Guest: Charles Barron, former NYC Councilman, State Assemblyman, and Black Panther
Host: Davey D
Topic: The recent upset in NYC’s mayoral race and broader implications for Black political power and radical organizing
In a passionate and politically charged interview on Hard Knock Radio, host Davey D sat down with veteran Black Panther and longtime New York politician Charles Barron to unpack the unexpected defeat of establishment favorite Andrew Cuomo by Democratic Socialist Zoran Mamdani in the NYC mayoral primary.
Barron, who served alongside both candidates, described Cuomo as a political fraud who failed Black communities by slashing public benefits, underfunding education, and overseeing deadly COVID nursing home policies—all while dodging accountability for sexual harassment allegations. Mamdani, by contrast, was praised for his consistency on progressive issues, though Barron warned that Mamdani did not earn the Black vote and must now be held accountable by Black communities who were largely sidelined in his campaign.
“Cuomo didn’t deserve the Black vote, and Mamdani didn’t earn it,” Barron said, calling on Black voters to abandon “plantation politics” in favor of radical, independent organizing.
Barron criticized the Black political establishment—including figures like Gregory Meeks—for backing Cuomo despite prior condemnation, exposing a pattern of political expediency over principle. He emphasized the need for “transformative politics” over transactional compromise, pointing to his 21-year record of radical wins in East New York, achieved without capitulating to neoliberal forces.
Davey D and Barron also explored how progressives risk being labeled “anti-Black” if they fail to build genuine, long-term relationships with Black communities. Barron insisted candidates must speak unapologetically on issues like reparations, AFRICOM, and Black political prisoners, rather than appeasing external pressure or donor-class interests.
The conversation ended on a note of strategic clarity: radical change is possible—but only if Black communities organize with clarity, power analysis, and collective vision.
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Kev Choice on Art, Cuts, and Culture: A Hard Knock Radio Conversation
On this episode of Hard Knock Radio, host Davey D sat down with Oakland-based musician, educator, and activist Kev Choice to discuss Black Music Month, his upcoming show at Yoshi’s, and the urgent threat to Oakland’s arts and culture ecosystem.
Celebrating Black Music, Sounding the Alarm on Budget Cuts
Kev Choice is no stranger to the stage or to civic engagement. From working with Lauryn Hill to serving on commissions in Oakland, he represents a tradition of artist-activists deeply rooted in community. But this year, his Black Music Month celebration is bittersweet. Oakland’s city budget proposes deep cuts to the arts — a move Kev and Davey both see as short-sighted and damaging.
Kev emphasized that art in Oakland isn’t a luxury — it’s part of the city’s identity, economic engine, and public safety infrastructure. “When you travel the world and say ‘Oakland,’ people think of the Panthers and our artists,” Davey added, noting that the city has global cultural currency it isn’t properly investing in.
Art as a Core Civic Resource
Both Davey and Kev called out the hypocrisy of defunding the arts while ignoring the vital role artists play in social transformation. From Ryan Coogler to local symphonies, Oakland’s creative scene is rich and expansive. Kev stressed that beyond big names, it’s community-based artists, youth programs, and local festivals that suffer the most from budget slashes.
He warned that these cuts signal more than neglect — they point to a targeted disempowerment of Black and marginalized voices. “If you empower art, you empower the people,” Kev said.
A Call to Action
Kev encouraged listeners to speak out: write letters, show up to city council meetings, and advocate for funding. “When violence happens, the community responds. The same energy is needed when arts are on the chopping block.”
Closing with Celebration
Kev’s upcoming show, The Highest Self, drops Friday at Yoshi’s. It’s more than just a concert — it’s a healing space, a showcase of local talent, and a call to remember the power of Black music to transform, uplift, and organize.
Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson.