Telling the Truth, Telling Our Victories: Lumumba Bandele on Lessons from Repressive Times
Episode Description
Host Ejeris Dixon is joined by lifelong educator and organizer, Lumumba Bandele to unpack what fascism looks like through the lived experiences of Black communities in the U.S. — and why we must recognize its current and historic manifestations. From front porch conversations in Bed-Stuy to lessons learned from global solidarity movements, Lumumba offers grounded wisdom on the victories that Black communities have won against state repression, the power of storytelling, and how Black resistance has always been both local and global.
About Lumumba
Lumumba Akinwole-Bandele is a father, husband, educator, and organizer based in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. He is currently the interim executive director of Community United for Police Reform. As a member and organizer with the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement NY chapter, Mr. Akinwole-Bandele helped establish its campaign to counter police abuse and misconduct. He also co-founded the world-renowned Black August Hip Hop Project. Black August raises awareness and support for political prisoners in the United States. Lumumba currently serves as an adjunct lecturer teaching Community Organizing at CUNY School of Professional Studies and he serves as board member for the Center for Constitutional Rights and the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute.
About Ejeris
Ejeris is a political strategist passionate about strengthening liberation movements and building community safety. Ejeris serves as the Fascism Barometer's "movement meteorologist," exploring the impact of fascist movements on communities of color, queer and trans communities, and all marginalized people. Having worked for the past twenty-five years at the intersections of racial justice, LGBTQ liberation, anti-violence, transformative justice, and economic justice movements, Ejeris focuses on creating political and strategic experiments to strengthen social justice movements through the organization Ejerie Labs.
Resources
Reading
“War at Home: Covert action against U.S. activists and what we can do about it” by Brian Glick
“Look for Me in the Whirlwind: From the Panther 21 to 21st-Century Revolutions” by Sekou Odinga, Dhoruba Bin Wahad, Jamal Joseph
“The Manifesto of the Anti-Fascist Intellectuals,100 years later”
Watching
Check out the documentary “The Sun Rises in the East”
Action
Defend immigrant communities from ICE raids: Attend Trainings and Actions through the Defend and Recruit Project of SIEMBRA NC
Write to your congressperson about the Block the Bombs Act!
Attend the Katrina 20 Movement Assembly and Join the Katrina 20 Week of Action
National Guard or Active Duty Military who want to learn their rights and options: Call GI Right’s Hotline 877-447-4487
Join and support About Face Veterans
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Protect Immigrant Communities! Join the Here to Stay Network with United We Dream
Donate to Mohsan Mahdawi’s immigrant legal defense fund! Support the Vermont Immigrant Legal Defense Fund
Sign the petition to free Mahmoud Khalil
Check out the mutual aid network through the All of US Directory, a sortable database that seeks to make it possible for newly activated people to easily connect with organizing and mutual aid efforts.
Check out the resource hub!