Make It Plain Podcast

Kehinde Andrews
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The Make it Plain podcast is hosted by Kehinde Andrews, chair of Harambee OBU and professor of Black Studies. Each week he discusses what's happening in the world and interviews people you need to hear from. Support Make it Plain: https://make-it-plain.org/support-us/ Join Harambee OBU https://www.blackunity.org.uk/ Written and hosted: Kehinde Andrews Artwork: Assata Andrews YouTube: Kadiri Andrews

  1. 5 DAYS AGO

    Save Black Studies and the 5 staff up for redundancy; Reform's big day may be good in the long run

    Welcome to this week's episode of "Make It Plain." Kehinde reveals what has getting him stressed and tired...the troubling news that management at Birmingham City University have decided to close the Black Studies program, putting five Black staff members, including himself at risk of redundancy. This decision comes despite promises to the contrary and highlights a attack on Black intellectual thought. We discuss the impact of this closure on students and staff, of the sudden closure of the MA Black Studies and Global Justice, with absolutely no notice or consultation. Kehinde emphasises the transformative power of Black Studies in education. The program has been instrumental in supporting students who might not have otherwise attended university, helping them achieve remarkable academic success. The episode also covers the recent local elections in the UK, where the Reform Party, led by Nigel Farage, made significant gains. Kehinde explores the implications of these results and the potential threat they pose to the political landscape, while also finding a silver lining in the overconfidence it will lead to in Farage, ultimately blocking the real danger of the next general election in the UK. Throughout the discussion, we stress the importance of community support and the need for independent Black organisations to thrive outside traditional institutions. We invite listeners to join us in upcoming events and initiatives aimed at preserving and promoting Black Studies and intellectual thought. Read the public letter and sign the petition in support https://c.org/hnpyKBCX7X Read about the attack on Black Studies in the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/may/12/birmingham-city-university-urged-not-to-axe-black-studies-ma In the Times Higher: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/black-studies-masters-course-close-birmingham-city Get you FREE ticket for what might be the final Black Studies event at Birmingham City University. Sunday May 24th the Black Studies team will be hosting Kimberlé Crenshaw to talk her new book Backtalker, and the importance of defending Black intellectual thought: https://Kimberlecrenshaw.eventbrite.co.uk Join Harambee OBU: www.blackunity.org.uk Written and hosted by: Kehinde Andrews Edited by: Kadiri Andrews Artwork by: Assata Andrews

    59 min

  2. 2 MAY

    America is Europe on steroids; the attack on voting rights + Liberian Pan-Africanists speak

    For the first time in his life a politician canvassed Kehinde for a vote, for the upcoming local elections on May 7th. This is lead to reflection on the the Supreme Court gutting the Voting Rights Act and allowing the Louisiana Republicans to draw racist maps for the US midterms. As with most things America is Europe on steroids, where you can see the racism more clearly, but it is no better the UK where the maps are drawn by a commission but the impact is the same. He also uses the story of the US ruling and the Black ultra-conservative judge as a way to tease the news that will drop next week, that has him tired angry this episode. Tune in next week for the reveal. As part of the West African Road Residency, trip the Convention of African People, the group stopped in Monrovia, Liberia to speak to two longstanding Pan-Africanists in the country Conmany and Madina Wesseh. We share the interview with them and the group. It is a fascinating discussion about the history of Pan-Africanism, Liberia and where do we go from here. Black Studies at Birmingham City University will be hosting US legal scholar activist Professor Kimberlé Crenshaw on May 24th from 3-6pm to launch her new book Backtalker Get your free ticket at: https://Kimberlecrenshaw.eventbrite.co.uk Conmany Wisseh's Wikipedia page https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conmany_Wesseh Find out more about the Convention of Afrikan People https://make-it-plain.org/convention-of-afrikan-people/ Support the Library of Africa and the African Diaspora: https://loatad.org/ Join Harambee OBU: www.blackunity.org.uk Written and hosted by: Kehinde Andrews Edited by: Kadiri Andrews Artwork by: Assata Andrews

    1hr 26min

  3. 25 APR

    From Ghana to Gambia on a bus to explore Pan Africanism + Femicide hits the US news

