In this two-part episode, we are joined by special cohost PM, and we speak with veteran civil rights organizer Eric Mann about his journey from his upbringing in New York to his involvement in political struggles during the 1960s. Mann discusses his early influences, including his parents' activism. He reflects on his work with the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), highlighting key campaigns such as the Trailways boycott and the 1968 Columbia University student strike.
Mann also recounts his time as a political prisoner, offering insights into the carceral system and the impact of incarceration on his life and activism. He emphasizes the importance of building a black-led united front against imperialism and shares his ongoing work with the Labor Community Strategy Center in Los Angeles. Mann's narrative highlights the importance of organizing, strategic alliances, and the ongoing liberation struggle.
Eric Mann is the co-director of the Labor/Community Strategy Center in South Central Los Angeles. He is the author of Comrade George: An Investigation into the Life, Political Thought, and Assassination of George Jackson, Playbook for Progressives: The 16 Qualities of the Successful Organizer, and the forthcoming We Made the Revolution with Our Bodies on the Line.
PM Irvin is a PhD candidate researching the political thought of W.E.B. Du Bois and 20th-century Black radicalism
This episode was edited and produced by Aidan Elias. Music, as always, by Televangel.
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