This week the lives of the incarcerated, Susan Rice’s bid to be Secretary of State, and the incoming administrators of the empire were on your minds. We share your letters for “Letters of Life From Slow Death Row,” Black Misleaders Back Susan Rice As Top Diplomat,” and “Biden-Harris and the Diverse Faces of U.S. Imperialism.”
In “Letters of Life From Slow Death Row” incarcerated writer David Gilbert reviews a collection of prison letters written by life sentenced prisoner Tiyo Attallah Salah-El.
Mariann Garner-Wizard writes:
“Salah-El's life and attitude as reflected in this review remind me poignantly of Marilyn Buck, released from federal prison after nearly three decades just in time to die of a deadly cancer. Her life in prison also transcended the walls with a voluminous correspondence, deep friendships, AIDS education and fundraising, teaching English to dozens of incarcerated Spanish-speaking women, mentoring dozens of poets, contributing to radical journals, earning a Master’s degree, and on and on. ‘Can't jail the spirit’ was her watchword.
“David Gilbert has a similar indomitable spirit and it's good to read his review of this important book. When we reflect on what is possible even under the most brutal conditions, and the many thousands of people locked away needlessly, the loss to humanity is staggering. What could we not accomplish with equal educational opportunity, decent housing, job security, and universal health care? We must build schools and homes, NOT prisons! Thanks for this thoughtful review!”
“Black Misleaders Back Susan Rice As Top Diplomat” by Glen Ford anticipates Black misleaders continuing to back Rice for the position of Secretary of State despite her complicity in the deaths of more than six million Africans.
Wallace Nixon writes:
“With no identity and no economic base the black is totally susceptible to being bribed with some cash and prestigious positions. There are literally thousands of Ben Carsons,Colin Powells, Condoleezza Rices and Eric Dysons ready to associate with white power for a bag of goodies. The political party they sell out to is of little importance because their self-esteem soars when they are close to movers and shakers! Status seeking is their religion and in the U.S. the cracker has all the marbles.”
“Biden-Harris and the Diverse Faces of U.S. Imperialism” by Tye Salandy argues that the multi-racial faces in the new administration will bring no real change in U.S. imperialism.
Semawazi Chungu writes:
“Truth of the matter is African Americans have little to celebrate the Biden-Harris victory over Trump. We were presented with a choice of two donkeys with little to distinguish between them. After Biden's inauguration -- assuming it comes on time -- we will be lamenting the same inequalities, the same racist project, the same massive incarcerations and the same palliative bullshit being spewed for our consumption. And if that were not enough, the millions of African Americans who thought their salvation lay in casting their votes for the alternative donkey is testimony to the mind-numbing propaganda we have been made to swallow and do so without raising an eyebrow. Worse yet, evangelical Africans in the mother continent have been praying for Trump to emerge victor. Yes, that same Trump who labeled their entire continent a shithole continent. Sick is as sick does.”
We must continue to study the workings of the empire and understand the ways it can be disrupted.
Jahan Choudhry is Comments Editor for Black Agenda Report. He is an organizer with the Saturday Free School based in Philadelphia, PA.
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“We salute all peoples who are fighting/We honor all those who have died/For the cause of freedom.”
This lecture was delivered on February 3, 2026, at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver (Canada) for the monthly series “Black History and the Project of Black Studies.”
