This payday, Erika and her guest, Dr. Kehinde Andrews, discuss political violence and the political theory of Malcolm X. We use the death of Ch@rlie K1rk as a springboard to interrogate the role liberals and Black leaders play in stifling political organization and outrage to ultimately act as tools of counterinsurgency. We grapple with what it means to be political and who qualifies. Because Kehinde literally wrote a book on Malcolm X, we dive into what Brother Malcolm said on the topic of political violence and intuit what he might have thought about this political moment. Tune in to see what we have to say!

Guest: Dr. Kehinde Andrews
Guest socials: @kehindeandrews

This payday Amber and Erika are discussing Black capitalism and why money isn’t enough to save us from the pitfalls of the system. Using two hot-button current events - the Uncle Nearest lawsuit and receivership and Target boycott - we breakdown why capitalism is inherently anti-black and an ineffective liberatory tool. Both examples point to the limitations of capitalism and why Black people’s lack of ownership of the means of production prevents the independence necessary to generate capitalistic gain. Gleaning wisdom from Malcolm X’s evolving beliefs on Black economics and capitalism, this episode highlights why being pro-Black necessarily requires being anti-capitalism. Get the scoop when you listen to the episode!

On this episode, Amber and Erika are unpacking the details of the “One Big Beautiful Bill”, the legislative centerpiece of President Trump’s presidential agenda. We take a deep dive into who the tax cuts and who benefits from them, and we also explore the areas, such as military and immigration enforcement, where the bill has increased spending. But most importantly, we delve into the largest cuts to social safety net programs in American history. Cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, and student loan funding are all existential threats to all working class people, but especially Black people. Relying on Malcolm X’s words, we unpack what this bill can teach us and how to jump into action. Tune in to hear what we have to say!

On this episode—a Broke-ish first—Amber and Erika are diving into the comments and responding directly to what the Brokers have to say. Many of you had strong opinions about Episode 114, where we did a deep dive into the ADOS movement and Black unity across the diaspora. Community accountability is essential to liberation, and this episode was our attempt to pause and listen to our community’s opinions, concerns, and constructive criticism about our discussion on unity and Black freedom. Press play to join the conversation!

On this episode, Amber and Erika are joined by Dr. Calvin Schermerhorn, author of “The Plunder of Black America: How the Racial Wealth Gap Was Made”, to discuss the economic status of Black Americans. Despite the propaganda that Black people have less wealth due to poor choices, laziness, and missed opportunities, Dr. Schermerhorn points us to the historical data that clearly demonstrating that Black Americans have been continuously and systematically exploited and de-capitalized through racist laws, racial violence, and outright theft. We also examine Malcolm X’s vision for economically independent and vibrant Black communities and the extent to which integration distracted us from building and maintaining wealth within our own communities. Finally, Dr. Schermerhorn helps us identify reasons to be optimistic in the present fight for liberation and steps we can take to keep the past from repeating itself. Press play to hear what we have to say!

Homework: Purchase and read Dr. Schermerhorn’s book: The Plunder of Black America: How the Racial Wealth Gap Was Made

Guest Name: Dr. Calvin Schermerhorn

Guest Bio:

Dr. Calvin Schermerhorn grew up in Southern Maryland. After graduate degrees at Harvard Divinity School and the University of Virginia, he became an historian of slavery, capitalism, and African American inequality. He teaches courses in nineteenth-century American history and advises Honors, Masters, and Ph.D. students. He was a Fulbright Scholar to the University of Nottingham in 2022. He has contributed to The Atlantic, The Daily Beast, Time and The Washington Post, among other popular venues, and his work has been featured in national discussions of racial inequality. He is author of four books on American slavery and inequality including The Plunder of Black America: How the Racial Wealth Gap Was Made, which was published by Yale University Press in early 2025.

On this episode, Amber and Erika are discussing Black politics and how the fight for liberation of descendants of enslaved people here in the United States is connected to the fight of other African people in the diaspora. We are joined by journalist and teacher, Salifu Mack, and Broke-ish all-star, Dr. Kehinde Andrews, to examine black liberation politics in America and the degree to which those movements see themselves connected to broader Pan-Africanism. Finally, we look at what we can learn about the fight for freedom from Minister Malcolm X’s teachings and political philosophy. Tune in to get the scoop!

Homework: Watch Kehinde’s documentary: Nobody Can Give You Freedom

On this payday, Amber and Erika are joined by Broke-ish all-star, Dr. Kehinde Andrews, to discuss his latest book, “Nobody Can Give You Freedom: The Real Mission of Malcolm X”. Malcolm X, the foundational inspiration of Season 11, articulated a vision of Black radicalism and liberation that informs how we engage the global fight against anti-Blackness and systemic oppression. Dr. Andrews helps us clarify Malcolm’s liberatory strategies and political ethos—compellingly outlining America’s injustice to the broader quest for freedom for all people of African descent. This season’s episodes will not just focus on the broken “ish”, but each payday we will highlight what viable solutions we can glean from Minister Malcolm’s work. Press play to get the scoop!

Season 11 of Broke-ish is here! Amber and Erika are back for a new season, and they’re kicking things off by bringing the Brokers up to speed about what went down during the break. After the shenanigans, the duo laid out their vision for Season 11 and how Season 10 inspired its format. Season 10’s episodes were based upon debunking the ever plentiful myths and misstatements of our most infamous guest: John Hope Bryant. Like Season 10, this new season will be centered around a central figure, but it will be in celebration and pursuit of his ideals instead of debunking them. Malcolm X spent his life opposing White Supremacy and capitalism and left a Black Radical framework for the pursuit of liberation. We’ll explore how Minister Malcolm’s work informs our current pursuit for Black unity and the fight against systemic anti-Blackness. Tune in to get the blueprint!