8 chapters across the catalog
The legal system is further deconstructed through the lens of maritime law, noting that terms like "court," "floodgates," and "bail" have nautical origins. The hosts explain that individuals are often barred from speaking for themselves in court, requiring a "sanctioned elite" or advocate to navigate the "hot water" of the legal process. This structure is designed to maintain confusion among those the system intends to control.
A paralegal listener questions the use of the word "atonement" over the legal term "restitution." Mo Facts explains that "atonement" implies a voluntary act from the payer, whereas "restitution" is a demand. The segment concludes with a thank you to Dreb Scott for his work on podcast chapters and a reminder to use Podcasting 2.0 apps.
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.
Adam Curry draws a parallel between racial passing and the term "passing" used in the LGBTQ community for transgender individuals. Mo shares a personal story about a surrogate grandfather, Bill Williams, who looked white but would "fight you" if you called him anything but Black. They also note the specific historical use of "Colored" to denote mixed-race individuals as distinct from "Black."
The evolution of language from "crack baby" to "neonatal abstinence syndrome" is critiqued as a form of clinical distancing. The physical transformation of urban neighborhoods is described, where residents began installing bars on windows and multiple locks on doors, effectively living in self-imposed prisons. The speed at which the epidemic overwhelmed these communities is emphasized.
The phrase "people of color" is critiqued as a linguistic tool that lumps all non-white individuals into a single, manageable category, effectively erasing specific ADOS identity. One host notes that since focusing on the term, they hear it everywhere in media, including from former Hillary Clinton staffers. The segment posits that "people of color" essentially translates to "non-white" and therefore "not important" within the current power structure.
A deep dive into the term "People of Color" (POC) reveals a strong distaste for the phrase, with one host comparing it to the offensive historical label "colored people." The discussion explores how the term evokes imagery of Jim Crow-era "colored only" signs and questions why the modern phrasing is considered politically correct while its predecessor is not.
The hosts examine audio from Macalester College where students discuss their conflicting feelings about the "People of Color" label. While some students find the term a "loose way to compare" people based solely on not being white, they often default to using it because it is the most recognized term in social justice circles.
