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


  • U.S. military outposts, port facilities, and other areas of access in Africa, 2002-2015 (Nick Turse/TomDispatch, 2015)
    Dina M. Asfaha, Tunde Osazua
    Eritrea Versus AFRICOM: Defending Sovereignty in the Face of Imperialist Aggression
    01 Dec 2021
    The rapid expansion of AFRICOM on the African continent should be a cause for concern as African nations are quickly surrendering their sovereignty to the US.
  • Enes Kanter Exposes Connection Between Sinophobia and Anti-Black Racism
    Danny Haiphong, BAR Contributing Editor
    Enes Kanter Exposes Connection Between Sinophobia and Anti-Black Racism
    01 Dec 2021
    Recent remarks made by an NBA player show that Sinophobia represents backward foreign policy and invitations to amplify racist tropes in the U.S.
  • The Drone Ranger gallops into Glasgow
    Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
    The Drone Ranger gallops into Glasgow
    01 Dec 2021
                                                         
  • BAR Book Forum: Jessica Luther and Kavitha A. Davidson’s “Loving Sports When They Don't Love You Back”
    Roberto Sirvent, BAR Book Forum Editor
    BAR Book Forum: Jessica Luther and Kavitha A. Davidson’s “Loving Sports When They Don't Love You Back”
    01 Dec 2021
    In this series, we ask acclaimed authors to answer five questions about their book.
  • Democracy Scores Another Victory Over the U.S. in Honduras
    Black Alliance For Peace
    Democracy Scores Another Victory Over the U.S. in Honduras
    01 Dec 2021
    The people of Honduras secured a victory against U.S. interference with the convincing win of Xiomara Castro as their new president.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us