Joy: Religious extremism mixed with white nationalism is straining our democracy to breaking point 

“The greatest tragedy in human history may have been the hijacking of morality by religion.” - Arthur C Clarke

"Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction." - Blaise Pascal

Thank you so much for this report Mrs. Reid. As you reported on the slave trade I constantly thought about how my country Puerto Rico has not after 530 years of colonialism has not been able to relinquish itself from the bonds of modern day slavery, exploitation, land grabbing by foreigners and Human Rights violations in the name of Democracy or Hypocrisy.

As a European I tell my child this histroy as sometimes it maybe left out. It's vital to learn if for nothing else but to never repeat. Excellent segment, thank you 😊

" and these right- wingers act all shocked that there'd be Black mermaids"...😂😂😂

It’s called Christo-fascism; the GOP is now a Christo-fascist party.

I was privileged to visit Ghana in 2013. As a white man, it was a humbling and solemn experience. This was especially true when I experienced the hospitality of the Ghanaian people. Even though they had nothing, they joyfully shared with me. Some ten years later, I still donate to causes in Ghana to improve clean drinking water, healthcare, and education. Everyone should know the stories of Cape Coast and Elmina slave castles.

Love the quote “They have the nerves to complain about the mermaid being black” …. When it’s so many black souls that were thrown in the sea from Africa 😢

My great grand mother was Taino. Thank you for helping to tell this story. It fills me with hope to see how much of our family's history is left.

This segment is one of the most impressive ever broadcast, and could be among the most powerful speeches ever given in US History. Amazed Joy Reid was able to deliver it without being overwhelmed by emotion. Sobering, true and important.

Slavery existed in other societies, as well as in Africa, prior to the transatlantic slave trade. Warring societies such as the Greeks, Romans, English, French, German, Scottish etc. took slaves. However, for the most part those enslaved peoples gradually melded into the general population and after a few generations were no longer recognizable as former slaves. However, the United States used slavery in a different way. To keep its White citizens unique and special the US became particularly adept at classifying people based on skin color. Skin color was then used as a social and financial determination or a class system to bar entry into much of American society. As a kid in the 60's, I recall hearing the saying: "If you're White you're right, if you're Black stay back, if you're Brown stick around." America's current crop of Christo-Fascist right wingers are desperately trying to roll the clock back; back to where once again a man/woman's worth is determined by their skin color. And, if people don't push back, and I mean push back hard, skin color will once again determine who is a slave in this country and who is free.

Had this convo 7 years ago with my bible study partner. Let’s just say he is no longer my bible study partner anymore

Those who do not learn from history... in this case, are trying to repeat it. Side note: The American education system sucks, I was today years old when I learned about slave castles

Once again we see the true dark side of religion.

Touching story and beautifully told. This is why I’ll never let some trumpist or desantis creep ever deny me of knowing my history.

"Without a strong educational system democracy is crippled. Knowledge is not only key to power. It is the citadel of human freedom." ~ Harry S. Truman (1884-1972), 33rd President of the United States of America. 🇺🇸

As a 9 or 10-year-old child, I watched the movie “Zulu”. It was an eye-opener for me with regards to slavery, colonization, exploitation and I began to hate being white for what we did to so many people we considered to be “less than”. Insofar those who say what they believe is CRT leads white kids to hate themselves may be correct. However, what they don’t take into account is that this self-hatred is only temporary, resulting in wanting to be and do better, to stand up against racism, bigotry and injustice wherever you may encounter it. It made me stronger, made me value equality and liberty for all. I don’t regret having gone through that phase as a child, it made me who I am today. Edit: Just to clarify, as I fear I may have been misunderstood: I know that CRT is not being taught in schools (which is why I said it’s what _they_ believe it to be, meaning those on the right calling for it to be banned in schools. What _is_ being taught is black history, which is necessary, but again it is being banned from the curriculum in some states. Only through education can we grow and evolve. When I said I felt “hatred” at being white, it wasn’t actual hatred, it was shame for our forefathers, and yes, some children may also experience those feelings, but my point was that that’s not really a bad thing. Parents shouldn’t be afraid of it, because it teaches us to be better. Isn’t that what everyone wants for their kids?

As an old white woman, this makes my heart ache. I am so very sorry. Not because I am responsible, but because it happened on my ancestor’s watch.

Thank you, Joy. Keep this type of history going.

