Racial Capitalism with Robin D. G. Kelley

From slavery to Jim Crow, from colonial conquest to today's global labor exploitation—racism has always been foundational to capitalism. But what exactly is racial capitalism, and how does it continue to shape our economy and daily lives?In this episode, Manpreet Kaur Kalra sits down with renowned historian Robin D. G. Kelley to unravel how capitalism has always been a racialized and gendered colonial project. Together, they examine how systemic racism is ingrained in economic structures, shaping everything from labor practices and property rights to state power and global migration.Meet Our Guest: Dr. Robin D. G. Kelley is Distinguished Professor and Gary B. Nash Endowed Chair in U.S. History at UCLA.  His books include Freedom Dreams: The Black Radical Imagination and Hammer and Hoe: Alabama Communists During the Great Depression.In this deeply insightful conversation, we examine:how race and gender hierarchies have historically been used to justify exploitationthe role of slavery in shaping modern labor systemsJuneteenth and the reality of emancipation in the U.S., reframing the history we’ve been taughtJim Crow as a response to interracial labor movementsongoing impacts of colonialism on labor practices and immigration policy todaythe importance of solidarity in dismantling systems of oppressionDr. Kelley makes clear that racial capitalism isn’t just history, it’s the blueprint behind our current economic order. Understanding its roots and mechanisms is critical to any movement seeking genuine liberation and systemic change.“If the goal is liberation, two things have to go: modern capitalism and systemic racism.” — Robin D.G. Kelley📌 Robin D.G. Kelley’s work critically examines race, capitalism, labor, and radical social movements, offering powerful insights on the struggle for collective liberation. For more about Juneteenth, listen to his episode on the Majority Report.Support the Podcast: Art of Citizenry is proudly independent. Support us as we critically explore, challenge, and unravel mainstream narratives by empowering listeners with accessible, nuanced perspectives. Support Art of Citizenry’s Independent Journalism and Advocacy Efforts: https://www.artofcitizenry.com/supportSubstack: https://artofcitizenry.substack.com/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/manpreetkalra For more, you can find the full show notes of every episode at https://www.artofcitizenry.com/episodes