Major Eason is a PhD student at Harvard University in the Department of Sociology who studies environmental racism and environmental justice. In a wide-ranging conversation with L+M, Major addresses attacks on DEI, the relationship between race, sport and childhood (17:00), and American car culture (31:00). They also discuss the phenomenon of Dr. Umar (42:50), Black Lives Matter Global (48:50), and grifting/black misleadership more broadly. They return to themes of narrative and perception in social movements, as well as the ritual/drama of modern political theater.

Elijah Anderson, A Place on the Corner (1978):

https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/P/bo3619613.html

Zandria Robinson, The B-Side of Blackness: https://www.thebeliever.net/the-b-side-of-blackness/

Ellen Cushing, Americans Need to Party More: https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2025/01/throw-more-parties-loneliness/681203/

Common, The Corner: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mnKNr2Tiq8

Monaleo, Beating Down your Block: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnMPEfV0bSA

Project Row Houses, Houston TX: https://projectrowhouses.org/