The Rasheed Griffith Show

46. The Philosophy Of Reggae - A Guided Tour

Send a textIt's not all love, peace and brotherhood and if you're looking for Bob Marley, you're out of luck there too. Join CPSI director Rasheed Griffith and podcast producer Shem Best for an unfiltered foray into reggae, its historical starting point, political ramifications and cultural proliferation throughout the region and the world. Reggae is first and foremost a vehicle of protest. We explore the societal context which forced the hands of the Rastafarians, producing anthems of anti-establishment sentiment that resonated with a growing movement which was finding itself increasingly at odds with a post-colonial government.What is "Babylon" and why are so many of these songs calling for us to burn it down? A greater understanding of rasta ideologies is required and we've got a basic crash course right here. Japanese Rastas may appear to be an improbable cultural anomaly, but it's a much more fitting match than you think. Reggae has become a global phenomenon, thus bringing the fight to seemingly unlikely locales. How has its message evolved over time and how effective is it today in a much more culturally mature and homogenous world.

45. The Politics of Panamá (I) - José Pérez Barboni

Send a textAt 25 years of age, José Pérez Barboni is one of the youngest members of Panama’s National Assembly. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on the intricate state of politics and governance on the isthmus and the peculiar system of elections that continues to shape the development of one of Latin America’s most pivotal economies.More than a canal…Panama, the proverbial (and literal) bridge of the Americas, is not defined simply by the infamous trans-oceanic marvel that is the Panama Canal. The country of just over 4 million sits at the forefront of an immigration crisis brought on by the veritable collapse of its neighbor Venezuela. Barboni, who is intimately familiar with the state of affairs, gives insights on what is being done to alleviate the strain on Panama’s resources, as well as bring regional and international attention to the precarious balance between humanitarian efforts and diplomatic action on the largest exodus in the modern history of the continent.Fool me once!Say no to colonial trade zones. José gives the rundown on local opposition to a mining deal and the true underlying cause of the early 2023 riots that paralyzed Panama. An aversion to repetition of the unfair conditions of the historic Panama Canal Zone and public frustration with a continued lack of government transparency fueled month-long protests which resulted in the rejection of an environmentally dubious mining contract.The future could be bright.How can we bring younger minds and opinions into governing roles? José shares his thought process and journey to the National Assembly. What can the rest of Latin America and the Caribbean learn from Panama’s prominent independent candidate culture and how has this shaped José’s party, Otro Camino?

44. Britain's Misguided Shame - Alexander Chula

Send a textThe role of the Church in dismantling the slave trade must not be understated. This is just one of many hard truths we examine on this episode featuring British writer and medical doctor, Alexander Chula. From his book "Goodbye Dr Banda: Lessons for the West from a Small African Country", Dr. Chula guides us through harmful misconceptions on Western culture.Western culture, the Classics and many of its trappings were not simply tools of subjugation. To frame them solely as such is to apply a reductionist view of a much broader and complex history where they were also tools of enlightenment and civilization building. In his book, Dr Chula introduces one such prolific character who recognized the utility of Western culture and used it to enrich and spotlight his own country's literary prowess. Malawi's first prime minister, Hastings Banda serves as the focal point for understanding the true role of Western influence via colonialism in Central Africa.His own history and initiatives on return to his homeland provide insight on the contributions of the Church of England, not via force but through countless missionaries who sought to bring development to the region by appealing to humanity. Fast forward to the present, and these contributions have been almost entirely forgotten or overlooked. In its place is a regrettable sense of guilt, guiding the narrative solely on emotion, rather than empirical evidence and manifesting via counterproductive reparations movements. How did we get here?

43. Henry Oliver - The Common Reader

Send a textWould V.S. Naipaul have made a good venture capitalist? Join us for a whirlwind episode with prolific British writer, Henry Oliver as we tackle thought-provoking inquiries surrounding the age of heroes, cities as imaginary spaces, the tragedy of unique talent and, the late bloomer. Imaginary CitiesTo best describe a place you hold dear, you must leave it. Or perhaps you find it oppressive to your ideas. Again, you must leave it. Henry describes cities written by icons like Joyce as meta-physical spaces, distinct from their geographical analogs, but often more real. We all experience a city differently, but those who step out of it can best perceive and concretize those collective experiences. Has the age of heroes ended? We theorize that the Great Man Theory of History may be to blame, or rather its rejection. Henry attributes this shift to a backlash against the idea that history is shaped solely by individual actors, emphasizing the importance of systems and broader forces. This "impersonalisation" of history from the common man has removed the reverence once attributed to various figures and barred new ones from joining their ranks. But perhaps it is time to give the relevant thinkers their laurels once more. The Tragedy of TalentThe right people, with the right ideas, at the right time, can change the course of history. Take Paul Kagame, the savior of modern Rwanda. Can we replicate his genius elsewhere or even again within Rwanda to continue his legacy of forward momentum for one of Africa's fastest-developing economies? What does the theory of personalities have to tell us about the rare harmonization of variables necessary to produce such development?And what of talent, whose capabilities present themselves later in life? Are we doing a disservice to the workforce by disregarding the late-bloomer? Shouldn't the collective experiences of those who find calling in non-traditional phases of life count towards their contribution potential within organizations?

42. The End Of Gay Rights

Send us Fan MailFull transcript on cpsi.media.The gay “movement” in the Caribbean has stalled and we think it’s because they haven’t done their due diligence. The various rights groups throughout the region have skipped the necessary steps in the evolutionary progression of gay concepts in the Caribbean. They’ve hastily pushed to emulate their more developed American and European colleagues and now risk a paralyzing backlash that could set gay rights in the region back for generations. How have we arrived at this critical impasse? We think the gay drain is to blame. Brain drain is a term coined to describe educated individuals who emigrate away from the Caribbean to seek out better opportunities for their degrees and fields of study. It’s no surprise that these emigrants are also, very gay. The “D.C gay” as we call them in this episode is any gay man or woman who has graduated from fighting for rights, to enjoying them. Whether they were on the streets with placard to bring them to being, or simply worked to escape the Caribbean region and join a more comfortable life abroad, these individuals have exited the conversation entirely. With these moderate fighters gone from the equation, more radical personalities who often see the progress abroad and seek to copy it at home are all that’s left. And this overwhelming body of extremes is the new face of the gay rights movement in the Caribbean. The role models all but gone. Western societies are now at a completely different stage of the rights conversation, one that has been unnecessarily obfuscated by the introduction of concepts like trans rights, that are are not synonymous with the gay rights that were fought for earlier. This dilution of the gay rights movement via the addition of more and more letters now paints a picture of a slippery slope that conservative developing parts of the world are terrified of and keen to avoid. In our modern environment that is becoming hostile to external changes perceived as threats to culture, what paths are there to progress?