Lawrence Grandpre - Podcast Details

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In Search of Black PowerBlack Nationalism, Pan-Africanism and Zionism. Reflecting on Ta-Nehisi Coates's "The Message"Send us a textIn the Black radical tradition, critiques of Nationalism as inherently violent have clashed with recognition of the importance of national liberation movements and the desire for self-determination of oppressed people. Ta-Nehisi Coats grapples with this in his book The Message, grappling with being raised in a Pan-Africanist household and have an emotional return to Africa with the reality that nationalist abstractions have been a tool for violent conquest of land by the Zionist political regime in Israel. In this episode Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle, Director of Public Policy Dayvon Love a...2025-06-0446 min

In Search of Black PowerIs It Time To Go Beyond "The New Jim Crow"? The Limits of Michelle Alexander's View of Mass IncarcerationSend us a textThis year marks the 15-year anniversary of the first publication of Michelle Alexander's The New Jim Crow. The text was praised as challenging the post-racial ethos that rose after the election of Obama by presenting a compelling analysis of mass incarceration driven by anti-black racism creating a permanent under caste in American, akin to the Jim Crow system of the South. While praised as a bible for liberal criminal justice reform advocates, many have questioned the book's limitations and the limited result of the criminal justice reform movement the text spawned. 2025-05-0745 min

In Search of Black Power#BaltimoreUprising Ten Years Later: Grassroots Truths vs the Ivory TowerSend us a textApril 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of the #BaltimoreUprising, a series of protests sparked by Freddie Gray’s death in Baltimore Police custody in 2015.Baltimore has long reflected America’s racial and political anxieties, making the Uprising a frequent subject of academic analysis. In this episode, Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle’s Lawrence Grandpre and Dayvon Love critique two books: Beyond Black Lives Matter by Cedric Johnson and Invisible Weapons by Marcus Board Jr.While Johnson critiques BLM and Board affirms it, both argue that Baltimore’s working-class grassroots were misled b...2025-04-021h 10

In Search of Black PowerBeyond the Squad: AOC, Ryan Grim, and Left Media vs. Black Political AnalysisSend us a textIn his book The Squad, journalist Ryan Grim provides an account of the experiences of “The Squad,” a group of progressive legislators elected to the House of Representatives, as they attempted to govern. Their journey—from election victories to struggles with Republicans and Democratic leadership—is widely praised for its detailed investigation of the electoral and political “inside baseball” of the left. Grim’s role as a critical figure in independent left media, through appearances on shows like Breaking Points and his publication Drop Site, further enhances the book’s value as a vantage point fo...2025-02-051h 00

In Search of Black PowerThe Baltimore Model of Community Controlled ReparationsSend us a textOver the past decade, reparations have shifted from a fringe issue championed by Black nationalists to a mainstream topic in Democratic and nonprofit circles.In Baltimore, Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle (LBS) has advanced a reparations agenda rooted in Black community control, challenging assumptions of the broader movement. LBS Director of Research, Lawrence Grandpre, interviews Director of Public Policy, Dayvon Love, about his Nonprofit Quarterly article advocating for reparations centered on building Black institutional capacity and political power, inspired by John Henrik Clarke’s concept of “nation management.”Dayvon connec...2025-01-0850 min

In Search of Black PowerPost Election Panel: Is the Left Ready to Get Serious About Wielding Power?Send us a textIn the conclusion of Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle's Post-Election Analysis, we share a panel discussion hosted by Baltimore Racial Justice Action (BRJA), held the week after the election.Moderated by Julia Scott, the panel featured:Lawrence Grandpre, Director of Research at Leaders of a Beautiful StruggleAndy Ellis, Chairman of Baltimore for Democracy and 2026 Green Party candidate for Governor of MarylandCharlie Carter, long-time Baltimore community and political activistDiscussion topics included:The Left's anxiety around wielding power and the emotional toll of politics and criticismLikely outcomes of the 2024...2024-12-181h 30

