Teach the Babies w/ Dr. David J. Johns

This is a special episode of Teach the Babies.On October 16, 2025, we celebrated 30 years since the Million Man March. To honor that anniversary, I sat down with three brothers for a conversation about what the March got right, what it got wrong, and what repair requires of us now.You're about to hear Rev. Mark Thompson (who emceed the original 1995 March), Pastor Jamal Bryant (who's leading one of the nation's largest Black churches), and Sean Ebony Coleman (who's keeping Black trans youth alive in the Bronx) get honest about:Where we were in 1995 and why some of us were told we couldn't belongHow sexuality has been weaponized to divide Black menWhat happens when a megachurch pastor admits he was doing "domestic terrorism" from the pulpitWhy the Black church owes the LGBTQ+ community an apologyWhat it costs when we police masculinity instead of expanding brotherhoodHow we turn churches into sanctuaries and teach the babies that vulnerability is strengthThis conversation is brothers talking WITH each other—not at each other. It's repair in real time. It's reckoning and regeneration.And it's what teaching the babies actually requires.For full video and additional resources, visit NBJC.org and millionmanmarch2025.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/teach-the-babies-w-dr-david-j-johns--6173854/support.

Today, sitting with us in the class of someone who's been in the thick of every significant social justice movement for the past 40 years, Reverend Mark Thompson.A political, civil rights and human rights activist who's organized everything from the 1993 DC Statehood civil disobedience campaign, where he spent 20 days in jail to the upcoming 30th anniversary of The Million Man March. He's also the host of Make It Plain, a brilliant podcast, breaking Down Politics and Human Rights, and he recently authored the lead paper on DC Statehood for the State of the People Black Paper Project.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/teach-the-babies-w-dr-david-j-johns--6173854/support.

Political strategist, journalist, and co-anchor of The Signal LIVE Karen Finney joins the class fresh from co-anchoring the launch of State of the People TV with Dr. David J. Johns. Karen reveals the origin story that drives her work—carrying incarcerated teenage girls who couldn't envision a future into every room of power—and why this moment required something different: a movement disguised as media, where the answers are within our communityThis conversation explores what it means to be impeccable with your word, why the fourth estate matters for democracy, and what makes this moment different. Karen breaks down journalism versus propaganda, shares lessons from crisis communications and surviving brain surgery, and offers a message: your voice matters, we need you—but take a breath first.The answers are within our community. Be impeccable with your word. Remember who we are.Watch The Signal LIVE every Thursday at 9pm ET/8pm CT at stateoftheppl.com/tvBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/teach-the-babies-w-dr-david-j-johns--6173854/support.

Host, Dr. David J. Johns sits down with Jada Capri Ward—social justice advocate, performer, and co-host of the Relentless Love Podcast—to explore what activism looks and feels like for millennials and Gen Z. This is a conversation about being a "Zillennial" straddling two worlds, living with chronic illness while doing the work, and why our generation's digital organizing connects back to ancestral ways of resistance. Jada opens up about the fear, the fatigue, and why sometimes the most radical thing we can do is be still. Plus, she shares why leaders like Angela Rye, Brittany Packnett Cunningham, and Tamika Mallory are the "Angela Davis and Malcolm X" of this generation. Jada brings raw honesty about the gaps between policy and people's needs.@jadaacapri on InstagramBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/teach-the-babies-w-dr-david-j-johns--6173854/support.

In this essential episode of Teach The Babies, Dr. David Johns sits down with theGrio's White House Correspondent and Managing Editor Gerren Keith Gaynor for a masterclass in journalism, media literacy, and democracy protection. From becoming the first Black-owned digital news correspondent in the White House briefing room to breaking down the critical difference between journalists and influencers, Gerren shares invaluable insights on navigating our current "infodemic." This conversation explores how disinformation campaigns target Black communities, the vital role of Black-owned media in countering false narratives, and practical media literacy skills every person needs in 2025. A must-listen for educators, advocates, and anyone committed to informed civic engagement.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/teach-the-babies-w-dr-david-j-johns--6173854/support.

