Shows
Kemetamorphysis: The PodcastEpisode 18: Foundational Family and Community (3 of 3)This last of three installments features an interview with Baba Derrick Jackson, reflecting on his upbringing in Harlem and the strong sense of community he experienced. His narrative highlights the supportive, interconnected nature of his family and neighborhood. Baba Derrick recounts specific memories illustrating reciprocal relationships and unwavering community support, emphasizing the profound impact these experiences had on his life.
2025-02-2418 minKemetamorphysis: The PodcastEpisode 17: Foundational Family and Community (2 of 3)This episode is the second of three installments featuring an interview with Baba Derrick Jackson, a spiritual thought leader, discussing his life experiences. He reflects on his childhood friendships, high school years, and the influential people and books that shaped him. The conversation touches upon his family background. Furthermore, it explores his perspective on the Harlem community and its connection to his South Carolina roots.
2025-02-0915 minKemetamorphysis: The PodcastEpisode 16: Foundational Family and Community (1 of 3)This episode features foundational oral history interview questions with Baba Derrick Jackson, exploring his earliest memories and the formative influences of his family and community. Key themes include the importance of elders, the impact of family structures and dynamics, and reflections on race, class, and healthcare disparities within the African American community. The interview provides a personal narrative that contextualizes Baba Derrick's spiritual journey and his life experiences. Ultimately, the interview offers a powerful testament to the resilience and strength found within family and community.
2025-01-2625 minKemetamorphysis: The PodcastEpisode 15: Kemetic Principles in ChristianityBaba Derrick Jackson demonstrates the parallels between biblical teachings and ancient Kemetic wisdom. Baba Derrick skillfully connects biblical passages to Kemetic principles, emphasizing the importance of Maat (social justice) and service to others as a core tenet of both belief systems. He recounts a personal experience where applying Kemetic wisdom profoundly impacted his understanding of his faith and his congregation. The discussion highlights the interconnectedness of spiritual traditions and the ongoing relevance of ancient wisdom.
2025-01-1218 minKemetamorphysis: The PodcastEpisode 14: Influential Figures and the Navigation of KnowledgeThis episode features reflections by Baba Derrick on his spiritual journey and mentors, including the late Nzinga Ratibishi Heru and the late Dr. Jacob Carruthers, both past leaders of the Association for the Study of Classical African Civilizations (ASCAC). Baba Derrick discusses influential books that shaped his understanding of African civilizations and spirituality, such as works by Chancellor Williams, Anthony Browder, and John G. Jackson. He emphasizes the importance of mentorship and guided study in navigating complex historical and spiritual concepts.
2025-01-0317 minKemetamorphysis: The PodcastEpisode 13: The Importance of Origin Stories, Reciprocity, and GratitudeThis podcast episode features a conversation between Dr. Catherine L. Adams and Baba Derrick Jackson about the importance of diverse origin stories and the right to self-determination. Baba Derrick discusses his journey toward a deeper appreciation for African cultural narratives, emphasizing the significance of listening to and learning from elders. The conversation highlights the interconnectedness of Africana studies, spiritual traditions, gratitude, and reciprocity.
2025-01-0315 minKemetamorphysis: The PodcastEpisode 12: Understanding and Studying the "Why" and TimelinesBaba Derrick Jackson talks about the challenges of connecting with African spiritual traditions. Baba Derrick highlights the intentional suppression of information regarding the rich history of African civilizations, emphasizing the importance of understanding the "why" behind historical events. The discussion contrasts the readily accessible, repetitive nature of Kemetic mythology with the singular, often unbelievable events described in the Biblical text. Baba Derrick uses a timeline to illustrate the vast temporal gap between African history and the narratives presented in Western religious texts, urging listeners to reconsider established historical narratives.
2025-01-0320 minKemetamorphysis: The PodcastEpisode 11: A Liberation Story from KemetDr. Catherine L. Adams and Baba Derrick Jackson explore the concept of a "Messiah" through the lens of ancient Kemetic (Egyptian) mythology. Baba Derrick argues against a direct comparison between the Western Christian figure of Christ and the Kemetic figure of Heru, emphasizing the crucial difference between individuality (represented by the image of Jesus) and reciprocity (represented by the image of Heru nursing). He uses the Kemetic myth of Ausar, Auset, and Heru to illustrate the interconnectedness of masculine and feminine energies, highlighting the roles of both Auset (the birthing mother) and Nephthys (the nurturing mother) in raising Heru and a...
2025-01-0219 minKemetamorphysis: The PodcastEpisode 10: Krst--A Name or a Title?In this episode Dr. Catherine L. Adams asks Baba Derrick Jackson about the "K-r-s-t" in the name "Krst Universal Temple." Baba Derrick explains the name's origins, connecting it to the Kemetic (ancient Egyptian) title "Krst" and the concept of individuals reaching their full potential, exemplified by figures like Imhotep and Queen Hatshepsut. He explains the nature of societal and spiritual development in ancient Kemet, emphasizing the continuous pursuit of improvement across generations. The discussion also touches on the differing reactions of Christian congregations and leadership to Baba Jackson's teachings.
