Saturday Free School for Philosophy and Black Liberation
A weekly program offering analysis of philosophy, history, and current events through the lens of W.E.B. Du Bois, James Baldwin, and Martin Luther King Jr. The Saturday Free School focuses on political and ideological education, aiming to serve as an instrument of the people. It explores ideological clarity, theoretical sophistication, and principled unity while investigating the logic of social movements and methods of radical organizing.
Episodes
The Elections in NYC and the Undoing of the Nation's Political System (Saturday Free School 6/27/26)
We discuss the Democratic Socialists of America’s victories in the congressional race and other races in New York City. What does it show, and what does it mean? We also discuss our upcoming July 4th event, as well as Birmingham 1963 and the 250th anniversary of the founding of the US state: exploring a Thomas Jefferson - Martin Luther King dialogue.
The Chinese Civilization State (Saturday Free School 6/13/26)
We continue our discussion of the Chinese civilization state. We also discuss how China is governed: the triad of the state of the whole people, the Communist Party, and the people.
Assata's Search for Revolutionary Truth (Saturday Free School 6/7/26)
We discuss Assata Shakur’s search for revolutionary truth and the legacy of Martin Luther King and the Birmingham movement.
The Moral and Political Responsibilities of Revolutionaries in America's 250th (Saturday Free School 5/30/26)
We discuss what is the moral and political responsibility of revolutionaries in this 250th anniversary of the US state. Vital to this discussion will be a sermon from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. "The Birth of a New Nation" given on April 7, 1957
The US State and its Crisis (Saturday Free School 5/24/26)
We further examine the U.S. state and its crisis, how might it collapse, and how might the people take power. We also discuss how might a state of the whole people be achieved.
King: From Civil Rights to Human Rights to Revolution (Saturday Free School 5/17/26)
We discuss Martin Luther King Jr, from civil rights to human rights to revolution, and its meaning for this time of struggle.
James Lawson, Henry Winston, and Revolutionary Strategies to Seize State Power (Saturday Free School 5/9/26)
We continue our discussion on James Lawson, Henry Winston, nonviolence, the seizure of state power, and the achievement of revolutionary democracy.
James Lawson and Nonviolence as a Strategy for Revolutionary Democracy in the 21st Century (Saturday Free School 5/3/26)
We discuss whether and how nonviolent resistance strategy is compatible with the new achievement of a new and revolutionary democracy, and how the theorizing of James Lawson and Henry Winston help us understand such a strategy.
"Freedom and Sacrifice" and Where Do We Go From Here? (Saturday Free School 4/26/26)
We discuss our two-day event from last weekend titled, “Freedom and Sacrifice in Our Beloved Struggle: A Tribute to Martin Luther Jr’s Life.” as well as Martin Luther King Jr. and James Lawson.
War in Iran and the Possibility of Nonviolent Resistance (Saturday Free School 4/4/26)
We continue our discussion of the intensifying war in West Asia and the possibility of US ground forces entering battle. We also discuss James Lawson and the possibility of nonviolent resistance in the throes of the current war and economic crisis.
The Meaning of the Third American Revolution (Saturday Free School 3/28/26)
We discuss the meaning of America’s Third Revolution, as the nation prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of America’s first revolution. We also report on our reading of Taylor Branch’s “Parting of the Waters”, Volume 1 of a trilogy that studies the Third American Revolution.
Capitalism: A Global History — Seminar Discussion, Part 2
We discuss the book 'Capitalism: A Global History' by historian Sven Beckert. This seminar is organized on Saturday, March 14 and Sunday, March 22 in Philadelphia. We address questions such as: What is the relationship of white supremacy and war to the development of capitalism? How far does the logic of capitalism penetrate into human life: do we live in a single, universal capitalist civ
Capitalism: A Global History — Seminar Discussion, Part 1
This is a special two-part seminar of the Saturday Free School as we discuss the book 'Capitalism: A Global History' by historian Sven Beckert. This seminar is organized on Saturday, March 14 and Sunday, March 22 in Philadelphia. We address questions such as: What is the relationship of white supremacy and war to the development of capitalism? How far does the logic of capitalism penetrate
Assessing the Israeli-U.S. War on Iran (Saturday Free School 3/7/26)
We discuss the Israeli-U.S. war on Iran. We also report back on our upcoming seminar on global capitalism
U.S. and Israel Wage War Against Iran (Saturday Free School 2/28/26)
We discuss the U.S. and Israeli attack on Iran and what it may unleash in terms of wider war. We will then have a report back from our colleagues who attended the Nation of Islam's Saviours' Day in Detroit.
