Melina Abdullah Talks Black Lives Matter, Defunding Police, And Voting

In this episode of ‘People’s Party,’ Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with co-founder of the Los Angeles chapter of Black Lives Matter and professor of Pan-African Studies at California State University, Los Angeles — Melina Abdullah

The deeply insightful conversation begins with Melina, Jasmin, and Talib discussing her Ted Talk ‘Resistance as the New Normal’ speech. They also reflect on the story of MarShawn McCarrel, expand on the racial wealth gap in America and how to correct it, as well as the stock market and how it perpetuates systematic racism. They explore Melina’s upbringing in East Oakland and that community’s rich legacy of protesting, as well as discuss the meaning of ‘Pan-Africanism’. Melina responds to those accusing her of being a Marxist, they talk about the liberal debate of class vs. race discrimination, and Melina illustrates how shows like ‘Good Trouble’ that she has appeared in have been so important to the cause, picking up where mainstream media has failed.