Under the Tree: A Seminar on Freedom with Bill AyersLeaders of a Beautiful Struggle with Lawrence GrandpreWe’re in conversation today with Lawrence Grandpre from the group Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle (LBS), a grassroots think-tank that advances the public policy interests of Black people in Baltimore through youth leadership development, political advocacy, and autonomous intellectual innovation. Founded by young freedom fighters, you can find them and follow their work at lbsbaltimore.com 2024-10-1655 min

In Search of Black PowerThe White Liberals Keep the Score: An African Centered Critique of The Body Keeps the Score (Part 2)Send us a textIn this episode, Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle Director of Research, Lawrence Grandpre, critiques the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) framework, showing how it centers Eurocentric norms of trauma—focusing on individual and family experiences—while neglecting African-centered views of cultural and political trauma.We discuss how institutional responses to ACEs in Black communities often blame the community and rely on clinical interventions, instead of addressing the collective conditions of oppression that lead to childhood trauma. Drawing on The Body Keeps the Score, we argue that trauma-informed approaches can reflect the politics of w...2024-10-021h 15

In Search of Black PowerThe White Liberals Keep the Score: An African Centered Critique of The Body Keeps the Score (Part 1)Send us a textBessel van der Kolk's The Body Keeps the Score has become a global sensation, shaping mental health services and public conversations by centering trauma. Originally aimed at improving doctor-patient relationships, trauma-informed analysis has evolved into a political tool, with some advocating for its use in resource allocation to historically oppressed communities. But can focusing on a community's trauma truly empower them? Many grassroots Black practitioners are now questioning the emphasis on trauma in discussions about serving the Black community.In this multipart series, Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle’s Director of Re...2024-09-041h 02

In Search of Black PowerSacrificing “Sum of Us”: Why Black Power Can’t Help Everyone (Part 2)Send us a textIn part two of our podcast analysis of Heather McGhee’s book “The Sum of Us,” hosted by Lawrence Grandpre, we use a historical lens to examine the effectiveness of multiracial positive-sum politics. We challenge McGhee’s argument that multiracial coalitions can effectively address global warming, showing that the history of political advocacy complicates this view. Her analysis risks justifying the exploitation of Africa in pursuit of the green revolution, thereby expanding American economic and political imperialism. Additionally, centering positive-sum frames can pathologize Black freedom fighters who demand a zero-sum trade-off between white and Blac...2024-07-031h 11

Go Green 2026The Myth and Propaganda of Black Buying Power, The Two Party Systems, and Building Better Politics With Dr Jared BallToday’s Show is with Dr Jared Ball he is a Professor of Communication and Africana Studies at Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD. and author of The Myth and Propaganda of Black Buying Power he is also host of the podcast “iMiXWHATiLiKE!”, he can be found @imixwhatilike on most social media, and his decades of emancipatory journalism, media, writing, and political work can be found at imixwhatilike.org. If this podcast is about people whose ideas and work influence me and my Campaign, Dr Jared Ball has to be involved. His Academic and Political work is...2024-05-241h 22

Go Green 2026Black Grassroots & Community-Based Approaches to Violence PreventionLawrence Grandpre is Director of Research for Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle. His focuses include drug policy, criminal justice, police accountability, and community-based economic/educational development. He is the co-author of “The Black Book” and his work has been featured in The Guardian, The Baltimore Sun, Time Magazine and Black Agenda Report. He is also the co-host of the In Search of Black Power Podcast. In this episode Lawrence and I discuss the foundations of intercommunal violence in Black communities and the limits of a public health model of Community Violence Intervention. Lawrence provides a critique of the way that...2024-02-211h 12