The Life and Legacy of Jesse Jackson, and Saviours' Day 2026 (Saturday Free School 2/21/26)
We discuss the life and legacy of Jesse Jackson. We will also discuss the Nation of Islam's ideological significance on the occasion of Saviours' Day.
Our Declaration for 2026, and the History Leading to the Epstein Crisis (Saturday Free School 2/14/26)
We discuss the Free School’s Declaration for the 250th anniversary of our American Revolution entitled “Our Declaration of Resistance and Purpose”. We also discuss the political history leading to the Jeffrey Epstein crisis.
The Epstein Files and ICE in Philly (Saturday Free School 2/7/26)
We discuss the Epstein files and ICE in Philly.
The Battle of Minneapolis and Davos (Saturday Free School 1/31/26)
We discuss the battle of Minneapolis and Davos.
James Lawson and the Challenges of Nonviolent Resistance (Saturday Free School 1/24/26)
We discuss speeches by James Lawson and the challenges for a nonviolent movement of resistance in this current crisis.
Emmett Till, Natasha McKenna, Renee Nicole Good: Deepening U.S. Crisis (Saturday Free School 1/17/26)
We discuss Emmett Till, Natasha McKenna, and Renee Nicole Good and the deepening U.S. civilizational crisis. We also discuss the return of 32 martyrs to Cuba following the U.S. attack on Venezuela.
Black Gods of the Poor and the Great Migration to the City w/ Mother Bethel AME (1/10/26)
On January 10th, 2026, the Saturday Free School for Philosophy and Black Liberation hosted a special edition of the Free School together with Mother Bethel AME Church’s Freedom School. Dr. Anthony Monteiro gives a lecture titled “Black Gods of the Poor and the Great Migration to the City.”Description: After 1890 Black people migrated to Philadelphia from the South. They sought work and education.
Continuing Our Discussion of Civilization and Revolutionary Democracy (12/27/25)
We continue our discussion on Civilization and Revolutionary Democracy.
The West's Civilizational Crises and the Struggle for Revolutionary Democracy & Peace (Saturday Free School 12/20/25)
Our topic of discussion is: The Western Civilizational Crises and the Struggle for Revolutionary Democracy and Peace.
A Discourse on Civilization (Saturday Free School 12/13/25)
We will discuss an essay from our journal Avant-Garde on civilization, in light of the National Security Strategy document, which says Europe faces civilizational erasure. https://avantjournal.com/2023/11/09/c...
The Black Worker in the History of Capitalism (Saturday Free School 12/6/25)
We continue and build on our discussion from about Sven Beckert's recent book on the history of capitalism.
The Black Worker and The Future of Democracy (Saturday Free School 11/29/25)
We discuss the Black worker in the history of capitalism and the future of humanity and democracy. We discuss Sven Beckert's recent work on the history of capitalism.
The Logic of the American Revolutionary Process (Saturday Free School 11/22/25)
We continue our discussion about the logic of the American revolutionary process, and the thinking of Gerald Horne and Cornel West.
On Gerald Horne and Cornel West (Saturday Free School 11/15/25)
We discuss two recent interviews of Gerald Horne and Cornel West and their relevance for today. They can be found here • Gerald Horne & Wilmer Leon - US Election A... and • In Conversation With Cornel West: The Deep...
Reporting on Our Event "Our Beautiful and Beloved Struggle" (Saturday Free School 11/8/25)
We assess our event celebrating Anthony Monteiro's 80th birthday, and extend our previous discussion about the political foundations of the Saturday Free School.