In this powerful follow-up conversation, education equity consultant Nancy Hanks returns to discuss how educators, parents, and allies can navigate the dramatically shifted educational landscape under current federal policies.Nancy provides unflinching analysis of the psychosocial toll on educators of color while offering concrete strategies for micro-recovery and sustained resistance. She shares specific questions parents should ask schools to maintain equity pressure using plain language, challenges white educators to step up as agitators, and reminds us all why ancestral wisdom is essential for this moment.From practical advice about red flags in school environments to the profound metaphor of raising a "standard" that lists previous battles won, this episode balances raw honesty about current challenges with actionable hope for protecting and teaching our babies.Key topics include: grief and healing in educational spaces, parent advocacy strategies that transcend academic jargon, the role of privilege in educational resistance, and why remembering that "folks did more with less" is crucial for sustaining the work ahead.Essential listening for educators feeling under attack, parents navigating hostile school environments, and anyone committed to ensuring all children can access their beauty and brilliance despite the current assault on educational equity.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/teach-the-babies-w-dr-david-j-johns--6173854/support.

While politicians push federal funding to arm teachers, Chris Chatmon and Kingmakers of Oakland (KOO) are arming Black children with something far more powerful: creativity, culture, and community. In this deeply moving conversation, Chris returns to discuss how creative expression becomes resistance, why drumming circles counter deficit narratives, and how his organization builds what children need while others tear systems down. From table drums made to deepen intersectional connections to animation studios producing counter-narratives, this is education as liberation—and it's happening right now in Oakland.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/teach-the-babies-w-dr-david-j-johns--6173854/support.

Dr. Karida Brown drops receipts on the 150-year battle for Black educational freedom in America. From the original "diss track" between W.E.B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington to today's attacks on the Department of Education, she connects the dots between Jim Crow schools and modern-day educational warfare.Learn why your parents' generation had to desegregate schools as children, how billionaire philanthropists shaped Black education in boardrooms, and why "small acts fall big trees" when it comes to resistance. Dr. Brown's book "Battle for the Black Mind" isn't just history—it's a playbook for fighting educational inequity today.Warning: This episode contains discussion of historical violence, including the execution of 14-year-old George Stinney Jr.Books Referenced:"All Boys Aren't Blue" by George Johnson"Pretty, Powerful: Appearance, Substance and Success" by Ebony K. WilliamsArtist Featured:Charlie Palmer: Fine artist whose painting of George Stinney Jr. appears on the book cover. Palmer's "Divided States of America" series critiques systemic injustice.Connect with Dr. Brown: LinkedIn for daily historical receipts and analysisBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/teach-the-babies-w-dr-david-j-johns--6173854/support.

Welcome back to class! In this powerful episode of Teach the Babies, Dr. David J. Johns teaches a transformative lesson about Black August—a month of revolutionary love, principled resistance, and the long arc of our freedom struggle.From the prison walls where George Jackson was politicized and assassinated in 1971, to the contemporary attacks on Black mayors like Muriel Bowser and Karen Bass in 2025, Dr. Johns connects the dots between historical resistance and today's freedom fights. This isn't just Black history - it's Black present.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/teach-the-babies-w-dr-david-j-johns--6173854/support.

What does it mean to stand on business when it comes to our babies' education? Drin Kelly and Stevie Elem-Rogers, co-founders of BE NOLA (Black Education for New Orleans), join Dr. David J. Johns for a powerful conversation about building Black educational excellence in the Crescent City and beyond.From Hurricane Katrina's aftermath to creating "hush harbors" for Black educators, these truth-tellers share why "race-neutral solutions will not transform race-based inequities." Stevie opens up about her "Black Women Are for Grown Ups" platform, while Drin reminds us to "make the community the curriculum."This episode is packed with gems about spirit work, the importance of Black governance in education, and why we must listen to our children more. Plus, they break down what's really happening with Essence Festival and why community accountability matters now more than ever.Connect: Learn more about BE NOLA's Black Is Brilliant Summit (October 2-5) at blackedunola.org.This conversation will feed your soul and challenge you to think differently about education, community, and what our babies truly deserve.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/teach-the-babies-w-dr-david-j-johns--6173854/support.

