfect case for reparations for the Black Nation inside and beyond the borders of the U.S.

On Thursday February 17th, 2022 the Strategy Center launched its National Leadership School for Strategic Organizing with a hybrid event featuring the legacy of Walter Rodney. Speakers included Channing Martinez, and Eric Mann. We're proud to have been welcomed by the Walter Rodney Foundation. Robin D.G. Kelley gave a keynote talk along with Panelists: Imani Countess, Jamala Rogers, Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson, and Akunna Uka. 

The event hosted 22 people in person and more than 200 online. 

Join us in re-listening and please send us your reflections, thoughts, and questions to info@thestrategycenter.org. 

For those who did not get to join the event, there will be a video recording posted soon, please make sure to subscribe to our newsletter (www.thestrategycenter.org)for updates

Voices Radio: How Europe Underdeveloped Africa and the Genius of Walter Rodney

Stand up to U.S. and NATO Encirclement of Russia and Provocations in the Ukraine. Highlights from How Europe Underdeveloped Africa and Genius of Walter Rodney. Aired on Tuesday March 1st, 2022 | 3 PM PST

Highlights of the Strategy Center and National Leadership School for Strategic Organizing Webinar
The Genius of Walter Rodney—How Europe Underdeveloped Africa
February 17, 2022
Last week we played the full presentation of Professor Robin D.G. Kelley’s brilliant presentation (please go to our podcast at Voicesfromthefrontlines.com if you missed it.

This Week the Stars Continue
Channing Martinez—director of organizing of LCSC—How Europe Underdeveloped Africa helped me better understand neo-colonialism in Belize and South-Central Los Angeles
Patricia Rodney—Chair of the Walter Rodney Foundation—Personal Insights into Walter the man and the writing of How Europe Underdeveloped Africa
Asha Rodney—Organizer of the Annual Walter Rodney Symposium—March 26, 2022
Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson—co-executive director, the Highlander Research and Education Center—How Europe Underdeveloped Africa and the Black struggle in the South today

Commentary by Eric Mann
Stand up to U.S. and NATO Encirclement of Russia and Provocations in the Ukraine. Eric will read with great appreciation, Chris Hedges’ Chronicle of War Foretold—Counterpunch, February 25, 2022

Voices Radio: Stand up to Nato & Highlights from The Genius of Walter Rodney

Final Segment: How Europe Underdeveloped Africa and the Genius of Walter Rodney. Aired on Tuesday March 8, 2022 | 3 PM PST

This week we'll listen to the last four talks in this series: 
Eric Mann, Co-Host of Voices from the Frontlines, Director of the Strategy Center
The National Leadership School for Strategic Organizing as a center grounded in Pan-Africanism, Black Nationalism, Anti-Imperialism, and pro-Communism. The School as a center for political and ideological dialogue and movement building. 
Imani Countess, Director of the US/Africa Bridge Building Project
The Western theft from African Nations today through the process of illicit financial flows (the movement of money across borders that is illegal in its source), that is illegally mining for resources in Africa and not paying any taxes, or fees to the nations in which the mining has occurred. 
Jamala Rogers, Founding director of the Organization for Black Struggle
Shattering the romanticism of Africa from the rest of the world to see the neo-colonialism playing out today. Neo-Colonialism from Africa to St Luis, and city centers in the U.S., Governance of the Black community and the National School as a pivotal next step for the movement. 
Akunna Uka, Administrator at New Roads School, Leader with the Strategy Center
Summing up the whole event and speaking about her induction into the movement via Channing Martinez' 2020 City Council race. From understanding underdevelopment in higher education as a Nigerian American student to learning about colonialism, underdevelopment, and neo-colonialism at The Strategy Center. 
Voices is an Organizer sponsored show, not listener sponsored. We want to hear from you, please send us your reflections, questions, and comments to eric@voicesfromthefrontlines.com and info@thestrategycenter.org

Voices Radio: Final Part: How Europe Underdeveloped Africa and the Genius of Walter Rodney