Go Green 2026Black Communal Responses to Drug Criminalization, Addiction, an Treatment with Lawrence GrandpreLawrence Grandpre is Director of Research for Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle. His focuses include drug policy, criminal justice, police accountability, and community-based economic/educational development. He is the co-author of “The Black Book” and his work has been featured in The Guardian, The Baltimore Sun, Time Magazine and Black Agenda Report. He is also the co-host of the In Search of Black Power Podcast. During this episode we discuss the communal impacts and communal responses to drug criminalization, addiction, and harm reduction. We focus on Baltimore and Maryland, but the lessons are applicable beyond that...2024-02-211h 13

Thinking FreelyCan Marijuana & Racial Justice Coexist?Starting on July 1st, 2023, marijuana will officially become legalized for recreational use in Maryland for adults 21 and up. This also includes a new law that bans police stops and searches based on the alleged smell of marijuana. But is that enough for Maryland to become a model for marijuana and racial justice? On this episode you'll hear from Michele Hall, who is an assistant public defender at the Maryland Office of the Public Defender, Lawrence Grandpre, the director of research for Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle, and Yanet Amanuel, the director of public policy at the ACLU of Maryland. Together...2023-06-1338 min

Science VsPit Bulls: Bad to the Bone?Pit bulls have a dark reputation. And some people say the science backs this up: that they bite people more often and do more damage when they chomp down. But other people say, no way — these dogs don’t deserve their bad rap. And if a dog has a problem, it’s really the owner’s fault. So who’s right? To find out, we talk to animal behavior expert Anna MacNeil, statistician Dr. Isain Zapata, and researcher Dr. Anthony Herrel. Find our transcript here: https://bit.ly/ScienceVsPitbulls In this epis...2023-04-2037 min

In Search of Black Power2022 Midterms: Reflections & Moving ForwardSend us a textOn this special episode, Lawrence Grandpre hosts a discussion on how the Black community should process the results of the 2022 Midterm Election.Support the showIn Search of Black Power is a Black-owned internet show and podcast. This podcast is sponsored and produced by Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle (LBS). The internet show is published in collaboration with Black Liberation Media (BLM)2022-12-131h 27

In Search of Black PowerAfro-pessimism: A Grassroots ViewSend us a textFew concepts have been more mischaracterized and caricatured than the academic theory of Afro-pessimism. Born of material struggle against Mandela aligned neoliberal wing of the ANC, the work of Frank Wilderson, Jared Sexton and other theorists has been framed in many way. Many have described it as fatalist, hetero-patriarchal, too Black nationalist, not Black nationalist enough, and now - with the publishing of a widely panned piece in the social magazine Jacobin - pro-zionist.Dayvon Love and Lawrence Grandpre from Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle (LBS), a grassroots think t...2022-06-291h 17

Broke-ish®A Blunt Conversation on the Racial Implications of Legalizing MarijuanaOn this episode, Amber and Erika are joined by Lawrence Grandpre, co-author of “The Black Book” and Director of Research for Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle. Our fellow Black Power Media mate helps us to understand the basics, explaining the difference between hemp, CBD, THC, and marijuana. Next, we dive into this nation’s historically racist and unjust drug laws, which coupled with terrorized policing, has resulted in generations of Black people being criminalized and now shut out of the increasingly lucrative legalized marijuana business. Lawrence helps us unpack what “street economies” can teach us about political and economic self-determination and why le...2022-05-151h 07

In Search of Black PowerCan Cannabis legalization save the reparations movement?Send us a textReparations for slavery have gone from a third rail issue to a mainstream Democratic Party talking point. While much of the conversation has focused on HR 40 and local/statewide task forces - has the reparations movement left a critical tool in the reparations battle of off the battlefield?Lawrence Grandpre & S. Rasheem bust some myths around cannabis legalization. They argue that redistributing tax revenue from cannabis legalization to communities most impacted by the War on Drugs can serve as a more substantive and tangible form of reparations. This is opposed to in...2022-04-2744 min