Excellent rendition of facts and analysis backed with irrefutable facts

This is so heartbreaking! It makes tears well up in my eyes. Nevertheless, this is something that MUST be told and we MUST be reminded of it often, or we will not learn and we will not progress.

Spot on Joy! Thank you for the history lesson! Please keep doing them on your show because Americans (and the world) need to hear & learn! We must pay attention...or the Republicans will bring us backwards! They already are.....

these FACTS always hit hard but we NEED to NEVER FORGET them or shy away from them, lest we repeat them!

Growing up in a somewhat religious family, being LGBTQIA, and wanting this sense of general safety, it’s like nightmare to see this ugly oppressive ignorance in society. Heart breaking is one way it’s experienced, at the lowest it’s loss of faith towards humanity.

Ty for this. I was born and raised in California. I always had questions about the missions and missionary. I wondered how many really were indoctrinated into Catholicism without agency or free will. Shame on the USA. I pray she teaches her next generations about ALL of her histories. The worst tales are the best ways to not repeat such shame. Amen. 🇬🇧

It is encouraging to hear this. As a Fleming who is more interested in reality than fiction, I'd add that Belgian King Léopold II is responsible for (possibly) millions of deaths in Africa and he accomplished that in collaboration with the catholics. What the country did to the Flemings, who were the majority in the country even when it was founded, is despicable and revolting and -while weakened- it is ongoing, but it pales in comparison to what was done in Africa. Even now, it is still a subject that is largely taboo in the country. There is a reason he is often called "Belgium's Hitler" and as such, he was responsible for an officially unknown number of deaths, but thought to be somewhere between 1 to 15 million, i.e. an estimated average of around 8 million. If correct, that would make him even worse than Adolf Hitler. I do not subscribe to the theory of inherited guilt, but catholics claim they do. I find it remarkable that they conveniently forget that when they are talking about slavery and talk about "love" instead. That is the love of Saddam Hussein. It has nothing to do with love, only with attempts to corrupt those who can assist in its sordid plans.

It is SO refreshing to hear history reviewed in plain language. Thank you, Joy. I'm white, not enjoying all the truth, and curious anyway, as I know it will help us all right wrongs.

Joy, this is such a critically important report. Thank you for its airing and being a proponent for change - for the better. I'm looking forward to reading Robert P. Jones' book and to your award for excellence in broadcasting. 😉

Welcome back Joy.

Yes, Joy is back! Hi Joy...Missed the REIDOUT... it's not the same without you. You add such passion when you report.

So glad you shared this much needed history!! The Governor in Florida has probably just spit out his coffee made of pure hate! Thank you for all your work! You do such an amazing job! ❤🎉

Joy, thank you for sharing this segment and educating everyone on this issue. I totally agree, right now our country is in danger, with this whole religious extremism mixed with white nationalism and radical republicans. This type of reporting should be broadcast to our entire nation!

Excellent segment! Continue sharing factual Black History. I and many others need and welcome this knowledge.

Wow. Thank you! Nice to see this information out in the light again. We all need to know what really happened to get us where we are now.

Joy you are one of my heroines. Thank you for having a voice and I am grateful that your employer continues to know and support your work

Thank you Joy🙏🏾

This is what they mean when they say make America great again

Wow what a great program tonight Joy ! I love history and like they say you learn something new everyday. Thank you. 💙🗽⚖️🇺🇸

Thank you for talking about this! 💯

Keep this going ,a whole series .

As part of the romanticization of the "Age of Discovery" and the 15th Century generally, a myth emerged that "the Renaissance" (a historically problematic term) signified a dramatic and revolutionary break from the Middle Ages, a period in which "the European mind" was set free to explore nature and new worlds. In fact, what high school history class calls "the Renaissance" was fundamentally an extension of the Middle Ages, and Columbus's voyages were very much Medieval enterprises. It was not merely to build churches that they sought gold, but primarily to fund a new crusade to reclaim lands conquered by the Ottomans, Constantinople and ultimately Jerusalem. Columbus and his men, although typically depicted in civilized "Renaissance" attire in 19th Century paintings, would have been wearing the full armor of European knights when they landed in the Caribbean, a terrifying sight to the natives I'm sure.

