5 chapters across the catalog
The media's treatment of Clarence Thomas is compared to the treatment of other black figures like Kanye West, noting a perceived double standard in the use of racial language. Academia and liberal media are accused of using black female professors as the face of the pro-choice movement while simultaneously attacking Thomas. The discussion suggests that racial identity is weaponized based on political alignment.
Mo concludes the show by stating that academia is "ground zero" for media narratives. He leaves a cliffhanger regarding the Jussie Smollett case and its connection to the creation of *Mo Facts*. Adam wishes Mo a happy birthday, and they sign off with a reminder to support the show via MoFundMe.com.
Melville Herskovits and the Invention of African American Studies
Mo introduces Melville J. Herskovits, a Jewish-American anthropologist considered the "Elvis of African-American studies." Herskovits is credited with establishing the "Out of Africa" cultural continuity narrative in the 1940s. Mo questions why a white academic was allowed to define Black identity for the 20th century and how this "ownership" of the narrative persists in modern museums.
Sociologist Robin DiAngelo's concept of "white fragility" is introduced as the defensive reaction white people exhibit when their racial positions are challenged. The hosts examine how this academic term creates a "trap" where any disagreement with the premise of white privilege is labeled as fragility. One host recounts a personal experience of being accused of white privilege at a dinner party and feeling the resulting discomfort described by DiAngelo.
The ADOS movement advocates for the federal government and universities to prioritize descendants of American slavery in affirmative action policies, arguing these programs have been co-opted by immigrants. The Census Bureau recently announced that African Americans can now list specific origins rather than just checking "black." This shift toward disaggregated data is seen as a way to accurately track which groups are actually benefiting from diversity initiatives.
