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


  • Trauma Trivia
    Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
    Trauma Trivia
    21 Apr 2021
    We play America’s longest running game,  Trauma Trivia—gambling blue— Daily, weekly, monthly, annually—decades,  Centuries at a time…We play it again and 
  • The Black Working Class Must Defend Itself, Not the Black Misleadership Class
    Ujima People’s Progress Party
    The Black Working Class Must Defend Itself, Not the Black Misleadership Class
    21 Apr 2021
    Black political power is gained by expanding independent Black political institutions and bases around agendas not endorsed by the ruling elite. 
  • What Police Impunity Looks Like
    Eric Umansky
    What Police Impunity Looks Like
    21 Apr 2021
    They came into his own home and took his life for no reason.
  • Letters from Our Readers
    Jahan Choudhry, BAR Comments Editor
    Letters from Our Readers
    21 Apr 2021
    This week pro-Zionist censorship and police brutality were on your minds.
  • BAR Book Forum: Alaina E. Roberts’ “I’ve Been Here All the While”
    Roberto Sirvent, BAR Book Forum Editor
    BAR Book Forum: Alaina E. Roberts’ “I’ve Been Here All the While”
    21 Apr 2021
    Five Indian nations brought their Black slaves on the Trail of Tears and it was Black labor that helped them rebuild.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us