Thank you for sharing your vacation and giving me a better History class than what I was taught in school. I am not blaming my educators; they followed a curriculum they were told to teach. It was not until college did I took a "Black History" class (granted, it was slightly uncomfortable at first being one of three white students in that class). But when it became obvious how oblivious my education actually was, I was taken beneath several "wings". And my experience is one I will never forget. My horizons opened that term in college and I have never shuttered them again.

Joy, that is beautiful. Thank you for sharing your family and ancestral journeys. Personally, I believe the richer and more "organized" a religion is, the more horror, slavery, and genocide they feel their "God given right" to impose on others.

Applaud Joy! Thank you for the History lessons during your segments it benefits all Americans.🙏👍✌

Religion is a Business it follows the MONEY !

That introduction was a masterclass in reporting. It was as great as it was heartbreaking. I have lost so much faith in this country. It is undoubtedly very sick and it isn't easy to see how it can recover.

Evil on a whole other level....wow, and a lot of this crap in America, stem from this evil bloodline....GOD DON'T SLEEP!!💔😢

She’s culturally appropriating Eileen’s hair style

From new Zealand I am pleased you are bringing these facts out.

Great talk, Joy... I always appreciated historical background, and you do it so well. I'm a fan, thanks for all you do.

As a Jamaican, I learned something new today. I never knew about the visa bit. Thanks Joy, and please continue to enlighten us. God bless❤❤❤.

This is the type of reporting our fellow Americans need to hear.

Thank you Joy. I admire you so much. I’m a descendant of French Italian Polish Chippewa people. Minnesota grown. I relate to your sensibilities. I was very fortunate to be born with an open mind even though my family was very biased in religious and ethnic ways. They were openly prejudiced about race and religion. I don’t know how I made it out of that environment without their horrible thinking. Maybe I was fortunate to have a college education in the twin cities. I’m glad but still wonder how it happened

Trolls pounce first, again. God bless you the truth-teller, Joy. Your truth is validated by what you irritated.

It is a total unspeakable shame!

So so nice to see Joy Reid again!!!!! Great talk on this video. Thank you.

Thank you Joy. This was absolutely fascinating! Gives me lots to research, lots to consider.

She had my Black attention until she threw trunps name in there like i see the motive here. Why cant we talk about this historical tragedy's such as the slave trade without making it political. She probably was on vacation thinking about Trump like omg

Absolutely heartbreaking 😢

This woman is dangerous.

Thank you Joy for sharing about your ancestor and her amazing story. And for sharing about your travel experiences, so glad you got to go. Fascinating history.

What an interesting family history. What a blessing. You now know the truth, and the truth has set you free!

Preach it, Joy. Thank you for educating people.

America has Freedom FROM Religion as well. Madison was explicit that religion should not intrude on civil matters.

White men and women are worth saving in America. I love my people and don’t want to see us die out.

Finally! Hearing someone speak truth is so refreshing in this alternate universe that has taken over like a plague. There is not a religion ordained by The Lord! Not even Christianity 🤔🙄

You Nailed it again! Thank you Joy 😊

Adding to the book collection. Thankyou for the education! Since Black American History continues to not be a part of the American History curriculum in public schools, and not even available as an elective in many, seems as we'll currently have to continue settling with teaching history verbally generationally. Good thing social media and black people like Joy Reid in news media exist to expand the range at which people can be educated on the truth of ALL of American History.

Thank you for always telling the truth and bringing this to forefront

Nicely done. I want to spend time researching this more. Thank You!

That's new, who would have thought that her bosses would have let her say so much truth about FBA

It always baffles me that so many black Americans readily and happily follow the religion of their one time oppressors..

Welcome back, missed you so much!

Joy, OMG, i nearly went crazy while you were off! U can't take any more days off now, ya hear! But seriously, this is truly dangerous stuff here. We must challenge them EVERY single time. Elst we be ourselves complicit in some way!

Anyone that took a cursory glance at how chattel slavery and religion were mixed up in the country could tell you this. The white supremacy that has been the guiding hand ever since the genocide of the natives and the enslavement of millioons of Africans essentially created an American religious tradition. One where they believed this: "What you're doing isn't horrible, these aren't even people. God made inferior creatures and superior creatures, and there's nothing wroung with being superior. You're just protecting these inferior creatures from their base desires, they don't know any better. They'd be worse off without your guidance." The eventual infection of religion into politics with the Model Majority in response to seemingly losing control of "their country" was inevitable. The unspoken assumption from white supremacists is: "This is OUR country, this will always be our country and we barely tolerate your presence here."