2024-11-2520 minKemetamorphysis: The PodcastEpisode 9: Project Sankofa - Pt3 / The Final ChapterIn this episode, Baba Derrick Jackson walks through the expansion of Project Sankofa, a rites-of-passage program for children, and the connection to South Carolina daughters like Marian David and Marian Wright Edelman.
The program's evolution connects directly to the Children's Defense Fund and the training of thousands of Ella Baker trainers in the re-birth of Freedom Schools. The program's eventual end is attributed to family and life changes and the increasing community preference for program implementation rather than a train-the-trainer model to build local capacity and sustainability. A gendered difference in approach between the male...
2024-09-2521 minKemetamorphysis: The PodcastEpisode 8: A "God Different" Version of the Moses StoryThis episode continues right where the last episode left off--at the declaration: We Are God Different. So what does being God Different look like?
Baba Derrick Jackson reinterprets the Moses story through an African spiritual lens, arguing that Moses's journey represents the oppressed seeking liberation from their oppressors. Baba Derrick discusses the importance of understanding systemic oppression on a macro level to achieve personal and community transformation. He emphasizes the need for oppressed people to create independent spaces, free from the influence of their oppressors. The episode also touches upon the role of pastoral...
2024-09-0117 minKemetamorphysis: The PodcastEpisode 7: We Are "God Different"This episode features Baba Derrick Jackson, a spiritual thought leader, discussing his approach to pastoral care. He emphasizes a culturally relevant ministry, drawing on his own experiences and the works of scholars like Wade Nobles to create a framework that addresses the specific needs of his community. Baba Derrick highlights the challenges of navigating a predominantly Western religious framework and the importance of researching ancestral wisdom. He contrasts his approach with traditional pastoral care models, advocating for a method deeply rooted in African cultural understanding. Baba Derrick references foundational texts (Seeking the Sakhu) and thinkers (Nobles, Na'im Akbar, Asa...
2024-08-2514 minKemetamorphysis: The PodcastEpisode 6: Project Sankofa - Pt2In this episode, Baba Derrick brings what he has learned from A Concerned Group of Men to the work of Joe Benton (Maa Kheru) at Juvenile Justice and the study and history lectures of Burnie Gallman, M.D. Integrating African-centered scholars and practitioners from the Association for the Study of Classical African Civilizations (ASCAC), the three form Project Sankofa.
Project Sankofa was a youth program in South Carolina designed to help young men develop a strong sense of identity and connection to their history. Building upon existing relationships and community resources, Project Sankofa expanded b...
2024-04-1521 minKemetamorphysis: The PodcastEpisode 5: A Concerned Group of Men and Project Sankofa - Pt1In this episode, Baba Derrick Jackson remembers and reflects on his involvement with rites of passage programs in South Carolina. This is part 1, where he talks about A Concerned Group of Men and their program in public schools in Richland County. After the program was dismantled, Project Sankofa would follow.
2024-03-1524 minKemetamorphysis: The PodcastEpisode 4: Why Would We Not Want to Know Our Creation Stories?In this episode, Baba Derrick Jackson answers the question of why many people of African descent in the U.S. do not know and may not want to know of creation stories prior to the Middle Passage.
Texts Mentioned: Barracoon: The Story of the Last 'Black Cargo' by Zora Neale Hurston; "Mohonk Conference on the Negro Question" (1890 and 1891); The White Architects of Black Education: Ideology and Power in America, 1865-1954 by William H. Watkins
2024-02-2917 minKemetamorphysis: The PodcastSpecial Episode: Remembering Listervelt MiddletonListervelt Middleton was a journalist, poet, and television producer. He is known widely for hosting and producing "For the People" on South Carolina Educational Television (SCETV). Baba Derrick walks us through a few memories of his friend--Listervelt Middleton.
2024-02-2136 minKemetamorphysis: The PodcastEpisode 3: A Man Called "Baba"In this episode, I ask Baba Derrick about the title "Baba." As in many of these sessions, relationships with family, scholars, and friends are integral to his way of thinking and being.
2024-02-1622 minKemetamorphysis: The PodcastEpisode 2: Maat is testing me.In the inaugural episode, Baba Derrick defined the process for transformation he calls "Kemetamorphysis." In this episode, an incident causes chaos, and Baba Derrick is tested on the teachings of Maat.
2024-01-2820 minKemetamorphysis: The PodcastInaugural Episode: BeginningsThis podcast introduces "Kemetamorphysis," a transformative process rooted in ancient African wisdom, as explained by Baba Derrick Jackson, a priest and thought leader at Krst Universal Temple, and Dr. Catherine L. Adams, the podcast's scribe (person trusted to decimate wisdom teachings). Baba Derrick's understanding of Kemetamorphysis developed from a trip to Egypt, where he experienced a profound connection to the cosmos, impacting his spiritual perspective. The podcast explores the concept's origins, its connection to Baba Derrick's experiences, and its influence on the creation of Krst Universal Temple. Future episodes will examine the temple's history, teachings, and community impact. The overall...
2024-01-1720 min