The People’s War Radio Show, Episode #81: ”Water more poisoned than Flint‘s”--Activists on the Benton Harbor Water Crisis

Black Power Talks

Today on The People’s War Radio Show, we are looking at the water crisis in Benton Harbor, Michigan. Benton Harbor is 85 percent Black and more than 45 percent of the residents live below the poverty line. As far back as 2015, residents began to notice high amounts of lead in their water.

Residents began to raise the alarm but local and state officials did nothing. After years of complaints, a 2018 was finally done that showed the presence of lead in the Benton Harbor water at rates that exceeded the highest point of the Flint Water Crisis. That was three years ago. Thanks to the efforts of organizers, this issue has finally gained international attention.

The Benton Harbor water crisis is another example of the colonial virus. The Benton Harbor Water Crisis, the Flint Water Crisis and all other environmental crises are the result of an unjust economic system where white people in the US and Europe, less than 20% of the world’s population, consume over 80% of the world's resources.

This status quo is unsustainable but we know that there will never be peace until African people and colonized peoples all over the world have control over their own land and resources.

Today we talk with two activists from Benton Harbor, Reverend Edward Pinkney and Akinsheli Sayero’ Oshosi.

A longtime activist, Rev. Edward Pinkney has organized for African independence in Benton Harbor in the face of their subservience to the Whirlpool corporation. Rev. Pinkney is the President and CEO of the Benton Harbor Water Council. He is also leader and founder of the Black Autonomy Network Community Organization as well as a member of the Black is Back Coalition for Social Justice, Peace and Reparations.

Akinsheli Sayero’ Oshosi is a member of African People's Socialist Party and resides in Battle Creek, Michigan. He also works with the Louisiana United International Working Group and the Black is Back Coalition. From 1969 to 1975, he was a member of the Black Panther Party. He continued his fight in defense of the constitutional rights of Benton Harbor Residents. Sayero’ is a lifelong revolutionary in spirit, deed and thought.

Rev. Pinkey and Sayero speak about the Benton Harbor Water Crisis, the colonial conditions the African community suffer under the Whirlpool Corporation, corrupt politicians and heavy-handed policing. They also propose ways forward.

The People's War radio show is produced by WBPU 96.3 FM "Black Power 96" in St. Petersburg, Florida. It is hosted by Dr. Matsemela Odom and Dexter Mlimwengu, bringing an African Internationalist perspective to the important issues of our world.