Last updated August 25, 2024 – 12:22pm
“Empire City” is a new eight-part narrative series that explores the intriguing and little-known history of the NYPD.
This podcast from Wondery and Crooked Media is produced and hosted by Peabody Award-winning journalist Chenjerai Kumanyika. The podcast offers a glimpse into New York City's past as well as insight into the bedrock of American law enforcement.
An official selection of the 2024 TriBeCa Film Festival, Empire City begins by painting a vivid portrait of New York City in the mid-1800s.
At the time, the town was rife with labor protests and riots, vice, racial conflict, incidents such as police kidnapping freed blacks and sending them into slavery, the rise of the abolitionist movement, and the first true crime stories reported in newspapers.
In each episode, Kumanika talks about a key moment that challenges misconceptions about modern policing and politics.
Among the topics covered: how today's fight over mail-order abortion pills can be traced back to evangelical anti-prostitution activists determined to shut down New York's brothels, and how riots on the streets of New York led to the arming of police officers for the first time.
Empire City features the voices of historians, grassroots tour guides and organizers, including Mariame Kaba, Leslie Alexander, Asad Dandia, Khalil Gibran Muhammad, Kamau Weah and Jonathan Wells, as well as descendants of early police officers and resistance fighters, and former officers who offer insight into the history of New York's police department.
Kumanika's connection to the topic of Empire City is deeply personal as the son of prominent civil rights activist Makaza Kumanika, who was wrongfully arrested and surveilled by the NYPD for leading peaceful protests against police brutality.
“Empire City” will be available ad-free on Wondery+ and all other podcast streaming platforms starting September 9th.