From the Streets to the StatehouseMaryland's Cowardly Democratic Party - March 28, 2022In this episode, we'll be giving updates on our current legislative priorities including - cannabis legalization, Baltimore's Civilian Review Board, public safety, crime and policing.Also - we'll be discussing the Maryland Democratic Party leadership's lack of regard for working class Black people. Dayvon Love will be leading the conversation and be joined by Lawrence Grandpre - Director of Public Policy for Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle.Support the show"From the Streets to the Statehouse" is a podcast owned, produced and sponsored by Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle (LBS) - a...2022-03-291h 11

From the Streets to the StatehouseMarijuana Legalization & Reparations - January 31, 2022LBS is working closely with ACLU of Maryland and MD Senator Jill P. Carter to produce a bill this session that legalizes recreational cannabis with a focus on repairing the damage done by the war on drugs. For this episode, we will be unveiling what will be in the bill and give the public an opportunity to ask questions. We must put pressure on the Maryland General Assembly to pass a version of cannabis legalization that truly empowers Black people who have been most harmed war on drugs.Special guests:Michelle Hall, As...2022-02-011h 23

From the Streets to the Statehouse2021 Black Legislative Agenda Day - December 4, 2021Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle is pleased to convene our 8th Annual Black Legislative Agenda Day: From the Baltimore Grassroots.Our hope is that those of us working in the grassroots can use this as an opportunity to work collaboratively on our efforts in Annapolis to support legislation that will help our communities.Speakers (alphabetical order):Cathryn Paul, Government Relations and Public Policy Manager, CASADelegate Stephanie Smith, District 45 – Baltimore CityDelegate Jheanelle Wilkins, District 20 – Montgomery CountyDelegate Gabriel Acevero, District 39 – Montgomery CountyHeber Brown III, Senior Pastor, Pleasant Hope Baptist ChurchLady Brion, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Avenue, Black Arts...2021-12-042h 49

The Empowered InvestorVoluntary Disclosures: You can run but you can't hideWith increasing global connectedness, the world today is smaller than it’s ever been.Countries are coming together to share information in a global trend towards greater transparency and with that, undeclared assets are much more likely to be discovered.So if you’ve found yourself in a situation with undeclared assets, what can you do to get on the right side of things?That’s where voluntary disclosures come in, allowing taxpayers to come forward voluntarily and correct tax filings with the assurance that there will be no investigations for tax avoidance or eva...2021-08-0541 min

In Search of Black PowerThe Public Health Hustle (Part 2) - Violence Prevention and the Non-Profit Industrial ComplexSend us a textFor over 10 years, the academic and public health sectors have promoted "violence prevention" non-profits as the "evidence-based" alternative to mass incarceration and a solution to the shootings plaguing American cities. With the Biden administration set to invest 4 billion dollars in "violence prevention", some fear these services represent a co-option of grassroots anti-violence work and an attempt to cash in the public's anxieties around street crime, using the #DefundThePolice movement to strengthen the nonprofit industrial complex. In this talk, LBS Director of Research Lawrence Grandpre will use violence prevention as an example o...2021-06-151h 34

Thinking FreelyThe Derek Chauvin Verdict, Anton Black, and Protecting Black LivesOn April 20, 2021, the jury in the Derek Chauvin trial issued a guilty verdict on all three counts for the murder of George Floyd. However, one verdict is not justice – it’s simply accountability. Over 5,000 people were killed by police in the U.S. since 2015, including George Floyd and Anton Black, who were killed by police in eerily, terrifyingly similar ways. We talked to LaToya Holley, the sister of Anton Black, Dayvon Love, Director of Public Policy for Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle and Sonia Kumar, Senior Staff Attorney with the ACLU of Maryland about the Derrick Chauvin verdict, the work bein...2021-04-3055 min