    Kehinde returns to vividly recounts his 2-week journey through West Africa's complex landscape from the Library of Africa and the African Diaspora in Accra, Ghana to the Convention for Afrikan People in Banjul, Gambia. Friend of the pod, newly minted Dr Erika Brown, joins to discuss the 3,000km trip. From harrowing slave castles in Ghana to border crossings that can take hours Kehinde's personal reflections offer a raw, unfiltered view on what it truly means to witness disparities of wealth, infrastructure, and opportunity firsthand—and how these scars shape the collective psyche of the continent. Before they get into the conversation Erika catches Kehinde up on what has happened since he has been away, discussing the recent media stories of femicide in the US and the pitfalls of financial literacy. Find out more about the Convention of Afrikan People https://make-it-plain.org/convention-of-afrikan-people/ Follow Erika at the Broke-ish podcast https://brokeish.com/  Support the Library of Africa and the African Diaspora: https://loatad.org/  Join Harambee OBU: www.blackunity.org.uk  Written and hosted by: Kehinde Andrews Edited by: Kadiri Andrews Artwork by: Assata Andrews

    1hr 22min

  4. 4 APR

    There's was no such thing as 'American' slavery + Mailbag episode

    Following on from last week's episode about reparation Kehinde breaks his usual rules and opens up the Twitter comments. As expected there was some backlash from the American Descendants of Slavery (ADOS) and Foundational Black Americans (FBA) to the notion that Africa has a reparations claim due to the damage done to the continent due to slavery. While he would usually avoid the 'White noise' in the comments, he felt he had to address the delusions coming from Black folk. After all, Malcolm told us that we need a 'programme of political re-education'. Join him as he explains why he took the step over going into the comments and addresses the terrible ideas that he came across. He also opens up the mailbag and answers listeners questions. The last pod of every month will be a mailbag so leave your questions in the comments or email mip@blackunity.org.uk Kehinde's article on reparations 'The Knife is Still in Our Backs: Reparations Washing and the Limits of Reparatory Justice Campaigns' https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/dech.12848?af=R Support Make it Plain: https://make-it-plain.org/support-us/ Join Harambee OBU https://www.blackunity.org.uk/ Written and hosted by Kehinde Andrews Produced by Kadiri Andrews Artwork by Assata Andrews

    1hr 8min

  5. 28 MAR

    Be careful what reparations you wish for

    With Ghana's successful UN resolution declaring slavery a ''crime against humanity' Kehinde reflects on the current state of the reparations movement. Unfortunately, most of the world's efforts for reparations are nothing but a fancy disguise for ongoing exploitation and empty promises. From CARICOM to ADOS, to disgraceful attempts like Lloyds of London, join us for this fiery episode, we cut through the performative gestures to expose the brutal reality: without genuine economic and political power, reparations remain an illusion — a way to keep us begging rather than taking what's ours. Join us as we dive deep into the scars of slavery's legacy, exploring how colonialism, capitalism, and internal betrayal have decimated Africa and the diaspora for centuries. You'll discover why calls for aid, apologies, and symbolic resolutions are distractions from the true fight: building self-sufficient, sovereign nations that refuse to accept crumbs from a system built on their suffering. We break down the latest UN declarations, revealing how declarations of "crimes against humanity" serve as PR stunts that hide the complicity of nations like Britain, the US, and Argentina in their ongoing refusal to reckon with their past. You'll hear why the real solution lies beyond hollow apologies, demanding collective economic sovereignty, land, and resources — the foundations of true revolutionary reparation. This episode is a wake-up call for those tired of being promised justice that never comes. Perfect for activists, thinkers, and anyone ready to challenge the global order and reclaim their power. It's time to stop begging and start taking — because justice cannot be served with a handout. It must be seized with the strength of unity across Africa and the diaspora. If you believe in radical change, if you're fed up with the illusions of progress inside a system designed to oppress, then this episode is your blueprint. Join the movement — the true reparations start with us claiming our future. Stop the Maagamizi https://stopthemaangamizi.com/ Check out this debate with Kehinde and his 'opponent' on Triggernometry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3QFZr6kiFE Caricom Reparations platform https://caricomreparations.org/ Critical Reparations Conference at BCU September 2026 https://www.linkedin.com/posts/robert-beckford-phd-a77651a9_this-call-for-papers-offers-an-urgently-needed-activity-7397253542782345217-l_Qg Support Make it Plain: https://make-it-plain.org/support-us/ Join Harambee OBU https://www.blackunity.org.uk/ Written and hosted by Kehinde Andrews Produced by Kadiri Andrews Artwork by Assata Andrews

