3 chapters across the catalog
The Smollett siblings were raised in a household deeply rooted in activism, with their mother being close friends with Black Panther leaders like Bobby Seale and Angela Davis. Jurnee Smollett, the most successful actor in the family, began her career as a child on "Full House" and has remained a prominent activist throughout her life.
Dothard Perry, an FBI informant during the 1960s, describes the process of infiltrating radical groups and receiving cash payments for "hot pieces of information." Perry expresses remorse for misusing the trust of those he surveilled, admitting his information led to the undoing of various groups. The hosts use this historical context to show that the use of informants to disrupt political movements is a long-standing government tactic.
Investigative reports reveal that Richard Aoki, the man who provided the Black Panthers with their first firearms, was an undercover FBI informant. Another former informant, Dothard Perry, describes the process of being paid in cash by the Bureau to infiltrate and undo political groups. The hosts suggest that many radical movements are historically steered by covert government catalysts.