It's great to see Yu guys having vacation time personal hiatus from work! It made me very happy to see your family together on time away, enjoying.

Black mermaid joke LOL epic Joy! This was all fascinating. Thank you for mentioning that adrican leaders also had slaves and were instrumental in the early slave trade. We must teach all truth to not repeat the past...and that doesnt mean useful slave skills!

You are an amazing woman, you are a blessing to the American public and bringing truth to power. Sunlight is best disinfectant, and you are certainly a ray of sunshine. Thank you Joy. 🫶

Joy... thank you for the history lesson and sharing yours... I'm from Colombia..one of the first countries 'discovered' by Christopher.... we're a mix of everything..less racism but still prejudice left in Latin America. Sadly natives and blacks were pushed to inhospitable areas.

Joy, you are awesome. Thank you for this great and enlightening intro.

Thank you for helping educate me. I’m grateful for your teachings.

Excellent history lesson briefly touching upon the church's role in slavery. So much of the horrors of the Atlantic Slave trade are not taught until you get to college and then it's an eye-opening journey into the past. A journey every American should take.

💗💓💗 Long overdue for mainstream media to talk about this! Tysm Joy and MSNBC.

hugely important story, one that needs to be shared to all of us taught to ignore the horrors of the European colonialism. interesting fact: the British, who love to brag how they "abolished" te slave trade, dont widely know that Britain took out a loan that amounted to 40% of the British GDP to PAY OFF the slave owners. This massive loan was only finally paid off in 2015, meaning that ordinary British people (ones whose ancestors never owned slaves or saw the massive benefits of slavery) subsidized slavery for nearly 200 more years. of course this meant that those British who had build the most inhuman industry of the last 1000 years never paid for what was done. And those UK elites still control the UK economy. No reparations for the victims and the bill was slapped on ordinary Britons for generations. And now brainwashed Britons boast about how they abolished slavery completely ignorant (as I was) about how it was done and who was paying for it. This was inadvertently reframed by a tone deaf civil servant who tweeted this fact as something to be proud of before facing a hail of criticism and subsequently deleting the tweet. All British taxpayers have had their tax money spent not on infrastructure or the people but on repaying a giant loan made to avoid inconveniencing slavers and slave owners.... Facts like this dumped right into the memory hole. We cannot let that happen if we wish to grow or even survive as a species.

Thank you for sharing this history lesson, Joy. I never realized that organized religion played so big a part in African slavery.

Still Sad & Tragic Hearing To This Very Day.

More of this, please!

Thank you for everything you do, Joy! ❤

Great show !!!!

Thanks for sharing this and tying our peoples (Indigenous and African) histories together. I believe our freedom from colonialism, occupation and oppression must also be tied together.

I really like Joy and her program.

I hope the students in all the Florida schools see this and share it in class!!!

My grandfather never visited castles. He didn't want to hear that a king built something. No king ever built anything. Workers built and peasants or poor people payed.

And they thought there couldn;t have been black mermaids !! Love it Joy! I always get a kick out of your clever quips!

>> EXCELLENT ! - - Wonderful work you did on this Joy ! --- Thank you so much for all you do ! ----- I honor and respect you ... ...You are a wonderful role model for all young womyn -- --- Many cheers to you and your beautiful soul ---- - Please take care of yourself ....stay safe ....and may only good fortune and Karma come your way soon --- -

We don't need their white washed version of his-story, we need to know the real HISTORY...why don't you think they want you to know it and have banned over 1,400 book's? Good job. ⚡️ Joy! Thank you for your courage. It's not Christianity that has the problem. It's the people who try to use it to their own advantage... They have a heart and knowledge problem. Blessings! Peace! 🕊

America has never come to terms with its history of slavery . Incredibly without the Civil War, its probable slavery could have lasted in America 35 more years into 20th century. Instead, beaten, the South embarked on a 100yrs of Apartheid until the 1960s. A truly appalling history.

Thank you Joy. Good books, The Flag and the cross. The 1619 Project.

That people argue, "I did not do this, so therefore I have nothing to apologise for" demonstrates a lack of empathy and compassion.

Being religious & racist already make you stupid as is, but combined together - it's a force to be reckoned with as far as idiocy goes.