Before We Were White - Podcast
@beforewewerewhite.com
Exploring the Hidden History of Heartland America
Our Thursday newsletter looks at the concept of “contingency” in history, and how it relates to our present moment.
If you enjoy our writing, please give us a “like”, “share”, or “restack”.
You might even consider becoming a paid supporter!
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/the-300-ye...
If you enjoy our writing, please give us a “like”, “share”, or “restack”.
You might even consider becoming a paid supporter!
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/the-300-ye...
The 300 Year Fire
Contingency in American History
beforewewerewhite.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Our Thursday newsletter looks at the concept of “contingency” in history, and how it relates to our present moment.
If you enjoy our writing, please give us a “like”, “share”, or “restack”.
You might even consider becoming a paid supporter!
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/the-300-ye...
If you enjoy our writing, please give us a “like”, “share”, or “restack”.
You might even consider becoming a paid supporter!
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/the-300-ye...
Big Business has always exploited cheap labor - which has traditionally meant "immigrant labor".
When the "white" underclasses complain, Big Business and the politicians they own have always pointed the finger at the immigrants themselves...
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/immigratio...
When the "white" underclasses complain, Big Business and the politicians they own have always pointed the finger at the immigrants themselves...
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/immigratio...
Immigration
The Sickness and Lies at the Heart of White Nationalism
beforewewerewhite.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Big Business has always exploited cheap labor - which has traditionally meant "immigrant labor".
When the "white" underclasses complain, Big Business and the politicians they own have always pointed the finger at the immigrants themselves...
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/immigratio...
When the "white" underclasses complain, Big Business and the politicians they own have always pointed the finger at the immigrants themselves...
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/immigratio...
How long has the USA actually been a “democracy”?
Today’s newsletter “Power to the [Right] People” available now to both free and paid subscribers!
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/power-to-t...
Today’s newsletter “Power to the [Right] People” available now to both free and paid subscribers!
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/power-to-t...
Power to the [Right] People
The USA's Brief Flirtation with Actual Democracy
beforewewerewhite.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:09 AM
How long has the USA actually been a “democracy”?
Today’s newsletter “Power to the [Right] People” available now to both free and paid subscribers!
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/power-to-t...
Today’s newsletter “Power to the [Right] People” available now to both free and paid subscribers!
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/power-to-t...
A short side-by-side comparison of USA and Israeli methods of ethnic cleansing.
New podcast episode out later this week!
Don’t forget to subscribe (free or paid) to not miss our twice-weekly newsletter!
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/the-mechan...
New podcast episode out later this week!
Don’t forget to subscribe (free or paid) to not miss our twice-weekly newsletter!
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/the-mechan...
The Mechanics of Colonialism
How Modern Israel is a Mirror of American History
beforewewerewhite.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:49 PM
A short side-by-side comparison of USA and Israeli methods of ethnic cleansing.
New podcast episode out later this week!
Don’t forget to subscribe (free or paid) to not miss our twice-weekly newsletter!
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/the-mechan...
New podcast episode out later this week!
Don’t forget to subscribe (free or paid) to not miss our twice-weekly newsletter!
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/the-mechan...
Before We Were White: Hallowe'en Extra
The Spooky Dress of Harriet Surguine
open.substack.com
October 31, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Monday's essay examines the lies behind White Nationalist self-identity, with a focus on Christo-Fascist J. D. Vance.
He calls himself "Scots-Irish" with no Scots-Irish ancestry.
He never mentions the Black ancestors he shares with Barack Obama.
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/j-d-vance-...
He calls himself "Scots-Irish" with no Scots-Irish ancestry.
He never mentions the Black ancestors he shares with Barack Obama.
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/j-d-vance-...
J. D. Vance, the Fake "Scots-Irish" Hillbilly
Why White Nationalists Lie About Their Ethnic Background
beforewewerewhite.substack.com
October 28, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Monday's essay examines the lies behind White Nationalist self-identity, with a focus on Christo-Fascist J. D. Vance.
He calls himself "Scots-Irish" with no Scots-Irish ancestry.
He never mentions the Black ancestors he shares with Barack Obama.
