13 chapters across the catalog
Moe and Adam conclude the episode by questioning the "Talented Tenth" theory of W.E.B. Du Bois, suggesting it actually creates a class of "bloodsuckers" like the Boule. They cite Charlamagne Tha God as a modern example of a "hip" operative for the establishment. The show ends with a preview of future discussions on the "bastardization" of hip-hop's power and a final musical montage.
A personal anecdote describes the feeling of social exclusion and being "the other" when refusing to wear a mask at a Whole Foods during the pandemic. This experience is compared to the "double consciousness" described by W.E.B. Du Bois, where an individual is constantly aware of how they are perceived by a hostile or judgmental society. The hosts argue that pandemic mandates allowed non-minorities to briefly experience the systemic pressure typically faced by Black Americans.
The "Talented Tenth" philosophy, popularized by W.E.B. Du Bois, is examined through a clip of Judge Joe Brown. The concept suggests that one-tenth of the black population should be highly educated to lead the remaining 90%. The hosts discuss the "brain drain" that occurs when elite black talent is recruited into predominantly white institutions (PWIs) and the historical debate between Du Bois and Booker T. Washington regarding top-down versus bottom-up community building.
Mo Facts invokes W.E.B. Du Bois's concept of "double consciousness" to explain how Black Americans perceive themselves versus how they are perceived by others. The hosts discuss the "gender war" aspect of the slap, debating whether Will Smith's actions were a chivalrous defense of his wife or a sign of insecurity.
Casper Holstein, the "numbers king" of Harlem in the 1920s, was a major philanthropist and supporter of Marcus Garvey. The hosts contrast Holstein with the origins of the NAACP, which they claim was influenced by Joel Spingarn, a man with ties to government intelligence. They question whether the historical rivalry between W.E.B. Du Bois and Marcus Garvey was exacerbated by government handlers on both sides to keep black political movements divided.
The discussion connects modern population control theories to the 1968 book *The Population Bomb* and the eugenics-based "Talented Tenth" philosophy. The hosts suggest that global elites want to reduce the human population by 90%, targeting "useless eaters" while preserving a small, manageable workforce. They argue that the push for vaccination in Black and brown communities is part of a larger demographic management strategy.
The discussion continues regarding Herskovits' 1941 book, *The Myth of the Negro Past*. Mo explains how academic narratives follow the funding, comparing the "invention" of Black history to the modern climate change industry. They discuss how this academic framework influenced later cultural milestones like Alex Haley's *Roots* and the eventual commercialization of Black culture.
Moe explains his month-long absence from the show, citing a period of intense self-awareness and "double consciousness," a term coined by W.E.B. Du Bois. He describes the burden of seeing himself through the eyes of others and the pressure to "code-switch" or maintain a specific persona. This internal recalibration led to a necessary break to decompress from the weight of the show's subject matter.
The hosts present archival audio of W.E.B. Du Bois discussing the history of socialism and communism within the Black community. Du Bois defends his membership in the Socialist Party and his study of Karl Marx, arguing that McCarthyism made America afraid to discuss these ideologies. The hosts argue that as a self-proclaimed socialist, Bernie Sanders should be more familiar with these historical Black radical traditions.
The historical rivalry between Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois is revisited to illustrate how black leadership has historically been infiltrated. Du Bois was influenced by Joel Spingarn, a military intelligence officer at the NAACP, while Washington’s Tuskegee Institute was infiltrated by R.R. Moten, an undercover agent. This historical context is used to show that government surveillance of black movements is a long-standing practice.
The sociological concepts of W.E.B. Du Bois, specifically "The Veil" and "Double Consciousness," are applied to Kanye West's current public persona. Du Bois argued that black Americans suffer from a split identity, seeing themselves through the eyes of a white society that views them with contempt. West's "free man talking" rhetoric is interpreted as an attempt to finally lift this veil and achieve a unified self.
The ideological rivalry between W.E.B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington centered on the best path for Black advancement. Du Bois advocated for the "Talented Tenth" and elite education, while Washington focused on industrial trades and pragmatism, with both men receiving significant funding from white philanthropists like Rockefeller and Carnegie.
A review of the original founders of the NAACP reveals that the organization was predominantly led by white men, with W.E.B. Du Bois serving in a secondary research role. This historical context is used to argue that there has been a long-standing pattern of white elitist control over Black political and cultural movements. The hosts discuss how this dynamic persists today, influencing policies that may not always align with the best interests of the community.
