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Episode Summary

This episode of Writer’s Voice features two urgent and thought-provoking conversations. First, we speak with Professor Bernadette Atuahene, author of Plundered: How Racist Policies Undermine Black Homeownership in America, about how predatory governance has systematically stripped Black homeowners of generational wealth—particularly in Detroit, where one in three homes has gone through property tax foreclosure since 2009. She explains how local governments exploit racist policies to raise revenue, creating an underreported crisis that has devastated Black communities nationwide.

Bernadette Atuahene: “Black and Hispanic homeowners pay higher property tax rates than white homeowners—$300 to $400 more per year. That’s predatory governance at work.”

Then, we bring back Andrew Boyd, activist and author of I Want a Better Catastrophe, to discuss his viral Substack post, We Shall Not Be Overwhelmed. In a time of political and social crisis, Boyd shares strategies for avoiding burnout, focusing activism, and fighting back against authoritarianism through selective denial and targeted resistance.

Andrew Boyd: “Selective denial, when paired with selective attention, is not about ignorance. It’s about protecting your mental health while focusing on a chosen issue that you can actually impact.”

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Key Words: Bernadette Atuahene Plundered book, Black homeownership and systemic racism, property tax overassessment in Black communities, Andrew Boyd We Shall Not Be Overwhelmed, activism and mental health strategies, resisting Trump policies effectively

You Might Also Like: Andrew Boyd, I WANT A BETTER CATASTROPHE, Tamara Payne on Les Payne’s THE DEAD ARE ARISING

Key Topics Covered:

Bernadette Atuahene on Plundered

• What is Predatory Governance? – How local governments raise revenue through racist policies.
• Detroit’s Property Tax Foreclosure Crisis – Why one in three homes has been foreclosed since 2009, the worst rates since the Great Depression.
• The Hidden Tax Burden on Black Homeowners – Black and Hispanic homeowners pay 10–13% more in property taxes than white homeowners on average.
• Historical Context – How racist housing policies like redlining, blockbusting, and urban renewal paved the way for today’s crisis.
• Fighting Back – How the Coalition for Property Tax Justice is preventing foreclosures and demanding compensation for displaced homeowners.
• Legal and Political Solutions – Why courts have blocked lawsuits against these policies, and what reforms are needed at state and national levels.

Andrew Boyd on We Shall Not Be Overwhelmed

• How to Cope with Political Chaos – Why selective denial and selective attention can be ethical survival strategies.
• The Problem with Doomscrolling – How nonstop bad news paralyzes people into inaction, and how to refocus efforts.
• Finding Your One Thing – Choosing a specific issue or movement to dedicate energy toward, rather than being overwhelmed by everything at once.
• Trump 2.0 and the Resistance – How to effectively counter authoritarianism through protests, creative messaging, and public opposition.
• Why “Playing Possum” is a Bad Strategy – A critique of James Carville’s advice to let Trump self-destruct, and why activism must remain strong.
• Hope Through Action – How focused resistance can be a source of resilience and purpose.

Links & Resources:

• Plundered: How Racist Policies Undermine Black Homeownership in America – Buy the book
• Coalition for Property Tax Justice – Learn more & donate
• Andrew Boyd’s Substack, The Tragic Optimist – Read We Shall Not Be Overwhelmed
• Andrew Boyd, I WANT A BETTER CATASTROPHE – Listen to the Interview

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