10 episodes
The Africas VS. America CBC True Crime
-
- True Crime
-
-
4.2 • 46 Ratings
-
In 1985, police dropped a bomb in a Philadelphia neighborhood. Their target? A family of Black radicals known as ‘MOVE,’ who found themselves ensnared in a city — and nation’s — domestic war on Black Liberation. Over seven episodes, host Matthew Amha investigates the events that culminated in the MOVE bombing, and the long afterlife of a forgotten American tragedy.
All episodes are available ad-free on the CBC True Crime Premium channel (apple.co/cbctruecrime).
-
Mother’s Day
In the early hours of May 13, 1985, police direct residents of Osage Avenue in West Philadelphia to leave their homes, and not return for 24 hours. It’s Mother’s Day, and authorities have come to resolve a years-long conflict with a family of local revolutionaries — the Africas, collectively known as MOVE. There are 13 people in the Africa home that morning. Six of them are children. By the end of the day, most will be dead, and a neighbourhood will lie in ruins.
Artwork by Yannick Lowery.
For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/the-africas-vs-america-transcripts-listen-1.6736750 -
The Making of John Africa (GI John)
A quiet and reclusive young man is conscripted to war in Korea and returns having been made anew. Vincent Leaphart becomes the enigmatic John Africa, whose revolutionary vision will prove irresistible to followers seeking a new way of living. But what begins as a movement concerned with the protection of all life, will gradually turn to nonviolent direct action and large-scale civil disobedience in reaction to the state. This is the origin story of John Africa, leader of what will soon become known as MOVE.
For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/the-africas-vs-america-transcripts-listen-1.6736750 -
The Toughest Cop in America
By the 1970s, both local and federal law enforcement have perfected a system to subvert and neutralize Black liberation movements across the United States. The civil rights movement has been uprooted, and Black Power is now here. In Philadelphia, the most famous police officer in America is elected mayor. Frank Rizzo’s objective is to turn the city into centre stage in the nationwide fight against Black liberation activists. His power and influence will have deep implications for MOVE.
For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/the-africas-vs-america-transcripts-listen-1.6736750 -
The Commissioner’s Gambit
Complaints from neighbours about MOVE’s lifestyle lead to increasingly violent clashes with police. One confrontation turns deadly, and by 1978, relations between MOVE and city authorities have reached a crisis point. The MOVE home in residential Powelton Village becomes the scene of a two-months-long starvation blockade, and the site of a stand-off with police that will end in blood, gunfire, and the arrest of nine members of MOVE, collectively charged with murder for the death of an officer.
For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/the-africas-vs-america-transcripts-listen-1.6736750 -
MOVE on Trial
The MOVE 9 are catapulted into the international spotlight, facing more than 900 years between them for the death of Officer James Ramp — a crime for which they maintain their innocence. Central to the case is a former Black Panther and Vietnam vet named Delbert Africa, who will become a symbol of police brutality in Philadelphia. As all of this is happening, MOVE’s mysterious leader John Africa is on the run from local and federal authorities. When he’s finally found and brought up on charges, John Africa opts to represent himself in court, and an old friend takes the stand against him.
For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/the-africas-vs-america-transcripts-listen-1.6736750 -
Hellfire
In 1983, the City of Philadelphia elects its first Black mayor as successor to Frank Rizzo. Woodrow Wilson Goode inherits Rizzo’s fight against MOVE, but he also represents a moment of hope for Black Philadelphians who believe his election could be a harbinger of progress for a city beset with racial strife. Instead, Mayor Goode’s administration unleashes a torrent of violence never before seen in American history in an effort to neutralize MOVE once and for all.
For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/the-africas-vs-america-transcripts-listen-1.6736750
Customer Reviews
MORE OF THIS PLEASE!!
In-depth investigative journalism, exceptionally well written, edited, mixed, produced etc. with such an important story to be told. A story that many are unaware of and for those that are aware, almost certainly they weren’t taught half the true authentic details. Please share this with everyone but especially those who need a better truer understanding of just how robust racism remains today. Share it now with George Santos before Ron DiSanites finds some way to have this banned.
Questionable Journalism
I wanted to love this series but I can’t look past the blatant disregard of documented abuse within move. The father of Birdie Africa was interviewed for this, he has spoken out in depth about Move’s violent efforts to keep Birdie away from him. Many other members of Move, including Mike Jr’s own sister, were subject to child sexual abuse. There’s active blog and community of ex move members who have preserved archival records evidencing Move’s abuse, ideological backwardness, colorism, extortion, homophobia, manipulation, deceit. They weren’t even vegetarian, that’s not necessarily important but aside from philosophical inconsistency, it also suggests that the organization was well versed in the art of optics and narrative control. None of this justifies what happened to them, none of this undoes the brutality they endured. Still, this is painfully irresponsible journalism and a massive disservice to those who have been outspoken about the historical abuse within MOVE.
This is great
While I knew of and remember the MOVE bombings, I always wrote it off to an incompetant mayor or police making a mistake. This podcast provides the story. It's not just a rant, it's objective and it's entertaining, and you learn about the characters behind the story. This is what a podcast can do.
Top Podcasts In True Crime
You Might Also Like