Episode 82: The resistance is not dead
An image of the sankofa found on the coffin of Burial 101, now carved on the ancestral chamber at the African Burial Ground National Monument.
We’re talking about resistance in real life and science fiction. First we do a deep dive into the history of New York City’s African Burial Ground, used by enslaved people during the 18th century. Michael Blakey, who headed the excavation, tells us how these people resisted their enslavement. How do stories of resistance shape our history — and change the way we conceive of possible futures?
Notes, citations, & etc.
African Burial Ground in New York City
Full archaeological reports about the African Burial Ground (including Blakey’s work)
“Archaeology Under the Blinding Light of Race,” by Michael Blakey
“Reassessing the Sankofa Symbol in New York’s African Burial Ground,” by Erik Seeman
“How an Enslaved African Man Helped Save Generations from Smallpox,” by Erin Blakemore
The Social Life of DNA, by Alondra Nelson
Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates
Star Wars: Rogue One, dir. Gareth Edwards
Foundation series, by Isaac Asimov
THX-1138, dir. George Lucas
Blake’s 7 series, created by Terry Nation
Neuromancer, by William Gibson
Blade Runner, dir. Ridley Scott
The Matrix Trilogy, created by the Wachowskis
The Centenel Series, by Malka Older
Westworld series, created by Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan
Person of Interest, created by Jonathan Nolan
Murderbot series, by Martha Wells
Her, dir. Spike Jonze
Ex Machina, dir. Alex Garland
“The Lifecycle of Software Objects,” by Ted Chiang
A Closed and Common Orbit, by Becky Chambers
Battlestar Galactica, created by Glen Larson (1978 series) and Ronald D. Moore (2004 series)
The Terminator franchise, created by James Cameron
Star Wars: Solo, dir. Ron Howard
The Mandalorian, created by Jon Favreau