All the White Friends I Couldn't Keep: Andre Henry [Rebroadcast]

·1 hr 2 min·5 clips

Andre Henry explains how watching Philando Castile bleed to death on Facebook Live drove him to lug a hundred-pound boulder everywhere.

The episode features an interview with Andre Henry, an award-winning musician, writer, and activist, discussing his book 'All the White Friends I Couldn't Keep: Hope and Hard Pills to Swallow About Fighting for Black Lives.' Host David Dault begins by asking about Henry's time at Fuller Theological Seminary, where he carried a large boulder painted white with racial injustices written on it. Henry explains this act was inspired by witnessing Philando Castile's death on Facebook Live, which he calls a watershed moment. He details the community support at Fuller and contrasts it with dismissive reactions at some churches, including one where a man joked about his 'stop killing us' sign. Henry recounts an interview at a large church where he was told they stay large by not upsetting people. The conversation shifts to Henry's concept of 'artivism,' blending art and activism, influenced by a mentor's affirmation. He emphasizes joy and creativity as sustainable tools for activism, citing examples from Serbian activist Srdja Popović. Henry also discusses black rest as a human right under racial capitalism. He analyzes how white friends and family gaslit him when he spoke about racism, including a Thanksgiving dinner where racist comments were made and later politics were banned. Dault and Henry explore historical narratives, noting that Nazi Germany looked to America's racial policies for inspiration. Henry argues that revolutionary change requires about 3.5% of the population engaged in nonviolent action, and black Americans alone exceed that percentage. He encourages listeners to find their role in activism based on their passions and resources, rejecting savior mentalities. The episode closes with Henry sharing his joy in music and planning dance parties as direct actions for leisure.

As heard by us

Andre Henry connects racial justice with rest, asking what movements require from the bodies that carry them.

Andre Henry frames racial justice as something lived in the body, not only argued in public. In conversation with David Dalt about All the White Friends I Couldn't Keep, the award-winning musician, writer, and activist describes racial capitalism as a force that rewards constant…

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