May 3, 2026
In this episode, we revisit a Black Myths classic: Black
People Died to Vote. Due to the recent supreme court decision on
(LOUISIANA v. CALLAIS ET AL.) that effectively ends majority Black
districts across the south, voting rights is back in the public
discourse. Although well-intentioned by most, the often-heard
retort that "Black People Died to Vote" distorts the history of
struggle around the vote. It reduces Black death to the vote
itself, not the broader struggle for liberation.
In this episode, we explore the history surrounding
the vote throughout Black history with a particular focus on Ella
Baker and her work in the civil rights movement. Fun fact: this was
actually the first episode the current cast of co-hosts had ever
recorded together.