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PODCAST

The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and Democracy

Dr. Reiland Rabaka

In collaboration with the Center for African and African American Studies/The CAAAS at the University of Colorado Boulder, The Cause is more than a podcast, it"s a call to action. Guided by Dr. Reiland Rabaka, this inspiring series invites you to explore the transformative power of music, the wisdom of history, and the promise of democracy in the pursuit of racial justice. Through courageous conversations, insightful reflections, and powerful storytelling, The Cause amplifies voices and stories too

society & culture philosophy

All Episodes

50:55

Ep 25: Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Culture, Family, and...

The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and... ·

2025/12/18

"Kwanzaa tells us we are the harvest our ancestors dreamed of and the seeds of new worlds not yet born." - Dr. Reiland Rabaka In this powerful and timely episode of The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and Democracy, Dr. Reiland Rabaka offers a deeply rooted meditation on Kwanzaa as a cultural practice, a philosophical framework, and a living tradition born from the Black Freedom Movement. More than a holiday, Kwanzaa emerges here as a week long ritual of remembrance, reflection, and

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47:37

Ep 24: The Women's Suffrage Movement

The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and... ·

2025/12/04

In The Women's Suffrage Movement, Dr. Rabaka lifts up the intertwined histories of women's rights, abolitionism, racial justice, and democratic reform. This episode serves as a companion to Episode 23, The Abolitionist Movement, deepening our understanding of how these movements shaped one another. The episode examines the evolution of suffrage organizing, the contributions of Black women's clubs, the roles of Indigenous, Latina, and Asian American women, and the limits of the Nineteenth Amendment,

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01:00:01

Ep 23: The Abolitionist Movement: The Roots of...

The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and... ·

2025/11/20

"The abolitionists were the first to teach us that freedom must be shared, that justice must be collective, and that allyship is not performance but participation." - Dr. Reiland Rabaka Episode 23 of The Cause Podcast takes listeners deep into the heart of The Abolitionist Movement, exploring how the fight to end slavery laid the foundation for modern anti-racism, civil rights, and contemporary struggles for human dignity and liberation. Dr. Reiland Rabaka traces the intellectual, spiritual, and

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59:13

Ep 22: Beyond the Game: Voices from the Black Student...

The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and... ·

2025/11/06

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Reiland Rabaka is joined by DaWon Baker, CU Boulder's Associate Athletic Director for Impact & Strategic Engagement, along with three CU Boulder students and student-athletes who recently attended the 2025 Black Student Athlete Summit in Chicago. Together, they share what it means to be part of a national gathering that celebrates Black excellence, amplifies voices, and addresses the challenges and opportunities facing Black students at predominantly white

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59:28

Episode 21: A Conversation with State Rep. Junie Joseph

The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and... ·

2025/10/23

In this episode of The Cause Podcast, Dr. Reiland Rabaka speaks with State Representative Junie Joseph, a dynamic legislator representing Colorado’s District 10. Born in Haiti and now serving in the Colorado General Assembly, Representative Joseph shares her remarkable journey of resilience, civic engagement, and community-centered leadership. The discussion explores themes of representation, equity, and belonging, how her lived experience as an immigrant and woman of color informs her approach to

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58:39

Ep 20: Global South

The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and... ·

2025/10/09

Episode Date: October 9, 2025 “The Global South is not just geography—it’s a shared story of survival, solidarity, and hope.” - Dr. Reiland Rabaka In this powerful episode of The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and Democracy, Dr. Reiland Rabaka explores The Global South—not just as a place, but as a living, breathing movement for liberation. Through stories of art, activism, and resistance, Dr. Rabaka connects the histories of Africa, Asia, and Latin America, revealing how centuries of

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53:04

Ep 19: Decolonization

The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and... ·

2025/09/25

Episode Date: September 25, 2025 “Decolonization is not simply political. It is also cultural and musical. We can decolonize our minds, our art, and our institutions as we imagine a world rooted in justice, peace, and love.” — Dr. Reiland Rabaka In Episode 19 of The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and Democracy, Dr. Reiland Rabaka takes us deep into the meaning and urgency of Decolonization. Far more than a political project, decolonization encompasses cultural, spiritual, and musical

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50:13

Ep 18: Social Justice

The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and... ·

2025/09/11

“Social justice is not charity, it’s not something we give away when it’s convenient—it’s about transforming the very structures of society so that everyone can thrive.” – Dr. Reiland Rabaka In Episode 18 of The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and Democracy, we conclude our Justice Series with a powerful exploration of Social Justice. Dr. Reiland Rabaka examines how movements for equity, access, participation, and human dignity are essential to building a truly democratic society. This

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48:11

Ep 17: Food Justice

The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and... ·

2025/08/28

In Episode 17 of The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and Democracy, Dr. Reiland Rabaka turns his attention to the politics of the plate—food justice. This episode digs deep into how access to healthy, affordable food is tied to democracy, power, and equality. From the grassroots brilliance of Ron Finley, the “Gangsta Gardener” of Los Angeles, to Fannie Lou Hamer’s Freedom Farm Cooperative, the legacy of Karen Washington’s urban farming leadership, and the academic rigor of Dr. Robert

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55:37

Episode 16: Environmental Justice

The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and... ·

2025/08/14

"Environmental justice is about more than saving the planet—it’s about saving people, especially those who’ve been left out of the conversation for far too long." — Dr. Reiland Rabaka In this episode, Dr. Rabaka examines the intersection of environmentalism, social justice, and the fight for equality. This powerful conversation unpacks how environmental issues disproportionately impact marginalized communities—and why that matters for democracy. From climate change and pollution to food insecurity

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53:06

Ep 15: Radical Democracy: Power to the People!

