Colson Whitehead returns to 1970s NYC in 'Crook Manifesto'

This podcast episode explores the setting of Harlem in the 1970s, where the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation Army are making headlines. The sections discuss the fictional aspects of the Black Liberation Army's involvement with corrupt cops, the influence of blaxploitation films on the author's book, the significance of Richard Pryor and his impact on the author, the motivation behind writing during the pandemic, the contrast in furniture between two books, the introduction to the Black Panther Party through pop culture, the significance of Sag Harbor in the speaker's life, the personal journey and strained relationship with the author's brother, Swamp Dogg's latest album, and the challenges faced by Jerry Williams as an artist. Overall, the sections provide insights into the historical and fictional elements of the story, the cultural influences on the author, and the diverse themes explored in the podcast episode.