    1hr 7min

  6. 21 MAR

    Eid shouldn't be political + Bernard Coard on how Black children are made educationally subnormal

    Happy Eid to everyone who is celebrating. It shouldn't be a political statement but given Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch's racism it needs to be said. Kehinde opens by explaining that Black people need to avoid falling into the anti-Muslim trap, not least because being Black and Muslim is a feature of our communities. We then share a talk given by Bernard Coard about his work racism and education in the classic How the West Indian Child is Made Educationally Subnormal in the British School System. A must listen to how little things have changed in the last fifty years. Buy How the West Indian Child is Made Educationally Subnormal in the British School System https://www.newbeaconbooks.com/black-british-fiction/a4wyiz9c6te8qqmndaeqldp9nte7rd Support Make it Plain: https://make-it-plain.org/support-us/ Join Harambee OBU https://www.blackunity.org.uk/ Written and hosted by Kehinde Andrews Produced by Kadiri Andrews Artwork by Assata Andrews

    58 min

  7. 14 MAR

    We need to talk about Lammy; plus Kehinde's daughter joins to talk Oscars, AI and pop culture

    Kehinde opens up with a rant about David Lammy's ending of jury trials for the majority of cases in England and Wales. Lammy chaired a review into the criminal injustice system in 2017 that highlighted judges as one of the most prejudiced aspects of the system…and now wants to put our fate in their hands. Judges deciding cases will mean more Black people in prison and Lammy knows this all too well. From once pretending to have the community on his side he has now fully turned his back. Then Kehinde is joined by his daughter, Assata for an intergenerational conversation and to find out what young people are talking about. They delve into the Oscars, debating the merits of films like "Sinners", and explore themes of race and representation in cinema. The discussion also touches on AI's impact, with Assata expressing concerns about its environmental cost and societal implications. They also delve into conspiracy theories surrounding figures like Epstein. The conversation also touches on how globalization affects culture, linking it to colonialism. Assata shares insights into contemporary slang, explaining terms like "ate," "cooked," and "chat," while reflecting on generational differences in language and culture. Support Make it Plain: https://make-it-plain.org/support-us/ Join Harambee OBU https://www.blackunity.org.uk/ Written and hosted by Kehinde Andrews Produced by Kadiri Andrews Artwork by Assata Andrews

    1hr 18min

  8. 7 MAR

    White Supremacy will end the world...but not over Iran + Moses McKenzie Interview

    The latest episode of Make it Plain opens with Kehinde reassuring his children that World War 3 won't start over Iran. All the bombings and the news has people scared (and yes it is terrible what the US and Israel are doing) but he explains why China and Russia won't be going to war over Iran. Then an interview with Moses McKenzie we discuss topics such as masculinity, feminism, and Black British literary identity. We explore how authors navigate the predominantly white publishing industry and audience expectations. The discussion includes Moses's writing approach, the influence of locations like Cornwall, Bristol, and London, as well as themes of class, migration, politics, Rastafari, Islam, and race. We also talk about Moses's creative process, his upcoming third novel, and his work in film and screenwriting, along with reflections on non-fiction and future projects. Buy a Moses McKenzie book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B094RKFXMD Support Make it Plain: https://make-it-plain.org/support-us/ Join Harambee OBU: https://www.blackunity.org.uk/ Find out about the Convention for Afrikan People: https://make-it-plain.org/convention-of-afrikan-people/ Artwork by Assata Andrews Written by Kehinde Andrews Produced by Kadiri Andrews

    1hr 12min
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About

The Make it Plain podcast is hosted by Kehinde Andrews, chair of Harambee OBU and professor of Black Studies. Each week he discusses what's happening in the world and interviews people you need to hear from. Support Make it Plain: https://make-it-plain.org/support-us/ Join Harambee OBU https://www.blackunity.org.uk/ Written and hosted: Kehinde Andrews Artwork: Assata Andrews YouTube: Kadiri Andrews

Information

  • Creator
    Kehinde Andrews
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    55
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2024
  • Show Website
    Make It Plain Podcast

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