The Palenque Podcast

Episode 35: Tulsa Race Massacre - 100 Years Later

In this episode we tell the story of the Tulsa Race Massacre. One of the least known and most violent racial incidents in American history occurred in 1921, over 18 hours on May 31 through June 1st, when a White mob obliterated the Black Greenwood Community in Tulsa, Oklahoma. At the time, Tulsa was fast becoming prosperous due to the abundance of oil. Whites and Blacks flocked to the area for a fresh start. The city remained segregated but Blacks established a community, Greenwood, and flourished due to their skills in specific trades. The community grew as more Blacks arrived and entrepreneurial opportunities grew. Before long the community had its own bank, hotel, hospital, school, stores, movie theatre, etc. Doctors, lawyers, teachers and other professionals also lived in Greenwood and the community was self-sufficient. It was referred to as Black Wall Street and a mecca for African Americans. The unrest began when an interaction between a Black young man and a White young woman was misreported by a local newspaper as a sexual assault. An angry armed White mob showed up at the jail demanding that the Black young man be lynched. Word reached the Black community and armed Black men from Greenwood came down to protect the young man. An altercation in the crowd between a Black and White man ensued and a gun was discharged. Chaos ensued and the Black man retreated to Greenwood outnumbered. The angry White crowd assembled more members, along with the sheriff that deputized hundreds, and proceeded to Greenwood. The mob looted, burned, and bombed over 30 blocks of homes and businesses and murdered hundreds of Black Greenwood citizens. Once the National Guard arrived to stop the chaos, the remaining 6,000 Greenwood citizens that had not been murdered or ran out of town were imprisoned in an internment camp at the fairgrounds. Only those that a White citizen vouched for them were allowed out to work and had to wear a ribbon signifying such. No one was ever prosecuted, charged, or brought to justice for the death of hundreds, destruction of property, the thousands left homeless, and the loss of generational wealth. No insurance claims or reparations were ever paid to those that lost everything. Questions to Consider: Why has this violent incident been left out of American history books? What type of wealth could have been acquired if Greenwood remained a flourishing community? Who now occupies the stolen land where Greenwood once stood? Should reparations be paid to the Greenwood families? What resonates most with you? Who else will you share this with?` Resources from this Episode Tulsa History: https://www.tulsahistory.org/exhibit/1921-tulsa-race-massacre/ The Massacre of Black Wall Street: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-ItsPBTFO0 You can connect with Queen LaLa and The Palenque Podcast through multiple social media outlets. Website: www.ThePalenque.com Twitter: @The_Palenque Facebook: @ThePalenque Instagram: @ThePalenquePodcast Apple Podcasts: The Palenque Podcast Soundcloud: The Palenque Spotify: The Palenque Podcast Stitcher: The Palenque Podcast Email: ThePalenqueInfo@gmail.com We’d love to connect with you Palenqueros. Share this podcast with your followers. The Palenque: Where Voices For Change Gather!