On the one year anniversary we rebroadcasted Key Selections from the Cold War Truth Commission. The Commission was a virtual event last year in the middle of COVID hosted by Rachel Bruhnke and Frank Dorrell. 
Now more than ever as the Biden Administration contemplates the expansion of NATO, and the ongoing conflict between Russia, Ukraine, the U.S. and the U.S. and China, these key selections are even more prescient now than ever. 
Selected Clips:
Gail Walker/IFCO Pastors for Peace:The Historic Legacy of My Father: Rev. Lucius Walker
Medea Benjamin/Code Pink: The U.S. Cold War vs. African Liberation Struggles
Jodie Evans/Code Pink: Historical and Current U.S. Cold War Against China
Eric Mann/Labor/Community Strategy Center Fighting Democratic Party Imperialism from Kennedy/Johnson to Clinton/Obama/Biden today: The Challenge to the Movement
We are deeply appreciative of the visionary leadership and generosity of spirit of Frank Dorrell of Addicted to War and Rachel Bruhnke of Witness for Peace for their steadfast hosting of a 9 hour marathon of brilliant and deeply moving testimony of some of the best anti-imperialist fighters challenging the Endless Wars of the U.S. imperialist white settler state. 
Please take time to explore the full Cold War Truth Commission on Code Pink's Website: https://www.codepink.org/coldwartruth


 
Send your comments, questions, and suggestions to eric@voicesfromthefrontlines.com.

Voices Radio: Rebroadcast of the Cold War Truth Commission on the One Year Anniversary

Voices from the Frontlines presents a special broadcast on Instagram Live. KPFK will be covering the senate judiciary hearings until 4pm, pre-empting Voices from the Frontlines. In that the Walter Rodney Symposium is this weekend on March 26th @ 10am EST. It is very important for the show to go on!
Join us today on Instagram for a pre-recorded conversation with Eric Mann, Channing Martinez, and Charisse Burden-Stelly on the upcoming Walter Rodney Symposium and neocolonialism in the heart of South LA. 
Charisse is a critical Black Studies scholar of political theory, political economy, intellectual history, and historical sociology. She is the author of the forthcoming book Black Scare/Red Scare and has co-authored and edited alongside Gerald Horne, Dr. Jodi Dean, and Aaron Kamugisha.
RSVP for the Walter Rodney Symposium on the Walter Rodney Foundation Website.

Voices Radio: promoting The Walter Rodney Symposium March 26th 2022

REBROADCAST OF
Internationalism as Defense against Fascism and Imperialism
A reading from Eric Mann's The Ghosts, Dreams, Bones, and Lives of the Oppressed Peoples must shape the Nightmares and Hopes of The Revolutionaries in the oppressor nations
Tuesday March 29, 2022 | 3 PM PST

This week on Voices we present a rebroadcast of Internationalism as Defense against Fascism and Imperialism. Originally aired January 2021, we think this show is now even more relevant as ever given the US/Nato driven conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Take a moment to read the original text we sent and please send us your comments and reflections to eric@voicesfromthefrontlines.com and channing@voicesfromthefrontlines.com 
Original announcement:
In this episode of Voices from the Frontlines, Eric Mann reads from his  article published as the introduction to the German edition of Playbook for Progressives:
The Ghosts, Dreams, Bones, and Lives of the Oppressed Peoples must shape the Nightmares and Hopes of The Revolutionaries in the oppressor nations
This article is the author’s introduction of Road for Revolutionaries: the 16 Qualities of the Transformative Organizer, the German translation of Playbook for Progressives: 16 Qualities of the Successful Organizer, by Eric Mann.
In this episode, Eric urges for more internationalism, as both perception and praxis, as he grapples with Europe’s, specifically Germany’s, history of fascism, imperialism, colonialism, and racism, and the undeniable parallel within the United States.
“If we’re trying to understand why 74 million people voted for Donald Trump … the roots between the Germans and the United States whites, the so called founding fathers, where they both had a theory of being a master race. As did the Spanish, as did the Portuguese. The role of Christianity, the role of whiteness, the role of perceiving the world as populated by people that were simply pre-German or pre-Portuguese, you know they were just there until the chosen people of their God will annihilate them.”
Eric situates the contemporary revolution of anti-fascists and anti-imperialists within the history of European colonialism, and presents internationalism as a necessary factor for true liberation. We must acknowledge and understand the atrocities committed under the rule of imperialism, the highest form of capitalism, both globally and locally.
“We have the rise of fascism in Germany. We have the rise of fascism in every European country, and God knows we’ve had this close to a fascist seizure of power in the United States. But please don’t read me stories about genocide, I want to have a more pleasant day.”
Eric Mann provides archival and anecdotal evidence, and lays down the framework to enhance one’s capabilities to be a truly transformative organizer.
“It’s the moral responsibility of Germans, and people all over the world to make sure that the German genocide in Africa is not lost in the so-called exalted silence of eternity, and to ensure the ghosts, dreams, bones and lives of the oppressed people must shape the nightmares and hopes of revolutionaries in the oppressor nations.”

