Redefining Black Power Reflections on the State of Black America

The Obama presidency represents a major milestone in black history and the struggle for political, economic and cultural equality in the United States. But how--if at all--has the first black presidency helped move things forward for people of color? Has it delivered the "change we can believe in" and "deepening of democracy" that communities of color organized around? How has the reality and image of a black First Family impacted American culture? What lessons from past struggles can be applied to this unique historical moment to advance multicultural democracy in the U.S.?

Starting the exploration of these questions with the voices of past civil rights and black power activists held in the historic Pacifica Radio Archives, BBC journalist Joanne Griffith traveled the country to interview black intellectuals, leaders and activists.

The result is a rich and wide-ranging exploration of the hot-button issues facing African Americans today, from religion, law amd media to education and the economy, to the ever-shifting meaning of Obama's contribution and impact. Both timely and rich in personal wisdom, Redefining Black Power connects the dots between past civil rights struggles and the future of black civic and cultural life in the United States.

Featuring Van Jones, Michelle Alexander, Julianne Malveaux, Vincent Harding, Ramona Africa, Esther Armah and Linn Washington Jr.

Foreword by Pacifica Radio Archives director Brian DeShazor.

Praise for Joanne Griffith:

"Joanne Griffith is a superb journalist! She writes, speaks, and interviews with great skill, sincerity, and sensitivity to those she covers. Joanne has made it in a tough journalism world -- one where the white males, working for wealthy news organizations, have the advantages. Her writings and insights are a lesson to all. She reflects President Obama's spirited call of 'fired up, ready to go!'"--Connie Lawn, Senior White House Correspondent (since 1968)

--Shelf Awareness

"Redefining Black Power is an important, historical rumination on race, class, power and politics in the Age of Obama. The conversations with such figures as Van Jones, Michelle Alexander and civil rights icon Dr. Vincent Harding are thoughtful, probing, nuanced insights into the state of African-American political power at this historic moment. The book raises challenging questions, but rather than offer definitive answers, it provokes the reader to personally define 'Black power' and inspires all of us to continue the work of 'deepening the meaning of democracy.'"

--Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

"I agree with economist Julianne Malveaux, who says the notion that Obama's election made America 'post racial' is utter nonsense, when you look at current rates of poverty, income and unemployment among black people. Van Jones, former Green Jobs Czar at the White House, intrigued me when he claims that the youth who believe that electing a black president changes nothing were right. Joanne Griffith, of the Pacifica Radio Archives, interviews these and other long distance runners for justice to provide a lively array of conflicting, complex and critical attitudes the first black U.S. president has evoked, to answer the question of whether its time to redefine Black Power."

--Kathleen Cleaver

"Griffith concludes by wondering if progressives have been 'lulled into a satisfied slumber' by Obamas election, and whether Dr. Kings ambitions have been betrayed by this complacency. Multifaceted discussions regarding the challenges faced by African-Americans during the Obama presidency."

--Kirkus Reviews

"International broadcast journalist Griffith draws on the archives of radio interviews with black intellectuals to offer a perspective on how the election of the nation's first black president has changed notions of black power and ideas of a multicultural democracy. . . . Griffith provides context for each excerpted interview, adding to the texture of the analysis of changing perspectives on contemporary black power."

--Booklist

"Joanne Griffith's journalism gets to the story behind the story. President Obama, are you hearing me?"

--Dotun Adebayo; Broadcaster and Columnist with the Voice Newspaper(UK)

"Joanne is the consummate professional, who, when she researches something, leaves nothing left to the imagination, no stone unturned."

--Tony Cox, public radio talk show host

"Joanne Griffith is a journalist who brings a wealth of vision, a global world view, a traveller's spirit for curiosity, meticulous detail and a talent for excellence to her work. Through her powerful and informative projects, Joanne maintains persistently high standards and reminds us of the power of great journalism to offer fresh insight, wrap language in a unique world view and open our eyes to fresh possibility."

--Esther Armah, host 'Wake Up Call', WBAI, New York

"In this book, radio-journalist Joanne Griffith travels the country to interview leading black intellectuals, educators, authors and organizers about the state of Black America . . . She talks with Vincent Harding about the deepening of democracy in America, with Julianne Malveaux about race and economic inequality, with Michelle Alexander about law in the age of Obama, with Ramona Africa about revolutionary struggle, with Linn Washington Jr. about the media's inability to earnestly analyze government, with Van Jones about green activism; and with Esther Armah about the emotional impact of the first Black First Family."—Eithne O'Leyne, Book News Inc.