Today we're diving deep into a conversation that has been decades in the making. You know, sometimes the universe brings people together at precisely the right moment, and today feels like one of those moments. I'm here with Tourmaline. An Artivist, an activist, a filmmaker, and now the author of what I can only describe as a groundbreaking biography, Marsha, the Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson.Tourmaline reminds us that Marsha P. Johnson didn't wait for permission to exist—and neither should we. If you've ever wondered what real Pride looks like beyond corporate rainbow flags—start by pressing play.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/teach-the-babies-w-dr-david-j-johns--6173854/support.

Political strategist DeJuana Thompson has engaged 2+ million Black voters through her revolutionary organizing approach. From leading the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute to founding Woke Vote and spearheading the State of the People movement, she shares how centering marginalized communities changes everything.DeJuana explains why she focuses on "zero propensity" voters others ignore, her philosophy of meeting people's immediate needs first, and the difference between resistance and existence. She reveals lessons from preserving civil rights history while building modern movements, plus her work responding to current legislative threats.A powerful conversation about grassroots organizing, radical collaboration, and why "the people on the margins" hold the key to transforming our communities."This is a different time, but it's still our time. Period."Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/teach-the-babies-w-dr-david-j-johns--6173854/support.

Today we're diving deep into something that touches every single one of our lives, but that many of us don't always take the time to understand fully... the US census, and we're exploring it through the lens of someone who embodies the intersections of data democracy and artistic expression.Today's classroom guest is Larry Carter II, a former project manager at the US Census Bureau, who built partnerships to ensure historically under-counted communities are both seen and heard. But Larry isn't just about numbers. He's also a recording artist whose R&B work was considered for a Grammy and a community leader who ran for Atlanta City Council.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/teach-the-babies-w-dr-david-j-johns--6173854/support.

State Senator Shevrin Jones and Representative Michele Rayner take us inside "Alligator Alcatraz," Florida's controversial immigration detention center, sharing firsthand accounts of what they witnessed. From the Supreme Court's dismantling of the Department of Education to the political takeover of HBCUs, these two trailblazing Black queer legislators reveal how Florida has become a testing ground for authoritarian policies spreading nationwide. With raw honesty, they discuss leading while broken, the power of walking in your convictions, and why "the Constitution does not coronate kings." A urgent conversation about resistance, democracy, what it means to sacrifice in service of the people and why Florida’s cruelty is coming for everyone.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/teach-the-babies-w-dr-david-j-johns--6173854/support.

Dr. David J. Johns sits down with activist, educator, and UNDISTRACTED host Brittany Packnett Cunningham—not just as colleagues, but as family. Fresh from her address to 20,000 members of Delta Sigma Theta and her leadership of the multi-day "State of the People" telethon, Brittany breaks down how we're navigating this political moment where children are detained in facilities nicknamed "Alligator Alcatraz" and climate disasters meet federal abandonment.From the intersection of immigration and Black liberation to teaching the next generation about democracy defense, this is an urgent conversation about connection, community care, and what it takes to build the world our children deserve. Plus: rapid-fire questions including the most crucial choice between Beyoncé's "Texas Hold 'Em" and "16 Carriages."State of the People www.stateoftheppl.comHeather McGhee, The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together (book)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/teach-the-babies-w-dr-david-j-johns--6173854/support.

