Third Rail Eps 52: Is there a Black-Asian Future?

As the cultural and economic displacement of low-income people of color intensifies in New York and throughout urban America, the parallel strivings of Asian- and African-Americans force activists to deeply consider their alliances and how to navigate battle lines.  This week on Third Rail we examine the state of Black-Asian relations in gentrifying New York […]

Third Rail Episode 51: Racing Stripes

As historically “Black” districts in Central Brooklyn evolve, encompass various neighborhoods, and/or gentrify, Black candidates for elected office use tactics, voter targeting and coded messaging to appeal to different sub constituencies that cut across race, class and a variety of identity lines.  This week in Third Rail we examine electoral politics in a gentrifying Central […]

Third Rail Eps 50: What’s The 911?

The shooting of Saheed Vassell by the NYPD on April 4th in Crown Heights re-ignited a chronic community safety debate: What kind of discretion should we use in calling the police when we know that it can result in a death sentence for an unsuspecting Black person?   Today, we investigate what runs through people’s […]

Third Rail Eps 49: Brooklyn’s Own Youth Activism & Anti- Gun Violence

The recent youth-led demonstrations that were prompted in response to the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida have jump-started a conversation around the role that youth play in combating American-style gun violence. The site of the Parkland massacre was Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, a majority white school in Broward County, Florida. However, Black and Brown […]

Third Rail Eps 48: Wakanda Forever, What Black Panther Promises Brooklyn & Black Cinema

Raking in over $400 million in its opening weekend, Black Panther has broken almost all box office records. But what does that mean for Black Brooklynites, the media they make and the legacy we leave?  We discuss Marvel’s Black Panther with film and television producer, Okema T. Moore and Curtis Caesar John, Director of The […]

Third Rail Eps 47: The Book of Veralyn

It’s with both sadness and excitement that we announce the departure of long-time Third Rail co-host Veralyn Williams. This will be her last show as co-host. Sadness, because Veralyn’s been a central member of the BMC/Brooklyn Deep family for almost 5 years and excitement because we know that Veralyn is going to be tearing it up […]

Third Rail Eps 46: Weeksville, The Past as Destiny

Gentrification has many of us thinking, just how long does one of America’s largest Black Community have before it is disappeared? We discuss Weeksville, Brooklyn’s first free Black Community with guests, Vivian Warfield whose family has a long Brooklyn lineage, and historian Aimee VonBokel. Segment One: Mark and Veralyn talk to Vivian about her commitment and descendancy to […]

Third Rail Eps 45: Nothin’ But a G Thing

On the eve of the NYC elections, the Brooklyn Deep team examines all the local gentrification drama that helped define the political landscape this summer. Joining us is Michael Higgins Jr., the lead organizer for Families United for Racial and Economic Equality (FUREE). Also, Brooklyn Deep’s engineer and co-producer, TK, hooks on a mic and […]

Third Rail Eps 44: Summer Black

If there is any question about what Black culture remains in Brooklyn, all you have to do is check out the summer scene on the streets of Brownsville, Bed-Stuy, Crown Heights, Fort Greene and even Dumbo where festivals and block parties celebrate Brooklyn negritude. Mark, Veralyn and guests, Zawadi Morris, Editor of BK Reader, and […]

Third Rail Eps 43.5: Blewish Part Two: The easy myths and hard truths of Black-Jewish relations.

In this special mini-episode we continue our conversation about Black-Orthodox Jewish relations and take a look at the conflicts between two othered communities in one area, Crown Heights. Mark talks to Leo Ferguson a leader in Jews for Economic and Racial Justice (JFREJ) about equating Jewishness with whiteness, the similarities and differences of Black and Jewish […]