Episode 34: Educated & Empowered

In this episode we discuss the backlash across the country tied to Critical Race Theory and the 1619 Project, as well as, changes in laws to disenfranchise voters of color. Many are going to great links to make sure Black voices of truth are silenced and certain citizens are not protected. Why doesn’t this country want people of color to be educated? Critical Race Theory has been the buzz word from conservatives. The former president and Florida’s Governor have enacted policy banning Critical Race Theory from schools and staff training, citing it is anti-American and makes white people “feel bad”. Critical Race Theory is simply an academic movement that examines social, cultural and legal issues as they relate to race and racism. It is analysis of systems, policies, laws, etc. and not a thing you can teach per se. It requires text, like in law, education, policing, etc. Many things have now been lumped into the Critical Race Theory bucket in order to maintain institutional racism within the educational system and facts such as those identified in the 1619 Project are being labeled as revisionist history and theoretical. The 1619 Project is a Pulitzer Prize winning piece by Nikole Hannah-Jones which reframes the countries history by centers the contributions of Blacks and the consequences of slavery into the narrative of the United Staes of America. It gives voice to those that have been voiceless for 400 years who watched America call itself a nation of free people while enslaving human beings. This project, which is a collection of essays and resources, has also been banned from schools across the county, attempting to silence Black voices, the Black experience, and Black History. Across the county Equity & Diversity, Culturally Responsive Instruction, Anti-Bias Training, etc. are also being challenged as being Critical Race Theory in disguise. States and school boards are passing laws and policies banning the teaching or training of Critical Race Theory. Why doesn’t this country want people of color to be empowered? Race based laws existed and still exist in this country. Overtly racist which used race in their descriptions (eg. Jim Crow) to covertly racist (eg. Jim Crow 2.0) that targets minorities in their description (Georgia & Florida Voting Laws). Questions to Consider: Why doesn’t this country want people of color educated and empowered? Why is the history of Black people in America threatening? What would knowing Black history do for people of color? What would acknowledging the contributions of Black people do and to the country? How did record voting by people of color impact the country? How does the empowerment of people of color impact or threaten America? What resonates most with you? Who else will you share this with?` Resources from this Episode The 1619 Project: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/08/14/magazine/1619-america-slavery.html 1619 Project Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1619/id1476928106 Nikole Hannah-Jones Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xzNyrFhzew Critical Race Theory: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_race_theory What Is Critical Race Theory and Why Do Some People Want to Ban It?: https://www.newsweek.com/what-critical-race-theory-why-do-some-want-ban-1587389 The States Following Georgia’s Lead on Voter Suppression: https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/states-following-georgia-voter-suppression.html You can connect with Queen LaLa and The Palenque Podcast through multiple social media outlets. Website: ThePalenque.com Twitter: @The_Palenque Facebook: @ThePalenque Instagram: @ThePalenquePodcast Apple Podcasts: The Palenque Podcast Soundcloud: The Palenque Spotify: The Palenque Podcast Stitcher: The Palenque Podcast Email: ThePalenqueInfo@gmail.com We’d love to connect with you Palenqueros. Share this podcast with your followers. The Palenque: Where Voices For Change Gather!

Episode 33: Good Christian Slaveholders-The Religion of the Oppressed

In this episode we discuss holidays in the lives of those enslaved. Because slaveholders wanted to be thought of as “Good Christians” even though the two titles cannot exist together, they allowed certain holidays to be celebrated throughout the year, namly Easter, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Frederick Douglas wrote, "I believe these holidays to be among the most effective means, in the hands of slaveholders, of keeping down the spirit of insurrection among the slaves….” identifying that holiday respites were permitted to control the enslaved and avoid uprisings rather than being genuine gestures. Also, celebration and time off were not guaranteed. If the crop was behind schedule, no time or only a few hours may be granted to those enslaved. Slaveholders often used Christmas and Easter as a day to “gift” the enslaved with their yearly allotment of clothing, special food items, household items, or cash. More lenient slaveholders may provide up to a week off to the enslaved. This time allowed them to visit relatives who had been sold, marry, make repairs to their accommodations, give gifts to each other, and fellowship together. These holidays were also opportunities for the enslaved. Escape plans were often planned during holidays when slaveholders may be away for holiday travels which allowed for a healthy head start. Harriett Tuban even carried out her brother's escape at Christmas. Easter was a day when the enslaved could dress in their finest clothes to attend religious services which fulfilled slaveholders' demands that the enslaved practice Christianity. To this day African Americans donning their finest clothes for Easter Sunday church service was born from this tradition. Questions to Consider: 1. How could slaveholders consider themselves christians yet enslave human beings? 2. What religion, or religions, would exist within the African American community if the enslaved were not forced to practice Christianity? 3. How must it have felt to practice the same religion as your oppressor? 4. What resonates most with you? 5. Who else will you share this with?` Resources from this Episode Christmas at Redcliffe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAzxL11X2k0 Readings From Slave Narratives: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2oqbab4VzQ You can connect with Queen LaLa and The Palenque Podcast through multiple social media outlets. Website: ThePalenque.com Twitter: @The_Palenque Facebook: @ThePalenque Instagram: @ThePalenquePodcast Apple Podcasts: The Palenque Podcast Soundcloud: The Palenque Spotify: The Palenque Podcast Stitcher: The Palenque Podcast Email: ThePalenqueInfo@gmail.com We’d love to connect with you Palenqueros. Share this podcast with your followers. The Palenque: Where Voices For Change Gather!