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/j-d-vance-...
He calls himself "Scots-Irish" with no Scots-Irish ancestry.
He never mentions the Black ancestors he shares with Barack Obama.
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/j-d-vance-...
History is nuance.
There are rarely just saints and sinners.
Colonialist violence soils all of us.
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/no-one-get...
There are rarely just saints and sinners.
Colonialist violence soils all of us.
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/no-one-get...
No One Gets Out of Here With Clean Hands
How colonialism soils everything it touches...
beforewewerewhite.substack.com
October 23, 2025 at 10:34 PM
History is nuance.
There are rarely just saints and sinners.
Colonialist violence soils all of us.
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/no-one-get...
There are rarely just saints and sinners.
Colonialist violence soils all of us.
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/no-one-get...
BWWW Hallowe'en Special.
We look at the possible survival of pre-Christian folk traditions in American country-western music.
Do consider subscribing!
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/halloween-...
We look at the possible survival of pre-Christian folk traditions in American country-western music.
Do consider subscribing!
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/halloween-...
Hallowe'en Special:
The Wild Hunt in America?
beforewewerewhite.substack.com
October 20, 2025 at 5:25 PM
BWWW Hallowe'en Special.
We look at the possible survival of pre-Christian folk traditions in American country-western music.
Do consider subscribing!
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/halloween-...
We look at the possible survival of pre-Christian folk traditions in American country-western music.
Do consider subscribing!
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/halloween-...
US American conservative or MAGA self-identity is a confection assembled from the Western film genre, state propaganda, and a host of other populist sources.
Most of all, White Nationalist Christo-Fascism is performance.
Subscribe to keep us going...
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/a-trip-to-...
Most of all, White Nationalist Christo-Fascism is performance.
Subscribe to keep us going...
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/a-trip-to-...
A Trip to the Badlands
Kristi Noem and Performative Identity
beforewewerewhite.substack.com
October 16, 2025 at 10:13 PM
US American conservative or MAGA self-identity is a confection assembled from the Western film genre, state propaganda, and a host of other populist sources.
Most of all, White Nationalist Christo-Fascism is performance.
Subscribe to keep us going...
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/a-trip-to-...
Most of all, White Nationalist Christo-Fascism is performance.
Subscribe to keep us going...
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/a-trip-to-...
The greed, preening self-importance, and brutality of Cristoffa Corombo, aka Columbus, is well-documented.
His elevation onto a pedestal, as a man worthy of celebrating with a national holiday, says more about America than about Columbus himself.
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/columbus-s...
His elevation onto a pedestal, as a man worthy of celebrating with a national holiday, says more about America than about Columbus himself.
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/columbus-s...
Columbus, scoundrel
And why understanding his ethnic background matters...
beforewewerewhite.substack.com
October 13, 2025 at 8:13 AM
The greed, preening self-importance, and brutality of Cristoffa Corombo, aka Columbus, is well-documented.
His elevation onto a pedestal, as a man worthy of celebrating with a national holiday, says more about America than about Columbus himself.
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/columbus-s...
His elevation onto a pedestal, as a man worthy of celebrating with a national holiday, says more about America than about Columbus himself.
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/columbus-s...
White Nationalist Christo-Fascism as per Project 2025 will fail.
Some of us will fight to keep real history alive, however hard they try to propagate their mythological vision of America’s past.
Support us over on Substack if you can.
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/malagasy-m...
Some of us will fight to keep real history alive, however hard they try to propagate their mythological vision of America’s past.
Support us over on Substack if you can.
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/malagasy-m...
Malagasy Mountain Folks?
Forgotten Stories from the Melting Pot
beforewewerewhite.substack.com
October 11, 2025 at 9:56 AM
White Nationalist Christo-Fascism as per Project 2025 will fail.
Some of us will fight to keep real history alive, however hard they try to propagate their mythological vision of America’s past.
Support us over on Substack if you can.
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/malagasy-m...
Some of us will fight to keep real history alive, however hard they try to propagate their mythological vision of America’s past.
Support us over on Substack if you can.
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/malagasy-m...
