Apex Ascend — Episode 6: Torn from the Land: The Story of Robert Gleed and the Theft of Black Prosperity

In this episode of Apex Ascend, Rodney LaBruce uncovers one of the most brutal and under-told stories of American history: the systematic dispossession of Black-owned land. We begin with the incredible life of Robert Gleed—a formerly enslaved man who rose to become a successful businessman and Mississippi state senator, only to be violently exiled and stripped of everything he owned. Then we zoom out, drawing from Torn from the Land, a landmark investigation by the Associated Press and The Seattle Times that revealed how more than 24,000 acres of Black land were stolen through violence, intimidation, and legal manipulation. This isn’t just a history lesson—it’s a call to action. Gleed’s story is a case study in how wealth was taken, how justice was denied, and how the fight for reparations is not just about the past—it's about restoring what was wrongfully taken. 🔗 Read the full Torn from the Land article: Seattle Times Archive 🎧 Subscribe. Share. And let’s keep rising. #ReparationsNow #BlackLandMatters #ApexAscend #LaBruceForCongress