Episode 32: Selfies & Souvenirs

In this episode we discuss the January 6, 2021 insurrection on the Capitol. We also once again bring to light the Modern Day Jim Crow dual systems present in the country. Privilege: a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group. Synonyms: advantage, benefit, entitlement, liberty Trump’s words to the supporters he incited, “Love you, You're very special, I know how you feel, Go home.” A nod of approval and a final act to hold on to power. Singular to the call to action during the debate to Proud Boys to “Stand back and stand by”. Questions to Consider: How could terrorists invade a federal building and live to take selfies and souvenirs? Why did the police presence and show of force look different than what was applied during BLM protests? How can taking a knee as a silent and peaceful protest enrage the same White Americans that engaged in insurrection? What does the Confederate Flag and the Trump flag mean for White Supremacy? Has America become great again? What resonates most with you? Who else will you share this with?` Resources from this Episode Trump’s message during inserection: https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/06/politics/donald-trump-capitol-mob/index.html You can connect with Queen LaLa and The Palenque Podcast through multiple social media outlets. Website: ThePalenque.com Twitter: @The_Palenque https://twitter.com/the_palenque Facebook: @ThePalenque https://www.facebook.com/ThePalenque Instagram: @ThePalenquePodcast https://www.instagram.com/thepalenquepodcast Apple Podcasts: The Palenque Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-palenque-podcast/id1490366323 Soundcloud: The Palenque https://soundcloud.com/ThePalenque Spotify: The Palenque Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/7aTpRUhH3FqdLFZldMipZ8 Stitcher: The Palenque Podcast https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-palenque-podcast Google Podcasts: The Palenque Podcast https://podcasts.google.com/search/the%20palenque%20podcast Email: ThePalenqueInfo@gmail.com We’d love to connect with you Palenqueros. Share this podcast with your followers. The Palenque: Where Voices For Change Gather!

Episode 31: Happy New Year & Haitian Independence Day

In this episode we kick off Season 2 of the Palenque Podcast and highlight Black history associated with New Year’s Day. Heartbreak Day: During slavery, New Year’s Day meant the posobility of being sold or leased to pay debts incurred by the slave owner dirng the year. All debts had to be paid by the start of the year so enslaved Africans held Nightwatch services praying to remain with their families on New Year’s Eve. Food: The tradition of eating black eyed peas, cabbage, cornbread, and “Hopping John” which is a combination of these ingredients and includes rice and pork, are all done to bring about good luck for the new year. Enslaved Africans were given “time off” on Christmas and New Year’s and these dishes were shared. Also, Eating soup joumou or "freedom soup" is a Haitian tradition that is said to have started in 1804 after Haiti gained its freedom. Haiti’s Revolution: Haiti gained its independence from France in 1804. The revolution represented the largest slave uprising and Haiti became a free nation ruled by non-whites and former enslaved. On Jan. 1, they proclaimed the independence of a new country, which they called Haiti—the name they believed the original Taino inhabitants had used before the Spaniards killed them all. Questions to Consider: Haiti remained a “poor” country due to a lack of resources and trade options with other countries in the Western Hemisphere. Who benefits from that? What resonates most with you? Who else will you share this with?` Resources from this Episode The Haitian Revolution: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sn32cWUT83E You can connect with Queen LaLa and The Palenque Podcast through multiple social media outlets. Website: ThePalenque.com Twitter: @The_Palenque https://twitter.com/the_palenque Facebook: @ThePalenque https://www.facebook.com/ThePalenque Instagram: @ThePalenquePodcast https://www.instagram.com/thepalenquepodcast Apple Podcasts: The Palenque Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-palenque-podcast/id1490366323 Soundcloud: The Palenque https://soundcloud.com/ThePalenque Spotify: The Palenque Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/7aTpRUhH3FqdLFZldMipZ8 Stitcher: The Palenque Podcast https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-palenque-podcast Google Podcasts: The Palenque Podcast https://podcasts.google.com/search/the%20palenque%20podcast Email: ThePalenqueInfo@gmail.com We’d love to connect with you Palenqueros. Share this podcast with your followers. The Palenque: Where Voices For Change Gather!