Black Agenda Radio - 11.19.18

Welcome to the radio magazine that brings you news, commentary and analysis from a Black Left perspective. I’m Glen Ford, along with my co-host Nellie Bailey. Coming up: The world’s biggest corporation has chosen its two new headquarters cities, but some folks want Amazon to go back where it came from; we’ll hear from a Muslim liberation theologian, who says Islam should be on the side of the poor and oppressed; and, Mumia Abu Jamal files a report for Prison Radio

The Republican Party lost control of the U.S. House in the recent elections, but strengthened its hold on the Senate. Historically speaking, President Trump’s party was not beaten as badly as presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama were, in midterm elections. We spoke with Dr. Gerald Horne, the prolific author and activist who teaches History and African American Studies at the University of Houston.

Amazon, the biggest corporation in the world, owned by Jeff Bezos, the richest man in the world, has decided to move its second corporate headquarters to the  “power” cities of New York and Washington, DC. Cities and states across the country promised Amazon billions of dollars in tax incentives and subsidies if the corporation would bring 50 thousand jobs to town with it. The New York City half of the new headquarters will be located in the Long Island City, Queens neighborhood. But the city’s negotiations with Amazon have been super-secret. Maritza Silva-Farrell is executive director of Align, an alliance of New York community groups and labor organizations. She doesn’t trust Amazon one bit.

When we hear the term “liberation theology,” most of us think of the Christian religion. But there are liberation theologians in the Muslim faith, as well. Shadaab Rahemtulla is a Muslim liberation theologian, who teaches at the University of Jordan. He’s the author of a new book, titled, “Koran of the Oppressed: Liberation Theology and Gender Justice in Islam.” Professor Rahemtulla says a pro-poor, pro-equality, and pro-peace Islam is part of the global Muslim conversation.

The nation’s best known political prisoner, Mumia Abu Jamal, has filed a report for Prison Radio. It’s about A Man Who Knew Too Much.