As the US descends into dystopian madness, I'm reposting my maiden blog explaining why the USA can never be a healthy democracy as long as human exploitation and social truths remain buried under a pile of self-praising lies and mythological hokum.
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/before-we-...
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/before-we-...
Before We Were White
Deconstructing the Construct
beforewewerewhite.substack.com
October 8, 2025 at 1:01 PM
As the US descends into dystopian madness, I'm reposting my maiden blog explaining why the USA can never be a healthy democracy as long as human exploitation and social truths remain buried under a pile of self-praising lies and mythological hokum.
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/before-we-...
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/before-we-...
No nation on earth fetishizes its military in the way the USA does.
Do the lofty words of praise from US politicians match how veterans are treated?
And if not, why not?
In our new episode of BWWW, we explore who actually fights America’s wars, and on whose behalf.
beforewewerewhite.com/episodes
Do the lofty words of praise from US politicians match how veterans are treated?
And if not, why not?
In our new episode of BWWW, we explore who actually fights America’s wars, and on whose behalf.
beforewewerewhite.com/episodes
October 6, 2025 at 9:57 AM
No nation on earth fetishizes its military in the way the USA does.
Do the lofty words of praise from US politicians match how veterans are treated?
And if not, why not?
In our new episode of BWWW, we explore who actually fights America’s wars, and on whose behalf.
beforewewerewhite.com/episodes
Do the lofty words of praise from US politicians match how veterans are treated?
And if not, why not?
In our new episode of BWWW, we explore who actually fights America’s wars, and on whose behalf.
beforewewerewhite.com/episodes
Posting late this week!
Family emergency has taken me far from home - BWWW being written and prepared on a laptop on someone’s kitchen table in a small, sparsely furnished apartment in an unfamiliar city.
Hope you enjoy the piece, however belated.
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/remorse-83...
Family emergency has taken me far from home - BWWW being written and prepared on a laptop on someone’s kitchen table in a small, sparsely furnished apartment in an unfamiliar city.
Hope you enjoy the piece, however belated.
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/remorse-83...
Brian Halpin (@beforewewerewhitepodcast)
Sorry for posting late this week!
A family emergency has taken me far from home, and BWWW is being written and prepared on a laptop on someone’s kitchen table in a small, sparsely furnished apartmen...
substack.com
October 4, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Posting late this week!
Family emergency has taken me far from home - BWWW being written and prepared on a laptop on someone’s kitchen table in a small, sparsely furnished apartment in an unfamiliar city.
Hope you enjoy the piece, however belated.
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/remorse-83...
Family emergency has taken me far from home - BWWW being written and prepared on a laptop on someone’s kitchen table in a small, sparsely furnished apartment in an unfamiliar city.
Hope you enjoy the piece, however belated.
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/remorse-83...
Did American surf culture (outside of Hawai’i) begin on the east coast?
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/ahab-on-a-...
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/ahab-on-a-...
Ahab on a Surfboard
The Birth of Surfin' USA?
beforewewerewhite.substack.com
September 26, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Did American surf culture (outside of Hawai’i) begin on the east coast?
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/ahab-on-a-...
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/ahab-on-a-...
Long read for Monday, showing how identity based on "blood" and skin color instead of culture is a poison in the body politic of the USA.
Here we look at the strange case of Buffy Ste. Marie, the folk singer claiming Cree ancestry for decades.
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/longing-an...
Here we look at the strange case of Buffy Ste. Marie, the folk singer claiming Cree ancestry for decades.
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/longing-an...
Longing and Belonging
The Strange Case of Buffy Sainte-Marie
beforewewerewhite.substack.com
September 23, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Long read for Monday, showing how identity based on "blood" and skin color instead of culture is a poison in the body politic of the USA.
Here we look at the strange case of Buffy Ste. Marie, the folk singer claiming Cree ancestry for decades.
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/longing-an...
Here we look at the strange case of Buffy Ste. Marie, the folk singer claiming Cree ancestry for decades.
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/longing-an...
So yes, we do need to learn history.
"So we can learn from our past triumphs and know that change for the better is possible."
Please make sure to subscribe to our newsletter!
