Black Agenda Report
Black Agenda Report
News, commentary and analysis from the black left.

  • Home
  • Africa
  • African America
  • Education
  • Environment
  • International
  • Media and Culture
  • Political Economy
  • Radio
  • US Politics
  • War and Empire

Rikers Island, Slave Catching, and the Modern Carceral State
Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
07 Mar 2025
🖨️ Print Article

Black Agenda Radio · Rikers Island, Slave Catching, and the Modern Carceral State

Darren Mack is co-founder and co-director of Freedom Agenda, an organization devoted to decarceration and system transformation, including closing the Rikers Island jail. In commenting on New York City mayor Eric Adams' plan to allow ICE to operate on Rikers Island, Darren Mack pointed out the history behind the name. Richard Riker was a New York City judge who worked with slave catchers and the kidnappers who captured fleeing enslaved people and free Black New Yorkers to send them to slavery in the south. Darren Mack joins us from New York City to discuss this history, the need to close Rikers Island, and the historical connections with the modern-day carceral state.

Rikers Island
Incarceration
Slavery
New York City
Eric Adams

Related Podcasts

Carmella Charrington
Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
Deed Theft and Black Communities
22 May 2026
Leah Goodridge, a New York City-based attorney, housing advocate, and writer, is a memb
BAR Radio Logo
Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
Black Agenda Radio April 24, 2026
24 April 2026
In this week’s segment, we discuss the importance of including African-descended people in discussions around climate change and a just transition
Carmella Charrington
Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
Deed Theft and the Loss of Black Property
24 April 2026
Evangeline of the People’s Coalition to Stop Deed Theft, a grassroots New York City organiz

More Stories


  • The Danger and the Opportunity in the Democratic Party’s Red Baiting of Bernie Sanders 
    Danny Haiphong, BAR Contributing Editor
    The Danger and the Opportunity in the Democratic Party’s Red Baiting of Bernie Sanders 
    19 Feb 2020
    The ruling class’ anti-communist attacks on the popular politician holds the danger of moving the left in an even more conservative direction.
  • The Shocking Death of Rwandan Gospel Singer and Dissident Kizito Mihigo
    Ann Garrison, BAR Contributing Editor
    The Shocking Death of Rwandan Gospel Singer and Dissident Kizito Mihigo
    19 Feb 2020
    I would like to say that President Kagame has finally gone too far, that the powerful industrial nations will finally stop running cover for his crimes, but that would greatly surprise me.
  • My Wise Country Cousin: Dem Wanna be Lakked by Mike
    Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
    My Wise Country Cousin: Dem Wanna be Lakked by Mike
    19 Feb 2020
    $elections comin’ an’ Massa Mike playin’ Negroz fo’ chumps— Tolt Dem he’d hab dey pockets lookin’ lak dey got de mumps!
  • Black America and the Presidents
    Kollibri terre Sonnenblume
    Black America and the Presidents
    19 Feb 2020
    Every single US president—regardless of party—actively upheld white supremacy in the US.
  • The Torture Machine, Racism and Violence in Chicago
    Jeff Haas and Dennis Cunningham
    The Torture Machine, Racism and Violence in Chicago
    19 Feb 2020
    Chicago’s torture machine was both a real mechanism to produce confessions through pain, and a racist political instrument.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us