The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and Democracy
The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and Democracy
Podcast Description
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 often unheard. Together, we’ll challenge injustices, break down societal misconceptions, and inspire each other to build a world where equality is not just an ideal, but a shared reality.
Join us in this movement. Listen to The Cause, and become part of the collective journey to create a more just, inclusive, and vibrant future for all.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast covers impactful topics including racial justice, music's role in social movements, and the history of democracy, with specific episodes discussing the cultural significance of funk music and in-depth interviews featuring artists like Otis Taylor, focusing on themes such as storytelling through music and the African roots of the banjo.

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 often unheard. Together, we’ll challenge injustices, break down societal misconceptions, and inspire each other to build a world where equality is not just an ideal, but a shared reality.
Join us in this movement. Listen to The Cause, and become part of the collective journey to create a more just, inclusive, and vibrant future for all.
“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 renewal that affirms African and African diasporic dignity, creativity, and collective responsibility.
Drawing on history, music, art, and political struggle, Dr. Rabaka explores the origins of Kwanzaa and its continued relevance in a world marked by division, inequality, and democratic uncertainty. At the heart of the celebration are the Nguzo Saba, the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa, which serve as ethical guides for community building and cultural restoration.
This episode invites listeners to engage Kwanzaa not only as a seasonal observance, but as a way of being rooted in intention, memory, and collective possibility.

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