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


  • Black Agenda Radio
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Black Agenda Radio January 24, 2025
    24 Jan 2025
    In this week’s segment, we will discuss Donald Trump’s efforts to end constitutionally protected birthright citizenship. But first, we will hear about Justin Trudeau, the prime minister of Canada who…
  • Justin Trudeau
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Justin Trudeau and Canada's Legacy of Imperialism and Racism
    24 Jan 2025
    El Jones joins us from Halifax to discuss the legacy of Justin Trudeau, who recently resigned as leader of his party after 10 years as Canada's prime minister. We’ll discuss his foreign…
  • Donald Trump signs executive orders
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Donald Trump Attempts to End Birthright Citizenship
    24 Jan 2025
    Thomas Wolf, Director of Democracy Initiatives at the Brennan Center, joins us to discuss the implications of Trump’s executive order, which denies citizenship to children of undocumented people and…
  • Tamara Nassar
    Day 1: Gaza ceasefire
    22 Jan 2025
    Fifteen grueling months of bombing and military assault have finally come to a pause as the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel has come into effect.
  • Heba Gowayed
    The Laken Riley Act exposes Democrats’ hypocrisy on immigration
    22 Jan 2025
    Though party leadership called it inhumane, 48 democratic members of Congress voted for the bill to deport immigrants accused, not convicted, of petty theft.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us