The Revolutionary Foundations of the Saturday Free School (10/25/25)
We discuss the revolutionary traditions, especially the thought of DuBois and Lenin, on which our thinking builds. We will also examine the meaning of intercivilizational unity in this time, and how we practice it.
Black Art in the Struggle to Remake the American People (Saturday Free School 10/18/25)
We discuss the ongoing crisis of the U.S. state, the world situation, and the role of Black art in the struggle to remake the American people toward a new nation.
The Struggle to Rebuild American Society (Saturday Free School 10/11/25)
We discuss the ideological struggle in this time in regards to the fight for a new society and reindustrialized economy.
Is Donald Trump a Fascist? (Saturday Free School 10/4/25)
We discuss whether a fascist political system has taken over, and where do Black folk stand in new forms of organized resistance
Trump, Kirk, and Western Civilization Can the Ruling Elite Survive (Saturday Free School 9/27/25)
Our topic is Charlie Kirk, Donald Trump, and the collapse of Western civilization: Can the ruling elite survive?
Are We Closer to Civil War (Saturday Free School 9/20/25)
We continue our discussion on the rise of political violence, the murder of Charlie Kirk, and ask, are we closer to civil war.
Diane Nash and Coretta Scott King as Exemplars of a New Revolutionary Democracy (Saturday Free School 9/6/25)
We continue our discussion on the struggle for a new democracy, and we look at Diane Nash and Coretta Scott King as exemplars of the struggle to achieve it.
A New Stage of Democracy (Saturday Free School 8/30/25)
We continue our discussions on the possibilities of a nonviolent transition to a new stage of democracy
Democratic Theory at Our Stage of Democracy: Nonviolent Democratic Seizure of Power (Saturday Free School 8/23/25)
We continue our discussion on democratic theory, and consider the possibility of a democratic nonviolent seizure of power by the people.
The Black Proletariat, Democracy, and the American Crisis (Saturday Free School 8/16/25)
Due to demand, we are uploading past Free School sessions and will resume uploads to Spotify.We discuss a recent podcast by Ross Douthat and continue our discussions on the crisis of the ruling elite and the role of the Black poor at this stage of our democracy.
The Search for Black Gods at a Time of Regime Collapse (8/9/25)
Due to demand, we are uploading past Free School sessions and will resume uploads to Spotify.We discuss the lecture, "W.E.B. Du Bois: Art & The Search for Black Gods" at Lucien Blackwell Library, and where this positions the Black proletariat as the nation approaches regime collapse.
Are We Close to Regime Collapse: Deindustrialization and The Cost of Empire (Saturday Free School 8/2/25)
Due to demand, we are uploading past Free School sessions and will resume uploads to Spotify.We discuss recent arguments by political commentators and discuss whether the crisis of empire has reached an irreversible stage.
Deindustrialization, an Economic Catastrophe, and North Philly (Saturday Free School 7/26/25)
Due to demand, we are uploading past Free School sessions and will resume uploads to Spotify.We continue our discussion on deindustrialization, poverty and the search for Black gods in North Philly. We also report on the ongoing North Philadelphia History Festival and its significance and purpose.
100 Years of Patrice Lumumba; Industrialization and China (Saturday Free School 7/19/25)
Due to demand, we are uploading past Free School sessions and will resume uploads to Spotify.We discuss songs by Donny Hathaway, as well as a recent celebration of Patrice Lumumba's 100th anniversary in India, and the struggle against neocolonialism. We also continue our discussion on deindustrialization, and look at China's strategy behind its successful industrialization.
Deindustrialization, Poverty, and the Black Gods of North Philly (Saturday Free School 7/12/25)
Due to demand, we are uploading past Free School sessions and will resume uploads to Spotify.We continue our discussion on Black Gods through studying the historic arc of deindustrialization and poverty in Philadelphia.
Our Knowledge Symposium and the Black Proletarian Imaginary (Saturday Free School 7/5/25)
Due to demand, we are uploading past Free School sessions and will resume uploads to Spotify.We explore and assess our Knowledge Symposium through revisiting the final round table entitled “The Black Proletarian Imaginary: A Futuristic View.” Three of us explore themes in the roundtable and comments, before engaging in further thinking and investigations.
