In this in-depth conversation with Ashanti Alston — former Black Panther, political prisoner, and life long learner — we explore the radical meaning of life, death, and liberation. Ashanti reflects on the personal and collective sacrifices demanded by struggle, the weight of “social death,” and the spiritual grounding found in honoring ancestors.
Drawing from his years in the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation Army, Ashanti discusses the challenges of underground life, the lessons of past resistance movements, and the ongoing need for ideological diversity within revolutionary spaces. He shares insights on embracing anarchism through an Indigenous and communal lens, doing the internal work necessary for healing, and building movements rooted in love, accountability, and inclusion.
This episode offers both historical depth and practical wisdom — a reflection on what it means to live, resist, and build freedom together in the face of empire.
Listen to ASHANTI ALAGON INTERVIEW | Part 1... https://open.spotify.com/show/15CpGdYF2IyVBHe3GCt2Lc
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CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
08:30 What Does It Mean to Be a “Doomed” Revolutionary?
10:56 Family, Duty, and the Cost of Going Underground
18:49 The Concept of Social Death
21:39 Honoring the Dead: The BLA, Camus, and Continuity
29:16 Life Underground & Lessons from Prison
33:28 Exploring Historical Resistance Movements
34:22 The Importance of Diverse Ideologies
36:48 Embracing Anarchism and Indigenous Perspectives
39:37 Internal Work and Healing in Activism
45:40 Building Inclusive and Diverse Communities
38:04 Reflections on Revolutionary Structures
53:46 Future Projects and Community Engagement
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