We are so excited to have our sister Caya Lewis Atkins, stopping by the class today. Caya is the founding principal of global DC Strategies and her resume reads like a masterclass of health equity Advocacy. Her early days at NAACP Health Division to literally being in the room where the Affordable Care Act was drafted and implemented to her more recent work as Chief Advisor for Policy and Strategy at Health and Human Services, office of Global Affairs. At the Global Fund fighting hiv, aids, tuberculosis, and malaria and zombie, and other places throughout the world, this sister has been moving mountains for our community.Protect Our Care https://www.protectourcare.org/join-the-movement/ Kaiser Family Foundation https://www.kff.org/tracking-the-medicaid-provisions-in-the-2025-budget-bill/ Black Women’s Health Imperative https://bwhi.org/ NAACP http://naacp.org/issues/health-wellbeing Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/teach-the-babies-w-dr-david-j-johns--6173854/support.

Dr. David J. Johns examines what July 4th truly means for Black Americans in 2025. Drawing from Frederick Douglass's historic speech, Dr. Johns exposes how we're living under a "tyranny of the minority" where democratic institutions suppress the people's will. From the erasure of 2020's racial reckoning to nationwide Juneteenth cancellations, this episode reveals how performative allyship crumbles when real commitment is required. Dr. Johns calls for collective liberation rooted in African ways of community building, emphasizing that our freedom has always come from organized power, not appeals to oppressors.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/teach-the-babies-w-dr-david-j-johns--6173854/support.

Join Dr. David Johns for a powerful conversation with Kenya Hutton, President and CEO of the Center for Black Equity, as they explore the intersections of Black pride, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and community building. From the origins of Black Pride in Washington, DC, to the life-saving power of ballroom culture, Kenya shares his journey from bartender to movement leader, revealing how safe spaces and chosen family can transform lives.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/teach-the-babies-w-dr-david-j-johns--6173854/support.

Today I'm in conversation with the brilliant Professor Kimberlé Crenshaw—legal scholar, civil rights advocate, chief architect of Critical Race Theory. From her parents' kitchen table discussions that shaped her critical consciousness, to her groundbreaking work challenging legal institutions, to founding the African American Policy Forum, Professor Crenshaw has spent decades translating academic theory into tools for resistance. In this powerful conversation, we explore what it means to be "a born back talker," why pivoting away from our truth won't save us, and how we can resist critically—and in community—during these challenging times. Enjoy!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/teach-the-babies-w-dr-david-j-johns--6173854/support.

"The time for studies that lead to inaction is over. The time for reparative justice is now." Those aren't just words—they're a battle cry from our movement. In this episode, we dive deep into reparations with two of the movement's most powerful voices: Dr. Marcus Anthony Hunter, author of "Radical Reparations" and NBJC board member, and Dreisen Heath, founder of the Why We Can't Wait National Reparations Coalition. We're talking about Maryland's vetoed reparations bill, federal momentum, Equity Week, and how we currently organize for justice in the movement. This conversation is timely and important because, when they come for our rights, we don't retreat—we revolutionize.Equity Week 2025 - June 10-14, Washington, D.C. Books "Radical Reparations: Healing the Soul of a Nation" by Dr. Marcus Anthony Hunter (HarperCollins/Amistad 2024)"Black Citymakers: How The Philadelphia Negro Changed Urban America" by Dr. Marcus Anthony Hunter (Oxford University Press)"The Philadelphia Negro" by W.E.B. Du BoisPeopleTerrance Crutcher - Tulsa resident killed by police; his death sparked renewed organizingDr. Tiffany Crutcher - Sister of Terrance Crutcher, civil rights activistRebecca Brown Crutcher - Escaped the Tulsa Massacre, part of Crutcher family legacyBC Franklin - Renowned lawyer who set up tents after Tulsa Massacre to process insurance claimsTamika Mallory - Co-founder of Women's March, activistLinda Sarsour - Activist and Women's March organizerOrganizations National Black Justice Collective (NBJC) www.nbjc.org Why We Can't Wait National Reparations Coalition www.reparationscantwait.org United by Equity https://unitedbyequity.com/ Black Veterans Project https://www.blackveteransproject.org/Equality Florida https://www.eqfl.org/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/teach-the-babies-w-dr-david-j-johns--6173854/support.