U.S., Iran and the Possibility of War (Saturday Free School 6/21/25)
Due to demand, we are uploading past Free School sessions and will resume uploads to Spotify.We discuss the Israeli attack on Iran and the growing crisis, the possibility of U.S. entering the war.
Israeli Attacks on Iran and Where We Go From Here (Saturday Free School 6/14/25)
Due to demand, we are uploading past Free School sessions and will resume uploads to Spotify.We discuss the Israeli attacks on Iran and where this is going. Then we give a preview of our interview with Student Minister Ishmael Muhammad. Finally, we read the vision statement for our knowledge conference.
Elizabeth Catlett and the Moral & Revolutionary Imperative of the Artist (Saturday Free School 6/7/25)
Due to demand, we are uploading past Free School sessions and will resume uploads to Spotify.We discuss the artist and sculptor Elizabeth Catlett, and the revolutionary imperative of the artist at this time.
The Bandung Spirit and The Rise of Afro-Asia (Saturday Free School 5/31/25)
Due to demand, we are uploading past Free School sessions and will resume uploads to Spotify.We discuss the 70th anniversary of the Bandung Conference, the Non-Aligned Movement that arose from Afro-Asia for the demand of Peace, and DuBois' New World Movement of Thought.
Malcolm X Centennial and the U.S. Empire (Saturday Free School 5/24/25)
Due to demand, we are uploading past Free School sessions and will resume uploads to Spotify.We discuss Malcolm X's 100th birth anniversary, and its significance at this time for the history of the U. S. empire.
Symposium Debrief: "Seizing Our Future" (Saturday Free School 5/17/25)
Due to demand, we are uploading past Free School sessions and will resume uploads to Spotify.We reflect on our symposium on the revolutionary music of Ellington, Mingus Sun Ra and Bootsy.
"Sinners" and the Struggle for Ideological Clarity (Saturday Free School 5/3/25)
Due to demand, we are uploading past Free School sessions and will resume uploads to Spotify.We discuss the movie "Sinners" by Ryan Coogler, and the struggle for ideological clarity at this time. We also share more of our preparations for the symposium on Ellington, Mingus, Sun Ra and Bootsy.
Our Upcoming Symposium "Seizing the Future" (Saturday Free School 4/26/25)
We discuss our upcoming symposium titled "Seizing Our Future: The Revolutionary Music of Ellington, Mingus, Sun Ra and Bootsy", to be held on May 10th and 11th at the Church of the Crucifixion, Philadelphia.
Trump vs. the Elite Universities (Saturday Free School 4/19/25)
We discuss the significance of recent attacks on the universities by the Trump administration. We also discuss the upcoming music symposium, and the upcoming Issue 4 of Avant-Garde: A Journal of Peace, Democracy and Science.
Donald Trump and the Undoing of the U. S. Empire (Saturday Free School 4/12/25)
We discuss the effects of the ongoing policies of the Trump administration and the fate of the U. S. empire.
Du Bois and a New World Movement of Thought, Continued (Saturday Free School 3/22/25)
We continue our discussion of W.E.B. Du Bois as the original thinker of a new movement of world thought.
W. E. B. Du Bois and a New World Movement of Thought (Saturday Free School 3/15/25)
We discuss W. E. B. Du Bois and a new world movement of thought, and its relationship to the disintegration of the American Empire.
Closing of the Year of James Baldwin (Saturday Free School 3/8/25)
We discuss our preparations for the closing of, and the significance of, the Year of James Baldwin, titled 'Celebrating Our Forever Revolutionary James Baldwin', which commenced at 2.30 pm on March 8th.
The Beginning of the End of the Euro-American Alliance (Saturday Free School 3/1/25)
We discuss the epistemologies of prominent thinkers such as Noam Chomsky, Jeffrey Sachs and others, and its significance in understanding this moment of beginning of the end of the American Empire.