(4 of 4)
"So we can learn from our past triumphs and know that change for the better is possible."
Please make sure to subscribe to our newsletter!
(4 of 4)
September 17, 2025 at 6:19 PM
So yes, we do need to learn history.
"So we can learn from our past triumphs and know that change for the better is possible."
Please make sure to subscribe to our newsletter!
(4 of 4)
"So we can learn from our past triumphs and know that change for the better is possible."
Please make sure to subscribe to our newsletter!
(4 of 4)
Learning history from different perspectives - like the Black perspective, women's perspective, the labor movement or via critical theory - teaches people that the status quo was and is often unjust - and what's more important, the status quo CAN BE CHALLENGED AND CHANGED.
(3 of 4)
(3 of 4)
September 17, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Learning history from different perspectives - like the Black perspective, women's perspective, the labor movement or via critical theory - teaches people that the status quo was and is often unjust - and what's more important, the status quo CAN BE CHALLENGED AND CHANGED.
(3 of 4)
(3 of 4)
While this is true, it misses the bigger reason that authoritarian and fascist regimes work so hard to control the historical narrative.
History is also replete with stories of hope, and the social changes and triumphs achieved by the underdogs.
(2 of 4)
History is also replete with stories of hope, and the social changes and triumphs achieved by the underdogs.
(2 of 4)
September 17, 2025 at 6:17 PM
While this is true, it misses the bigger reason that authoritarian and fascist regimes work so hard to control the historical narrative.
History is also replete with stories of hope, and the social changes and triumphs achieved by the underdogs.
(2 of 4)
History is also replete with stories of hope, and the social changes and triumphs achieved by the underdogs.
(2 of 4)
When I try to explain the importance of history, people who are sympathetic to the idea usually say:
"Yes, we need to learn history, so we learn from our mistakes and do not repeat the past."
(1 of 4)
"Yes, we need to learn history, so we learn from our mistakes and do not repeat the past."
(1 of 4)
September 17, 2025 at 6:16 PM
When I try to explain the importance of history, people who are sympathetic to the idea usually say:
"Yes, we need to learn history, so we learn from our mistakes and do not repeat the past."
(1 of 4)
"Yes, we need to learn history, so we learn from our mistakes and do not repeat the past."
(1 of 4)
Sunday long read.
Americans, genealogy, and "Indian Princesses".
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/dressing-u...
Americans, genealogy, and "Indian Princesses".
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/dressing-u...
Dressing-up as a Princess
The Disney-fication of American History and Identity
beforewewerewhite.substack.com
September 15, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Sunday long read.
Americans, genealogy, and "Indian Princesses".
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/dressing-u...
Americans, genealogy, and "Indian Princesses".
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/dressing-u...
The forgotten 9/11.
Don’t forget to subscribe (free or paid), in order to never miss our BWWW newsletter!
For people who prefer American history to American mythology.
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/the-other-...
Don’t forget to subscribe (free or paid), in order to never miss our BWWW newsletter!
For people who prefer American history to American mythology.
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/the-other-...
The Other 9/11
Mayhem, Mass Murder, and Mormons
beforewewerewhite.substack.com
September 10, 2025 at 4:43 PM
The forgotten 9/11.
Don’t forget to subscribe (free or paid), in order to never miss our BWWW newsletter!
For people who prefer American history to American mythology.
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/the-other-...
Don’t forget to subscribe (free or paid), in order to never miss our BWWW newsletter!
For people who prefer American history to American mythology.
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/the-other-...
The resurgence of white supremacy and racialist eugenics in the USA is shocking.
Americans are among the most ethnically-mixed people in world history.
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/who-the-he...
Americans are among the most ethnically-mixed people in world history.
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/who-the-he...
Who The Hell Do You Think You Are?
The Foolishness at the Heart of "White" American Identity
beforewewerewhite.substack.com
September 6, 2025 at 9:48 PM
The resurgence of white supremacy and racialist eugenics in the USA is shocking.
Americans are among the most ethnically-mixed people in world history.
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/who-the-he...
Americans are among the most ethnically-mixed people in world history.
beforewewerewhite.substack.com/p/who-the-he...