In Search of Black PowerResisting the New "Woke Technocracy"Send us a textIn a talk given to the Baltimore City Green Party, Lawrence Grandpre explains the technocratic tricks liberals use to deny community control over essential issues in the name of "efficiency". Also, after the events of January 6th, protecting minorities from "white backlash". He explains the dynamics of what he calls the new "woke technocracy" in issues of policing, economic development, and cannabis legalization. Support the showIn Search of Black Power is a Black-owned internet show and podcast. This podcast is sponsored and produced by Leaders of a Be...2021-04-021h 03

From the Streets to the StatehouseIn Depth on Police Accountability - February 16, 2021We're going to go in depth on policing in Maryland with a particular focus on our bill - SB 627 (Repeal of the Law Enforcement Bill of Rights).Dayvon Love, the Director of Public Policy at Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle will be leading the conversation along with our Director of Research - Lawrence Grandpre.Support the show"From the Streets to the Statehouse" is a podcast owned, produced and sponsored by Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle (LBS) - a grassroots think tank in Baltimore, Maryland. LBS is a Black-owned, for-profit, independent o...2021-02-1857 min

Black Agenda RadioBlack Agenda Radio - 12.07.20 Welcome to the radio magazine that brings you news, commentary and analysis from a Black Left perspective. I’m Margaret, along with my co-host Glen Ford. Coming up: It is now widely accepted that Black Americans are owed a debt for hundreds of years of slavery and racial oppression. But, can Reparations be a distraction from the work of Black liberation that needs to be done? And, how do you defund the police in a city like Baltimore, unless you can also assure the Black community that other ways can be found to deal with violence and crime? ...2020-12-0756 min

In Search of Black PowerElection 2020: Settler Colonialism vs. NeoImperialismSend us a textWe're back with a wide-ranging interview on Black organizing and the 2020 Election. In a conversation with Matt Stannard of Wyoming's Solidarity Collective, Lawrence Grandpre discusses the recent protest movements, the limits of social justice strategies focused on the courts, and an explanation of Black populations can build power in and beyond the current American political "left". Support the showIn Search of Black Power is a Black-owned internet show and podcast. This podcast is sponsored and produced by Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle (LBS). 2020-10-2940 min

Solidarity House CooperativeSolidarity Segments: Black Communities, Settler- and Neo-Colonialism, and Election 2020 with Lawrence GrandpreWe talk elections 2020 as "a choice between settler colonialism and neo-colonialism," progressive gatekeeping, the reform-revolution dynamic and so much more with Lawrence Grandpre of Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle, a grassroots think-tank in Baltimore dedicated to transforming public policy to improve the conditions of Black people. LBS and its publications: http://lbsbaltimore.com/publications/ In Search of Black Power Podcast: https://newtimbuktu.com/podcasts/ 2020-10-0439 min

Enoch Pratt Free Library PodcastCrossing the Lines Between Us, with author Lawrence LanahanThis program is in conjunction with Undesign the Redline, exhibited at Central Library November 1, 2019-January 31, 2020.Lawrence Lanahan is the author of The Lines Between Us: Two Families and a Quest to Cross Baltimore’s Racial Divide. In his deeply reported, revelatory story, Lanahan chronicles how the Baltimore region became so highly segregated and why its fault lines persist today. Writing from the Fair Housing Act to the death of Freddie Gray and beyond, Lanahan describes epic efforts to desegregate the Baltimore region and deconcentrate poverty in West Baltimore. As Baltimoreans “cross the lines” in the book, on...2019-11-251h 12

In Search of Black PowerUs - A Spooky Social Justice Analysis - Part 1Send us a textJordan Peele's movie "Us" left audiences dazzled, but also confused. How should we interpret this complex and layered social justice horror film? New Timbuktu Creative Director Lawrence Grandpre gives his take; linking to film to mass incarceration and the cost of black upward mobility through the lens of Winston Duke's character Gabrielle, and his prized boat. Support the showIn Search of Black Power is a Black-owned internet show and podcast. This podcast is sponsored and produced by Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle (LBS). 2019-10-2821 min