REBROADCAST OF Internationalism as Defense against Fascism and Imperialism

Join Kamau Franklin, Channing Martinez, and Eric Mann in a great conversation about Black Liberation, Black Revolutionary Nationalism and Third World anti-imperialist movement strategy. 
JOIN US NOW for a discussion about revolutionary strategy in the age of counter-revolution. 
The conversation goes all over the world back and forth through history. But the unique attraction of this conversation is all three are very successful organizers in the Atlanta and South Central L.A. communities. Kamau Franklin, is an organizer with Community Movement Builders in the Pittsburgh area of Atlanta’s Black community. His work spans Afrocentric political education, alternative institutions construction, and defending the Black community against police and gentrification assaults. Check out their very impressive website, www.communitymovementbuilders.org to learn more about their cutting edge work. Check out Kamau’s important article,  An Ivory Tower Assassination of Malcom X, (Black Agenda Report April 11, 2011).
Channing Martinez speaks about the growing attacks on the social structure of the Black community especially Black bus and train riders suffering 50% of all tickets and arrests, so police occupation and brutality reinforce massive poverty and an epidemic of houselessness.
Eric Mann, a veteran of the Congress of Racial Equality, is the author of Playbook for Progressives: The 16 Qualities of the Successful Organizer. 
All three discuss a common view, building social movements independent and to the left of the Democratic Party—exciting ideas of building real revolutionary movements in the real world. 


Eric Mann’s commentary on The U.S. NATO Russia, and the Ukraine.
The Russian invasion of the Ukraine is an attack on their sovereignty, sadly in the ugly traditions of the Soviet invasions of Hungary and Czechoslovakia. Russia must withdraw  all troops from its invasion of the Ukraine.
NATO should disband—it is a U.S. dominated cabal of colonialists, NATO should cease its encirclement, attacks and provocations against Russia. NATO should pay reparations to the nations of Africa, Asia, and Latin America where they continue to carry out genocide and colonialism.
Joe Biden and the Democrats should be brought up on international human rights charges for demanding the removal of Russian President Vladimir  Putin, hysterical escalation of war rhetoric, providing weapons to the Ukraine,  the mass imprisonment of Black people, and the forced starvation of the people of Afghanistan.  It is not just pathetic president Biden who is determined to destroy Russia and China. The U.S. people better look into the mirror to see how they are becoming fascists and warmongers. The majority are willing to risk nuclear war over a conflict that is being escalated rather than negotiated by the U.S. government with their active support and participation.
For peace activists, Black Liberationists, and anti-imperialists, the central contradiction is always the crimes of our own government and the mass complicity in the systematic genocide against the Third World. The call for Russian withdrawal from the Ukraine is imperative, The primary focus must be to oppose the war mongering of the U.S. white settler, one party state. Stand up to state run mass media and demand that CNN and CNBC register as official spokespeople for the U.S. CIA, Department of War, and State Department. Declining U.S. imperialism demands a Unipolar World because it can’t live in peace or effectively compete economically with Russia and China.  No matter how small the voice, we need to put the primary focus on the crimes of the U.S.

In convo with Kamau Franklin, Channing Martinez, and Eric Mann on Black Liberation and More

Join Ayuko Babu, director of the Pan African Film Festival, Eric Mann, and Channing Martinez in conversation on the 30th Annual Pan African Film Festival.  

The Pan African Film Festival will host a hybrid festival this year from April 19th to May 1st 2022. 

Film Screenings will take place at the Cinemark Baldwin Hills
4020 Marlton Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90008

There will be a an accompanying Artfest in the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza
3650 MLK Jr. Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90008

Tickets for films can be purchased online at paff.org

Voices from the Frontlines strongly encourages you to attend in person as much as you can. 

Babu, Eric and Channing speak about what it means to host a Black film festival in 2022 in the mists of COVID 19, and during a international conflict between the U.S., Nato, Ukraine, and Russia. 
Babu tells us of the history behind this conflict and speaks about how film is one of the most important mediums to speak about and learn about international struggles and national liberation movements across the African diaspora and beyond.
 
Films we speak about: 
Cuba in Africa: The dramatic untold story of 420,000 Cubans– soldiers and teachers, doctors and nurses– who gave everything to end colonial rule and apartheid in Southern Africa.

Famadihana (Lève tes morts): In 1752 in La Reunion, Soa, a formerly enslaved Malagasy woman, thinks she has found a tunnel that would take her back to Madagascar. When her maroon village falls under the threat of slave hunters, Soa has to face an inevitable choice, abandon her family or flee to finally return home.

