Topic: African Americans

Don Lemon and Kamala Harris discuss her identity on The Breakfast Club, where she defends her "black cred" by citing her birth in Oakland. The hosts criticize her for attempting to graft herself into the ADOS lineage despite her Jamaican and Indian heritage, noting the distinction between being "Black" and "African American" in a lineage context.

Kimberlé Crenshaw, a co-founder of Critical Race Theory, specifically named Senator Ted Cruz as someone who understands the theory but manipulates it for political gain. Critics argue that Crenshaw's direct targeting of Republican politicians reveals her role as a political operative rather than a neutral academic. Both Crenshaw and Cruz share a background in Harvard Law, where the theory was originally developed.

Max Kellerman challenges Stephen A. Smith on "First Take" by discussing the intersection of athlete health concerns, anti-vaxxer misinformation, and the history of medical experiments on African Americans. The hosts analyze the dynamic between the two commentators, noting Kellerman's tendency to position himself as more "progressive" or "strident" on racial issues than Smith. This tension eventually leads to Smith requesting Kellerman's removal from the show due to a lack of chemistry.

A throwback clip from 2019 features Don Lemon and April Ryan debating whether Kamala Harris is "black enough" or specifically "African American." In the older clip, Lemon emphasizes her South Asian and Jamaican heritage, whereas the hosts note he has since pivoted to a more unified "black woman" narrative. They suggest Lemon received a "call from Oprah" to align his rhetoric with the party line.

A past clip shows Don Lemon arguing with April Ryan, where he previously acknowledged a distinction between being "Black" and "African American." In that instance, Lemon noted that Kamala Harris is a woman of color but questioned if she fits the "African American" lineage. The hosts highlight the contradiction between this past stance and his current dismissal of ADOS identity as a "Russian bot" talking point.

A Mayo Clinic study reveals that African Americans exhibit significantly higher antibody responses to the rubella vaccine compared to other populations. This finding challenges the "one size fits all" approach to immunology and supports the move toward personalized or individualized medicine. The legal classification of vaccines as "biologics" is also noted, which provides manufacturers with indemnification from lawsuits.

During the 2016 campaign, Donald Trump famously appealed to African American voters by asking, "What the hell do you have to lose?" He criticized Democratic policies for causing poverty and unemployment in urban communities. Despite polling data, Trump "gaslit" the audience by guaranteeing he would receive 95% of the African American vote after four years.

The National African American Gun Association (NAGA) is introduced as a growing alternative to the NRA for black gun owners. NAGA focuses on education, safety, and changing the stigma of gun ownership within the black community. The organization is considering forming a PAC to advocate for individuals who are unfairly denied gun licenses despite having clean records.

The evolution of racial descriptors in America is traced from "Negro" and "Colored" to "Black" and "African American." The hosts discuss Jesse Jackson's role in popularizing the term "African American" in the late 1980s and the subsequent shift in government documentation. They advocate for the term ADOS (American Descendants of Slavery) as a more accurate descriptor of lineage rather than skin color.

A clip from The Conservative Twins argues that Black Americans should not call themselves "African-American" because they were not born in Africa. While the hosts find the delivery "cringey," they agree with the distinction between nationality and lineage. They discuss the lack of the term "European-American" and why ADOS is a more precise term for their specific historical experience.

A heated CNN clip features two Black women debating whether the struggle of illegal immigrants can be equated to the history of slavery. One pundit argues that Black Americans have no cultural ties to other continents and that equating the two issues is a "nasty trick" used to push pro-immigration agendas.

A debate between Don Lemon and April Ryan highlights the distinction between being "black" and "African American" in the context of lineage. Lemon argues that while Harris is a black woman, her Jamaican and Indian heritage means she does not share the specific "African American" experience of descendants of U.S. slaves.

Dr. Yaba Blay explains the "One Drop Rule" on CNN, describing it as a historical tool to protect white purity. The hosts discuss the evolution of racial labels from "Negro" to "Black" to "African American," viewing these shifts as media-driven branding rather than organic cultural changes.

Professor Kevin Brown provides statistical data on the rise of interracial marriage in the black community, noting it has doubled nearly every decade since 1970. He highlights that 25% of black men married in 2012 chose non-black spouses. Brown predicts that within a generation, the majority of the black population in the U.S. will be mixed-race.