Episode 19: The Foundational Racism of the American Empire with Gerald Horne

In the Context of Empire

Jon and Matt were fortunate to be joined by Dr. Gerald Horne to discuss the foundational racism deeply embedded in the American experiment. Dr. Horne holds the Moores Professorship of History and African American Studies at the University of Houston. He is the author of many books including: The Apocalypse of Settler Colonialism: The Roots of Slavery, White Supremacy and Capitalism in Seventeenth Century North America and the Caribbean, The Counter-Revolution of 1776: Slave Resistance and the Origins of the United States of America, The White Pacific: U.S. Imperialism and Black Slavery in the South Seas After the Civil War

Specifically discussed:

-Dr. Horne's background and how he developed a propensity for challenging the mythologies of the American experiment.

- The reason we should view the American war for independence as a counter revolution rather than a revolution

- The inconvenient fact about marginalized groups often fighting on the side of US adversaries in American wars

- The connection between the paranoia produced in the planter class by the Haitian revolution and the fear produced in US elites by anti colonial movements in of the 20th century

- Complicating the legacies the the Anti Slavery movement (including Lincoln himself)

- Refuting the merits of constitutional "originalism"

- Challenging the notion that Donald J Trump as a unique figure in US history

- The history of black celebrities being the target of right wing animosity from Paul Robeson to Colin Kaepernick

- Hope for modern movements for racial justice and the threat of co-option by corporations and other historically oppressive institutions.

Dr. Horne's' Work: Please Support Him!

Dr. Horne's extensive (he has written over 30 books catalogue of writing can be found here

New book coming out 12/20/2020- The Bittersweet Science: Racism Racketeering and the Political Economy of Boxing

Our Work:

Read our "In the Context of Empire" blog with corresponding and expanded posts to this content!

Social Media: Twitter- @Mattylongruns.