Fanon Yesterday, Today: Legendary Martiniquan intellectual Franz Fanon died in December 1961, but his thoughts and writings still reverberate throughout many social movements and struggles across today’s world. Through the testimonies of Fanon’s comrades and the people who knew him, Hassane Mezine explores Fanon’s eventful life, providing new insight into Fanon - the freedom fighter, the intellectual and the man.

Ferguson Rises: Before an explosive global uprising condemned the murder of George Floyd, there was a small town in Missouri that erupted in protest after the murder of Mike Brown Jr. It was this small town and its people that propelled Black Lives Matter to international prominence and inspired a new global civil rights movement....

Grandpa Was An Emperor: Follow Yeshi Kassa, great-granddaughter of Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, as she embarks on a personal quest to discover what happened to her closest relatives during the coup of 1974....

Doctor Gama (Doutor Gama): Based on the biography of Luiz Gama, one of the most important characters in Brazilian history, a Black man who used laws and courts to free more than five hundred enslaved people....

Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story: (OPENING NIGHT FILM) An insightful look into the life and ascent of legendary, iconic, and mystic Gospel Singer Mahalia Jackson. This film focuses on her search to balance her gift, love, and her activism during the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s. 

Listen in on a deep conversation and introspection on Black film and revolutionary organizing using your favorite podcasting app. Then send your comments and reflections to eric@voicesfromthefrontlines.com and channing@voicesfromthefrontlines.com

2022 - 04 - 11 Babu And Pan African Film Festival Mixdown

Join us for a dynamic conversation with Eric Mann, Channing Martinez, and Ayana Morris on the film Why is We Americans? 
Ayana Morris is the Co-Director of Why is We Americans? along with Udi Aloni. The film is an exploration of the history of Newark through the eyes of the Baraka Family. From the 1967 Newark rebellion in which Black people were placed under martial law and lived under beyond oppressive conditions to the Black Radical Organizing Tradition of Amiri and Amina Baraka to the election of Ras Baraka as the current Mayor of Newark. Why is We Americans? explores various Black movement traditions from Black nationalism, Black communism, the Black power Movement all through Organizing, activism, art, spoken word and electoral politics. 
Eric, Channing, and Ayana speak about all of the aforementioned themes as well as the production and editing of the film, great stories on the cutting room floor, and the beautiful process of working with the Baraka family to create a masterpiece. 
On April 22nd the Strategy Center sponsored the showing of Why is We Americans at the 30th Annual Pan African Film and Art Festival. The Strategy Center is looking forward to working closely with Ayana to host a screening of Why is We Americans at the Strategy & Soul Film Theater. Stay tuned for an invite, but today, tune into a great exchange intellectual, cultural, and emotional chemistry.

VFTFL 2022 - 05 - 02 Why Is We Americans Mixdown

Channing Martinez in Conversation with Amber-Rose Howard on Closing 10 prisons

Eric Mann on Defending Women's Right to Live; the conversation on Abortion Rights
Aired Tuesday May 10th @3pm pst. on KPFK Pacifica 90.7fm

Today on Voices Radio Channing is in conversation with Amber-Rose, Executive Director of CURB CA (Californians United for a Responsible Budget. Amber-Rose speaks about her own history with the carceral state and how that helped to lead her to the work she’s leading now. CURB has spent years stopping the increase in funding toward prisons and in 2021 launched a campaign to close 10 CA prisons by 2025. More details on this campaign can be found in the People’s Plan for Prison Closure. Governor Gavin Newson has moved to close on institution in 2021; Deuel Vocational Institution.

In the second half of the show Eric begins the conversation on Voices around Women’s Rights. Given the Supreme Court’s “leak” of an upcoming initiative to strike down Roe V Wade there has been an up surge of attention to what’s next for abortions rights. Eric and Channing speak about the Democratic Parties weak organizing around the right for Women to live and control their own bodies. Eric reads from an article detailing updates around this leak. We plan to invite a guest from the frontlines next week to the show to speak about their work on abortion rights for women. Please feel free to reach out with any leads. Email eric@voicesfromthefrontlines.com or channing@voicesfromthefrontlines.com

Voices Radio:  Amber-Rose from CURB  & Eric Mann on Abortion Rights

Eric Mann is an environmental, civil rights, anti-war, labor-union activist and organizer. He is the host of www.voicesfromthefrontlines.com on Pacifica Radio's 90.7 FM KPFK, in Los Angeles. Eric is also the director of the Labor/Community Strategy Center in Los Angeles and a co-founder of the Bus Riders Union.

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