Trump, Ukraine, and The New Ideological Moment for Humanity (Saturday Free School 2/22/25)
We discuss the significance of the Trump administration's role in ending war in Europe, and the new ideological moment for humanity and the American People.
The Collapse of the U.S. State; Chris Hedges and Steve Bannon (Saturday Free School 2/15/25)
We continue our discussion on a new Theory of the State, and examine the epistemology of opposite political actors Steve Bannon and Chris Hedges.
The Struggle for a Revolutionary Democracy, A New Theory of the State (Saturday Free School 2/8/25)
We discuss the struggle for a new and revolutionary democracy, which requires an updated theory of the State.
DeepSeek, A.I., and the Chinese and American Social Systems (Saturday Free School 2/1/25)
We discuss DeepSeek, the Chinese A.I. system that challenges our assumptions of technology and scientific capacities of the U.S. and the rest of the world, and what this tells us about the Chinese and U.S. social systems.
The Inauguration of Trump and Possible Futures (Saturday Free School 1/25/25)
We discuss the inauguration of Donald Trump and what are the possible futures for the United States.
The Crisis of the Two-Party System (Saturday Free School 1/18/25)
We discuss the crisis of the two-party system in the US and what this means for governance and the rule of the ruling elite.
The US People's Struggle for Democracy as a Geostrategic Force for Peace (Saturday Free School 1/11/25)
We discuss this topic: "Is the US People's struggle for democracy a geostrategic force in the global struggle for peace?"
Assessing the Year of James Baldwin and an All Humanity Struggle (Saturday Free School 1/4/25)
We assess the first 10 months of the Year of James Baldwin and what the last seven weeks will look like. Then we discuss an all humanity struggle of a new type in this moment of civilizational crisis.
Can The American Ruling Elite Survive The Crisis of Western Civilization (Saturday Free School 12/28/24)
We discuss: Can the American ruling elite survive the civilizational crisis that the West is engulfed in?
The Capacities of the Ruling Elite (Saturday Free School 12/21/24)
We discuss what the capacities of the ruling elite are. Are they weaker than they've been in close to 100 years?
The Upcoming Election and BRICS (Saturday Free School 10/26/24)
We discuss the election 10 days out. We also speak about the BRICS conference in Russia.
Chaos and Nihilism in the Final Days of the Biden Admin (Saturday Free School 12/14/24)
We discuss chaos and nihilism in the final days of Biden administration.
The Political System Crisis of Disintegration (Saturday Free School 12/7/24)
We discuss the Lucien Blackwell Library reading group for the Year of Baldwin, including a discussion on Baldwin's essay "Freaks and the American Ideal of Manhood." Then we discuss the political system crisis of disintegration and what are the possible ways forward.
The Ideological Crisis of the State (Saturday Free School 11/30/24)
We discuss the US state in the throes of the ideological crisis of the state. We examine some theories including John Rawls's theory of justice.
The Overturning of the Liberal Consensus (Saturday Free School 11/23/24)
We discuss the US state and its ideology in a time of mass discontent and the overturning of the liberal consensus. We explore the FDR redistributive/progressive state and Trump's retribution/revenge state.
Liberalism and the History of Modernity (11/16/24)
We discuss liberalism and the history of modernity.
The 2024 Election and Activist Future (Saturday Free School 11/9/24)
We sum up the 2024 election and the activist future for the U.S. people and working class. We also discuss reading James Baldwin in these times.
Nobel Prizes and "The Souls of Black Folk" in Year of Baldwin (Saturday Free School 10/19/24)
We analyze the Nobel prizes in physics, chemistry and economics and what they say about knowledge and science. We also discuss W.E.B. DuBois's "The Souls of Black Folk" in the Year of James Baldwin, the presidential election, and wars.
The Black Social System and the World's Colored Modernity (Saturday Free School 10/12/24)
We discuss the Black social system and the realization of the world's colored modernity.
White Supremacist Social System and Mode of Production (Saturday Free School 9/28/24)
We discuss the white supremacist social system, the Democratic Party, and the 2024 election. We begin with a presentation of the thesis and questions presented on the white supremacist social system and the Marxian concept mode of production.
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