Black Agenda Report
Black Agenda Report
News, commentary and analysis from the black left.

  • Home
  • Africa
  • African America
  • Education
  • Environment
  • International
  • Media and Culture
  • Political Economy
  • Radio
  • US Politics
  • War and Empire

Rikers Island, Slave Catching, and the Modern Carceral State
Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
07 Mar 2025
🖨️ Print Article

Black Agenda Radio · Rikers Island, Slave Catching, and the Modern Carceral State

Darren Mack is co-founder and co-director of Freedom Agenda, an organization devoted to decarceration and system transformation, including closing the Rikers Island jail. In commenting on New York City mayor Eric Adams' plan to allow ICE to operate on Rikers Island, Darren Mack pointed out the history behind the name. Richard Riker was a New York City judge who worked with slave catchers and the kidnappers who captured fleeing enslaved people and free Black New Yorkers to send them to slavery in the south. Darren Mack joins us from New York City to discuss this history, the need to close Rikers Island, and the historical connections with the modern-day carceral state.

Rikers Island
Incarceration
Slavery
New York City
Eric Adams

Related Podcasts

Carmella Charrington
Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
Deed Theft and Black Communities
22 May 2026
Leah Goodridge, a New York City-based attorney, housing advocate, and writer, is a memb
BAR Radio Logo
Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
Black Agenda Radio April 24, 2026
24 April 2026
In this week’s segment, we discuss the importance of including African-descended people in discussions around climate change and a just transition
Carmella Charrington
Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
Deed Theft and the Loss of Black Property
24 April 2026
Evangeline of the People’s Coalition to Stop Deed Theft, a grassroots New York City organiz

More Stories


  • U.S. Backs Dominican Republic As Violence Against Haitians Escalates After 22% of Haitians Deported
    Vladimir Fuentes
    U.S. Backs Dominican Republic As Violence Against Haitians Escalates After 22% of Haitians Deported
    17 May 2023
    The Dominican Republican continues acts of violence and deportations against Haitian descended people with near complete impunity as a result of making thousands of people stateless.
  • South Africa, the ICC and the Global Arms Trade
    Abayomi Azikiwe
    South Africa, the ICC and the Global Arms Trade
    17 May 2023
    Washington continues to pressure African states over their relations with the Russian Federation and the war in Ukraine.
  • First Public Comments After African People’s Socialist Party Members Indicted for Colluding with Russia
    Julie Varughese
    First Public Comments After African People’s Socialist Party Members Indicted for Colluding with Russia
    17 May 2023
    Members of the African People's Socialist Party and its Solidarity Committee were indicted on charges of acting under the influence of the Russian government. They vigorously defended themselves in…
  • Black Agenda Radio May 12, 2023
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Black Agenda Radio May 12, 2023
    12 May 2023
    African People's Socialist Party indictments, Cuban solidarity, and the 1970 police killings at Jackson State.
  • Federal Indictments of African People's Socialist Party
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Federal Indictments of African People's Socialist Party
    12 May 2023
    Omali Yeshitela is chairman of the African Peoples Socialist Party, leader of the Uhuru Movement, and the Black is Back Coalition.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us