The Obama presidency represents a major milestone in African American history. The very presence of a black First Family has had a profound cultural impact, but has the Obama White House actually addressed any of the ongoing issues faced by Black America? Have communities of color organized sufficiently to voice their concerns? How can lessons learned from past freedom struggles guide the organizing that's needed to meet today's opportunities and challenges?

To explore these questions in depth, international journalist Joanne Griffith travels the country to interview black intellectuals, activists, authors, and educators, including former advisor to President Obama, Van Jones; civil rights advocate and litigator, Michelle Alexander; economist, Julianne Malveaux; and friend and speech writer for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Dr. Vincent Harding.

The result is a wide-ranging exploration of the hot-button issues facing America today, from economics, education and the law, to the cultural impact of mass media. Timely and rich in personal wisdom, Redefining Black Power connects the dots between past freedom struggles and the future of black civic and cultural life in the United States.

"Redefining Black Power is an important, historical rumination on race, class, power and politics in the Age of Obama. The conversations . . . are thoughtful, probing, nuanced insights into the state of African American political power at this historic moment. The book raises challenging questions, but rather than offer definitive answers, it provokes the reader to personally define 'Black power' and inspires all of us to continue the work of 'deepening the meaning of democracy.'" --Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

"Joanne Griffith is a superb journalist She writes, speaks, and interviews with great skill, sincerity, and sensitivity to those she covers. Joanne has made it in a tough journalism world -- one where the white males, working for wealthy news organizations, have the advantages. Her writings and insights are a lesson to all. She reflects President Obama's spirited call of 'fired up, ready to go '" --Connie Lawn, Senior White House Correspondent (since 1968)

"International broadcast journalist Griffith draws on the archives of radio interviews with black intellectuals to offer a perspective on how the election of the nation's first black president has changed notions of black power and ideas of a multicultural democracy. . . . Griffith provides context for each excerpted interview, adding to the texture of the analysis of changing perspectives on contemporary black power." --Booklist

"Griffith concludes by wondering if progressives have been 'lulled into a satisfied slumber' by Obama's election, and whether Dr. King's ambitions have been betrayed by this complacency. Multifaceted discussions regarding the challenges faced by African-Americans during the Obama presidency."
--Kirkus Review

Joanne Griffith is an award winning international broadcast journalist who has reported, produced and hosted programs for the British Broadcasting Corporation, National Public Radio and the Pacifica Radio Network. Joanne has spent her career telling the stories of tragedy and triumph throughout the African Diaspora; from voting rights in the United States, the legacy of slavery in the Caribbean, the contribution of immigrants to the United Kingdom and the politics of food and power in southern Africa.

Starting the exploration of these questions with the voices of past civil rights and black power activists held in the historic Pacifica Radio Archives, BBC journalist Joanne Griffith traveled the country to interview black intellectuals, leaders and activists. Added to the conversations are the opinions of numerous communities nationwide gathered via a series of roundtable discussions at stations across the Pacifica Radio Network.

The result is a rich and wide-ranging exploration of the hot-button issues facing African Americans today, from religion and law to education and the economy, to the ever-shifting meaning of Obama's contribution and impact. Both timely and rich in personal wisdom, "Redefining Black Power" connects the dots between past civil rights struggles and the future of black civic and cultural life in the United States.

Featuring Van Jones, Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr., Michelle Alexander, Julianne Malveaux, Vincent Harding, Ramona Africa and others.

Foreword by Pacifica Radio Archives director Brian DeShazor.

Joanne Griffith is an award-winning broadcast journalist who has reported, produced, and hosted programs for the British Broadcasting Corporation, National Public Radio, and Pacifica Radio. Joanne has spent her fifteen-year career telling the stories of tragedy and triumph throughout the African Diaspora, covering voting rights in the United States, the legacy of slavery in the Caribbean, and the politics of food and power in southern Africa.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Foreword – Brian DeShazor, Director of the Pacifica Radio Archives

Introduction – Joanne Griffith