The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and... ·

2025/07/31

“When we talk about radical democracy, we’re not talking about partisan politics—we’re talking about people power. We’re talking about reimagining democracy so it’s not just something we vote for, but something we live every single day.” — Dr. Reiland Rabaka In this powerful episode of The Cause, Dr. Reiland Rabaka dives deep into the roots, meanings, and modern-day relevance of radical democracy. From grassroots movements to global calls for justice, this conversation explores how democracy can

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55:43

Episode 13, Hip Hop Studies Part 3: The Hip Hop Movement

The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and... ·

2025/07/03

In this powerful closing chapter of our Hip Hop Studies series, Dr. Reiland Rabaka invites us to step beyond the music and into the deeper meaning of hip hop as a worldwide movement for change. While most people think of hip hop as just beats and rhymes, Dr. Rabaka challenges us to see it as something much larger: a living, breathing social movement rooted in community, activism, and the ongoing fight for justice. He explores how hip hop emerged from the margins — born in the Bronx, nurtured in

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02:23

The Cause Podcast: Conversations on Music, History,...

The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and... ·

2025/07/01

The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and Democracy with Dr. Reiland Rabaka explores how music and culture inspire movements for justice and social change. Hosted by Dr. Reiland Rabaka — Professor of African, African American, and Caribbean Studies, and Founding Director of The Center for African and African American Studies (The CAAAS) at the University of Colorado Boulder — each episode uncovers the stories, rhythms, and voices that shape our world, from civil rights anthems to the global

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56:15

Ep 12, Hip Hop Studies Part 2: Political and Gangsta Rap

The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and... ·

2025/06/19

“These artists weren’t just entertainers—they were educators, cultural critics, and community historians.” — Dr. Reiland Rabaka In Part 2 of our Hip Hop Studies series, Dr. Reiland Rabaka explores the evolution and impact of political and gangsta rap—two vital branches of hip hop that challenged systems, spotlighted injustice, and reshaped public dialogue around race, poverty, policing, and power. This episode takes listeners through the lineage of resistance: from the firebrand urgency of Public

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50:03

Ep 11, Hip Hop Studies: The Roots of Rap

The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and... ·

2025/06/06

“Rap is something you do—hip hop is something you live.” — Dr. Reiland Rabaka In Episode 11 of The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and Democracy, Dr. Reiland Rabaka launches our new Hip Hop Studies series with a powerful exploration of the cultural, political, and historical foundations of hip hop. This episode traces the origins of hip hop from its roots in the Bronx to its connections with African griots, Black oral traditions, and resistance movements. Dr. Rabaka unpacks the five core

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55:24

Ep 10, The Beloved Community

The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and... ·

2025/05/08

“The Beloved Community is about us putting all of our lights together—about transforming ourselves and transforming this world.” — Dr. Reiland Rabaka In this milestone 10th episode of The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and Democracy, Dr. Reiland Rabaka reflects deeply on one of his greatest causes: The Beloved Community. Tracing its philosophical roots from Josiah Royce to Howard Thurman to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rabaka offers his own powerful remix for the 21st century—one grounded

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53:03

Ep 9, Civil Rights Movement Music

The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and... ·

2025/04/24

“When the world would not listen to what we say, we sang.” – Dr. Reiland Rabaka In this powerful episode of The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and Democracy, Dr. Reiland Rabaka explores the deep cultural, spiritual, and political roots of Civil Rights Music—from the sacred sounds of the Black church to the anthems that echoed through marches, protests, and mass meetings. Drawing connections between gospel, rhythm & blues, rock & roll, and freedom songs, Dr. Rabaka illustrates how music

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50:27

Ep 8, Rock & Roll and the Civil Rights Movement

The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and... ·

2025/04/10

“Rock & roll wasn’t just about rebellion—it was about revolution. It was young, it was Black, and it was bold enough to break down barriers.” – Dr. Reiland Rabaka In this episode of The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and Democracy, Dr. Reiland Rabaka explores how rock & roll helped shape the Civil Rights Movement and American democracy itself. From its deep roots in gospel and rhythm & blues to its explosive rise in the 1950s and ’60s, rock & roll became more than music—it was a cultural

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40:51

Ep 7, Rhythm and Blues and the Civil Rights Movement

The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and... ·

2025/03/27

Rhythm and Blues wasn’t just a genre—it was a powerful force in the fight for civil rights. In this episode of The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and Democracy, Dr. Reiland Rabaka explores how R&B artists used their music to challenge injustice, inspire activism, and uplift communities during one of the most pivotal times in American history. From Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” to James Brown’s “Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud”, R&B legends shaped the movement with anthems of

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45:18

Ep 6, Black Women's Liberation Movement Music,...

The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and... ·

2025/03/13

How did Black women use music to fight for freedom? In this episode of The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and Democracy, Dr. Reiland Rabaka explores the themes of his recent book, Black Women's Liberation Movement Music: Soul Sisters, Black Feminist Funksters, and Afro-Disco Divas. From the raw soul of Aretha Franklin to the boundary-pushing funk of Betty Davis, this episode highlights the Black women artists who used music as a tool for activism, empowerment, and cultural transformation

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