NO JUSTICE NO PEACEIs there a new COINTEL Program for U.S. Public Schools, Interview with Leaders of a Beautiful StruggleRacial Justice NOW! Executive Director H.A. Jabar interviews Lawrence Grandpre of Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle (LBS). They discuss a new phenomenon sweeping through schools across the country: Behavioral Threat Assessments and Predictive Data Analytics.2019-09-0846 min

In Search of Black Power#HotMicSession: Drug Policy as Social PolicySend us a textWe're on a Summer Break! We're bringing you our #HotMicSessions - talks recorded live and in the field. In this first session, our host, Lawrence Grandpre breaks down some history of the war on drugs and how we need more comprehensive solutions to address the issue of drug addiction. Support the showIn Search of Black Power is a Black-owned internet show and podcast. This podcast is sponsored and produced by Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle (LBS). The internet show is p...2019-07-1531 min

In Search of Black PowerRecap & Summer Reading Special - Books Talks from Leaders of a Beautiful StruggleSend us a textWe analyze 3 books all written by our collective - Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle. We examine how the centrist politics of Democrats are a core impediment to Black progress with Dayvon Love, author of Worse Than Trump, the American Plantation. We then discuss Lady Brion's poetry in With My Head Unbowed and conclude with a discussion with host Lawrence Grandpre on "The Black Book: Reflections from the Baltimore Grassroots." Support the showIn Search of Black Power is a Black-owned internet show and podcast. This podcast is sponsored and p...2019-06-171h 05

In Search of Black PowerSankofa Cities - Visions of Black Cooperative Economics Pasts and FuturesSend us a textWhat would a Black city based on radical cooperative economic visions really look like? In Search of Black Power Hosts Lady Brion and Lawrence Grandpre present two examples of these futures. The first, based upon real Black organizing in Baltimore, presents a vision of how culture becomes the seeds for grassroots community revitalization. The second, based upon a cooperative visioning process, dreams of the new institutions cooperative Black Power could create. Can these "Sankofa cities" pull from the best of our Black collective past to build a new future? We interview noted scholar...2019-05-201h 09

In Search of Black PowerHardcore Black History - Part 1 - Utopia and Apocalypse on the Patapsco: The Story of the "Other" Baltimore RiotsSend us a textInspired by Dan Carlin's "Hardcore History" Podcast, In Search of Black Power host Lawrence Grandpre does a deep dive on Baltimore history, using the stories of the riots of the 1860s and the 1960s to show Baltimore as a site where the highest hopes, and deepest darkness, of the American experiment in race relations have been played out. Support the showIn Search of Black Power is a Black-owned internet show and podcast. This podcast is sponsored and produced by Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle (LBS). 2019-04-0152 min

The Marc Steiner ShowBail Reform Roundtable: New Bail Use LawsJuly 11, 2017 - Segment 1 - We hosted a roundtable on Bail Reform. New court rules governing the use of bail went into effect on July 1, and our panel of guests joined us to explain the rules and answer any questions. With: Lawrence Grandpre, and Doug Colbert.2017-07-1153 min

Prisons & Prisoners – The Marc Steiner ShowLocal Roundtable: Violence and Homicide in BaltimoreJune 12, 2017 - Segment 2 - We hosted a Local Roundtable where we discussed the continuing crisis of violence and homicide in Baltimore. With: longtime citizen activist Kim Trueheart, Lawrence Grandpre, and Carl Stokes.2017-06-1252 min

Education – The Marc Steiner ShowLocal Roundtable: Education / PolicingFebruary 28, 2017 - Segment 2 - We hosted a Local News Roundtable. With: Kim Trueheart, Lawrence Grandpre, and Luke Broadwater 2017-02-2853 min

Prisons & Prisoners – The Marc Steiner ShowLocal Roundtable: Education / PolicingFebruary 28, 2017 - Segment 2 - We hosted a Local News Roundtable. With: Kim Trueheart, Lawrence Grandpre, and Luke Broadwater 2017-02-2853 min