Reparations: The Big Payback – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Erika and Whitney return! In this special bonus episode, the co-directors discuss their latest adventures, including the PBS premiere of their reparations documentary, The Big Payback. And, with a little help from NAACP President Derrick Johnson, they dissect the shaky state of reparations. Can a flood of burgeoning local reparations movements supercharge the perpetually landlocked HR40 initiative in congress? Or will a new strategy, and an executive order from The White House, finally right the rocky ship of reparations? 

Make sure to check out The Big Payback film on the PBS Video app. Streaming free until April 15th.

Film: pbs.org/bigpaybackfilm

#BigPaybackFilmPBS

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, how many miles will it take for reparations for America's enslaved descendants to find a home? Backed by Analog Players Society and Masta Ace's debut hit, Home In America, Erika and Whitney do a deep dive into their first season's journey and uncover shades of gray and pain in their unusual black and white partnership. But first, a Lord Of The Rings, epic-remix, monologue tells the story of the long, harrowing journey begun by reparations pioneers long ago. Then a new playlist is created to entice their favorite reparations warriors, and opponents, to reappear and bear witness to their reparations journey today. While the pair revisit their best hits, the duo is encouraged to make an all-out sprint toward their season's final destination, slavery's home, The Whitney Plantation in southern Louisiana. And, like the haunted place inspired by Toni Morrison's mythological "Sweet Home," this plantation tells the story from the slave's point of view. Finally, the pair retrace their steps, only to find themselves at the beginning of the end, in the mother of all lands, the great continent of Africa. Now in the belly of the beast, at the Cape Coast slave dungeons, they ask the ultimate question, can America go through the door of no return and come out the other side, whole? Or will America's impractical arrangement and immoral history destroy its own home from the inside out? 

“Home in America” is by Analog Players Society and Masta Ace, produced by Ben Rubin. The single will be released on all platforms on June 18 by Ropeadope Records." "'Home in America" features NYC jazz greats: tenor saxophonist Donny McCaslin (David Bowie/Blackstar), pianist Orrin Evans (the Bad Plus), bassist Dezron Douglas (Ravi Coltrane), and drummer Eric McPherson (Fred Hersch Trio).

https://www.analogplayerssociety.com/ 

https://benrubin.com/

https://www.mastaace.com/

https://ropeadope.lnk.to/HomeinAmerica

For more info about this episode, please visit https://reparationsbigpayback.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Erika and Whitney use their Hollywood skills to explore the history of reparations through the lens of three Black women trailblazers in the reparations movement. Whitney channels his best Richard Attenborough, in a Jurassic Park-MrDNA mashup, and gets a colorful history lesson from a Reparations Mosquito; played by the illustrious actress Cree Summer. Erika bends space time to posthumously interview Queen Mother Moore about her life and dedication in “the struggle.” Professor Mary Frances Berry uncovers the brave work of Callie House, whose fight for a pension for ex-slaves got her thrown in jail. And finally,  reparations star Alderwoman Robin Rue Simmons defies gravity to change American history in Evanston, Illinois. This inspires the duo to imagine what it would be like to live, “In A World…”

Guest voiceover appearance: Cree Summer

The Queen Mother Moore audio was Courtesy of the Tamiment Library at New York University.

For more info about this episode, please visit https://reparationsbigpayback.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Erika and Whitney address the reparations elephant in the room when they ask, “How much, and who pays, the debt of reparations?” They get answers from business titan Bob Johnson, uber economist Julianne Malveaux, and everybody’s favorite reparations professor, Dr. William Darity. To illustrate the effects of privilege in their own lives, Erika and Whitney recruit MSNBC’s top anchor, Joy Reid, to help them play The Privilege Walk. Finally, Morningside Heights gets a wake-up call, when the duo's visit to Riverside Church is interrupted with an urgent plea from the past; as civil rights leader James Forman demands “$500 million” or “$15 a nigger!” in his historic 1969 Black Manifesto. To kick it all off, we get a special definition of reparations, from none other than Wu-Tang Clan impresario, RZA.

Written credits: Audio of Jim Forman’s “Black Manifesto” speech provided by Riverside Church Archives. Music: “Hall of the Mountain King"

Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

For more info about this episode, please visit https://reparationsbigpayback.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the premiere episode, Erika and Whitney ‘show us the money’, as they travel to the American crossroads of business and slavery, Wall Street. They get personal when they unearth the pain and shame of human bondage, hidden at the site of New York City's notorious African slave market and lost burial ground. The duo makes their argument in Black and White, when they crash a congressional hearing for Reparations Bill HR 40 and introduce the Rosa Parks of the reparations movement - Evanston, IL Alderwoman Robin Rue Simmons. This groundbreaking episode concludes with a reimagining of a post-reparations America, that would allow for new possibilities, new leadership, and a new direction. 

For more info about this episode, please visit https://reparationsbigpayback.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's groundhog day in America. As Erika and Whitney mourn the brutal death of Andrew Brown Jr, another unarmed Black man shot and killed by police, they ask themselves; Does America have the willpower to make reparations to the descendants of slaves? To find answers they travel across the ocean to Poland to hear the story of 77-year-old Mr. Waldemar Ogrodniczak. His Polish parents were forced laborers in WWII, taken from Poland to Germany to build the Third Reich and now as an adult, Waldemar continues his decades-long search for redress and reparations from the German government. Meanwhile, Erika grabs the comedy mic and serves up a spicy monologue to demonstrate the perils of the begrudged debtor who avoids being confronted by the aggrieved creditor. "Stop triggering me, man!" Finally, natural-born genius Killer Mike, helps them to face the ugly truth, that America's biggest business is the business of race, and that business may be too big to fail. 

For more info about this episode, please visit https://reparationsbigpayback.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s mourning' time in America. Erika and Whitney reflect on their reparations journey and calculate the personal toll it's taken. The great Reverend Barber resets the room and builds a powerful theological case, through the lens of “The Five Pillars.” A case that exposes the moral repercussions of reparations, and what the bondsman's price will be if America continues to ignore the bill. Then, after 28 years, Erika returns to her father's grave at Rosemont Cemetery in Elizabeth, NJ to share her personal theory on individual moral justice, while also looking to absolve her father's case for debts paid in full, through his own pain and suffering. And finally, we get an encore visit from Erika’s mother, Ms. Sammie, who gets the last word and gives us a Star-Spangled Banner 'drop the mic' performance. Step back, Mahalia!

For more info about this episode, please visit https://reparationsbigpayback.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Erika and Whitney ask the trillion dollar question, “Who qualifies for reparations?” To find answers they take to the streets of downtown Brooklyn. They also consult ‘who gets it’ experts, Killer Mike, Dr. William Darity, Mary Frances Barry and ADOS co-founder Yvette Carnell. But if you’re still unsure you’d qualify, they reveal a helpful service that with a ‘ding!’ or a ‘dong!’ can tell you if you qualify for the big payback. Cool, right? You’re welcome Black America! 

For more info about this episode, please visit https://reparationsbigpayback.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Erika’s mother, Sammie Alexander, grabs the mic and tells the story of her Black experience, growing up, raising Black children and facing racism, but she drops the mic to deliver a dire prediction for Black America’s reparations in a red, white n’ blue future. Then billionaire Tom Steyer rolls his ‘money ball’ to expose the financial barriers that continue to limit the economic growth of Black Americans. And Dr. William Darity returns to teach a master class, on how reparations can make our country a more perfect union. Finally, former Flint, MI Mayor Karen Weaver, tells a dark water story about the challenges she faced getting compensation for Flint residents and why it may never be enough. 

For more info about this episode, please visit https://reparationsbigpayback.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.