The Grio Daily with Michael Harriot

"A lot of the things we think of as conservative aren't really conservative; they're just white." The term conservative has come to mean certain things, yet the policies they support don't often back their ideologies. For instance, it makes no sense to say you support small government but then back pro-life policies that are ultimately the federal government telling a woman what to do. Michael Harriot shares several examples of hypocritical thinking and explains that conservative really means "pro white."

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"White Jesus can't walk on water, but he can build the hell out a slave ship." Michael Harriot explains why using religion and faith as a way to govern can be problematic. He discusses the many hypocrisies that are inflicted on the American people daily, including discriminating against the LGBTQ+ community but allowing divorce or racial segregation when the Bible states, "love thy neighbor." 

"Every white person in America benefited from slavery." White Americans pedal several narratives about slavery that are historically inaccurate. Wypipologist Michael Harriot lists off some of the falsehoods and reveals the truth behind the most wild claims.

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"Never in the history of America have white people actually participated in a free market." Michael Harriot refutes the theory that slavery was rooted in capitalism. He analyzes real estate, education, and entertainment to explain why white people have never been a part of free-market capitalism.

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"You can't keep a Black person out of any place." Michael Harriot brings the laughs with his list of people you're bound to run into at every Black gathering. Which one are you? 

Drumroll sound effect from Pixabay

"What they're worrying about is your kids learning about what white people did." Michael Harriot looks at the changes to school curriculums in places like Florida and Tennessee and finds that states aren't erasing Black history; instead, schools are leaving out white people's role in Black history.

"Black people see America in a different way." Michael Harriot wrote a book, y'all! Black AF History is the story of America through the lens of Black people. When it comes to history, we rely on historians to give us the facts, but because most of them are white, a lot has been left out. Slave revolts, the American Revolution, and the Obama presidency are just some of the historical events reexamined with a focus on life in the South.

"HBCUs do more with less." All month long theGrio is highlighting HBCU life, and Michael Harriot welcomes Ed Smith-Lewis from United Negro College Fund to discuss an exciting new investment that will enrich the college experience for students nationwide. The HBCU Transformation Project has received a $124M investment from Blue Meridian Partners to increase enrollment, improve efficiency, and restore struggling infrastructure. The pair discuss the value of focusing on HBCU campus needs just as much as student scholarships.

"We were incorporated into a white-controlled society." The legal case Brown v. Board of Education is considered a pivotal moment in integrating white and Black America. Michael Harriot is here to tell you we're still not integrated. 

"We gotta go take back stuff that white people have taken from us because that's what they do." Michael Harriot looks at the hypocrisy surrounding the Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action that claims to rid race-based admissions policies but keeps legacy and athletic favoritism that benefit white students. Anytime Black people advanced in America, it's because they demanded it; maybe that time is here yet again.

"If most of America were against slavery, then we would have ended the practice without a war." Every civilized society has had some form of slavery, but America is the only nation in modern history that constitutionally approved reducing people to chattel through an international human trafficking system. As Michael Harriot breaks down the history of America's race-based slavery system, he analyzes Africans' role in the process. 

"We can't be surprised when a racist does something racist in a racist country." Michael Harriot and fellow podcast host Dr. Christina Greer discuss the deadly shooting in Jacksonville, Florida that killed three Black people. Dr. Greer has strong ties to the area and describes the racist history that her family experienced firsthand. The pair also analyze Florida's recent anti-Black policies that fuel hate and miseducation and call out the politicians who refuse to acknowledge that America has a race problem. 

Credit: 
CNN
Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.

"The N-word is a specific choice that is used to hurt somebody; it is the knife." Michael Harriot explains why there is no version of the "N-word" for white people. Despite some arguing that "Karen" or "cracker" is equally insulting, the words can't compare because white people have not been subject to the same disenfranchisement and inhumanity that Black Americans have.

"There is no form of American music that Black people didn't create." This episode is going to make you laugh and dance all at the same time. Michael Harriot breaks down the top ten Black people music categories, including "old people music," "fight song music," and more. 

Credits: 

“Turn It Up”
Rare Essence and Dj Kool 
INgrooves, Rare One Records
Rob “R.J.” Folson and Rare Essence

“Congo Drum” 
The Huck a Bucks
INgrooves, Sound By Charlie
Roy Battle, Joseph Timms, Ricky Yancy

“Burgers and Fries”
Charley Pride
RCA Records, Sony Music Entertainment 
Ben Peters, Jerry Bradley, Charley Pride

“Sweet Hour of Prayer”
Mahalia Jackson 
Sony Music Entertainment, Columbia Records 
Irving Townsend, William Bradbury, W. W. Walford

“The Entertainer”
Scott Joplin
John Stark & Son 

“Knuck If You Buck”
Crime Mob
Crunk Incorporated, Reprise, Warner Records
Lil jay 

“Stagger Lee”
Lloyd Price
Victor, RCA Records 
Ray Lopez, Don Costa

“Meeting In my Bedroom”
Silk
Elektra Records 
Darrell Allamby

"I Wanna Rock"
Uncle Luke
Luke Records, Atlantic Records, Lil Joe Records 
Mike “Fresh” McCray

“Freak It”
Lathum
So So Def Recordings, Columbia Records, Sony Music Entertainment  
Lil Jon, Paul Lewis

“Good Riddance” 
Green Day 
Warner Music Group, Reprise Records
Rob Cavallo, Green Day

“Cult of Personality”
Living Colour
Cleopatra Records, Epic Records, CBS Records, Sony Music Entertainment 
Ed Stasium

“Strokin”
Clarence Carter
Colossal Records, The Orchard Music
Clarence Carter

"I Need To Know"
Youngboy Never Broke Again
Never Broke Again, Motown Records, Universal Music Group
BJondatrakk, We Love Heavy & D-Roc

"Before I Let Go"
Frankie Beverly And Maze
Capitol Records
Frankie Beverly

"Back That Thang Up"
Juvenile, Lil Wayne, Mannie Fresh 
Cash Money Records, Universal Records
Mannie Fresh

“We Fall Down” 
Donnie McClurkin
Verity Records
Donnie McClurkin

Drumroll sound effect from Pixabay

Additional music and sound effects by Transition Music 

"We didn't invent race, so I don't know where we got the card from." Michael Harriot dives deep into some widely-held beliefs that white people have about race and identity. Michael Harriot addresses white concepts like race-baiting, playing the "race card," Black people playing the "victim," and more. 

"The party makeup in America has always been about race." Michael Harriot explores the demographic makeup of America's most prominent political parties and explains what would have to happen for there to be a political party that fights for all the things Black people want.

"Most of the violence that has been committed on this continent has been committed by white people." We've all seen the Montgomery Melee, the Alabama Beatdown, or the Bama Brawl at that riverfront in Montgomery, Alabama. It was a sight to see, but there is more to it than you think. Michael Harriot is here to tell you the historical significance of that beatdown. 

"Why doesn't Trump just go back to Africa if he doesn't like this country so much? It's obvious he hates America." Since the indictment of former president Donald Trump, his supporters suddenly no longer have faith in the country's criminal justice system. The same system they continuously tell Black people to respect and obey. To help ease this newfound hatred, Michael Harriot has some tips for MAGA nation on how to deal with the law. 

"White people have made great strides in being racist." The attack on CRT and the word "woke" came out of nowhere, so Michael Harriot wants you to be more prepared for the next wave of backlash that is brewing. Michael predicts the educational practices that he believes will soon be under a microscope by conservatives.