Teach the Babies w/ Dr. David J. Johns

bell hooks reminds us that each generation must defend democracies and that education is its midwife–it being education. In this episode, David is joined by Cici Battle and Tylik McMillan to bring the group chat reflections on the state of things following the most recent presidential election to life. If you too are angry, struggling to make sense of where we are and how we got here, have curiosity about how Black people on the continent are judging us or what it was like to work for the Democratic party and on the campaign trail THIS is one episode you don’t want to miss.

In this exciting return episode of Teach The Babies Office Hours, we welcome back Brittany Packnett Cunningham, a leading voice in culture, justice, and policy. After closing out Season 1, Brittany shares her insights on the recent presidential election and its impact on our communities, especially as a mother of a young Black boy.She discusses the vital narratives surrounding anti-trans, anti-LGBTQ, and anti-Black legislation and offers advice for Black mothers navigating these uncertain times. Brittany also shares what listeners can expect from the new season of her acclaimed podcast Undistracted.Join us for an inspiring conversation filled with wisdom and encouragement to find joy amid the challenges we face!

In this engaging episode of Teach The Babies Office Hours, Dr. Raquel Martin, a pioneer in Black mental health and liberation psychology, joins Dr. David J. Johns for a lively, laughter-filled conversation. Together, they explore the pressing challenges following the recent presidential election, emphasizing the importance of community healing and the impact of political environments on mental health, particularly for parents and educators. Dr. Martin shares actionable strategies for navigating stress and fatigue while encouraging a commitment to ethical living. Listeners are invited to seek good therapy that promotes growth beyond the session and to build supportive communities. Join us for an enlightening discussion filled with joy, respect, and professional insights as we empower ourselves and our children in these turbulent times.Thema Bryant- https://drthema.com/ Podcast Episode Mocha Moms- https://www.mochamoms.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=1Girl Trek- https://www.girltrek.org/

For Brianna Baker, founder of Justice 4 Black Girls, these words are more than a motto; they are a mission.  This proud Spelman Alumna, classroom educator, curriculum developer, and BOSS joins the class to share the experiences that led to founding an organization dedicated to ensuring justice for Black girls.  Top lines include Black girl barretts and revolutionary dreams; honoring and protecting Black girlhood; the power of connection and community (including HBCUs like Spelman College); and what Black men and boys can do to support Black women and girls.

In this compelling episode of Office Hours, host Dr. David J. Johns welcomes renowned scholar, author, and activist Marc Lamont Hill for an in-depth discussion on the pressing issues surrounding the Middle East and the complicity of the U.S. government and both major political parties in shaping the conditions that led up to October 7, 2023.Marc offers a master class on the region's historical and political context, highlighting how systemic issues have influenced current events. Together, they explore the importance of adopting an asset-based mindset and leveraging proven strategies that have historically moved us closer to freedom and justice for all.Additionally, Marc discusses the significance of the Green Party and the potential that third-party options hold for creating a more inclusive political landscape.Join us for this enlightening conversation as we unpack these critical themes and examine how we can advocate for change and engage more effectively in the political process.Don’t forget to check your voter registration status and create a plan to vote on or before November 5th. Every voice matters in the pursuit of equity and justice!Hill, M. L. (2016). Nobody: Casualties of America's war on the vulnerable, from Ferguson to Flint and beyond. Simon and Schuster.Hill, M. L. (2020). We still here: Pandemic, policing, protest, & possibility. Haymarket Books.

CEO, author, media commentator, fantastic husband, father, and friend of the class Joshua DuBois stops by the class to discuss being our first Black President’s (Barack Hussein Obama, don’t play) spiritual advisor; lessons learned bringing together community leaders from across the ideological spectrum to tackle some of the nation’s most significant challenges; and things his children teach him and his wife. Joshua honors the life and legacy of Amadou Diallo, who inspired his advocacy and activism–in faith–and the power of technology to fuel diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging efforts globally.https://www.instagram.com/heydubois/https://wearevalues.comhttps://gauge.ai/https://x.com/joshuadubois

In this episode of Teach The Babies, host Dr. David J. Johns is joined for office hours by renowned journalist, author, and cultural commentator Clay Cane. Together, they dive deep into the pressing issues surrounding the current presidential election, exploring the critical role of Black voters and otherwise Queer constituents in shaping the political landscape.Cane takes us on a historical journey through the evolution of Black Republicanism, revealing how the Republican Party transformed into a refuge for racists and how some Black Republicans have aligned themselves with white supremacy to secure power.Join us in this urgent and informative episode as we explore how to reclaim our narratives, empower our communities, and ensure our voices are heard in the upcoming elections and beyond. Let’s teach the babies—that includes ourselves—about the power of political engagement regardless of political party affiliation!Remember to check your voter registration status and create a plan to vote on or before November 5th. Your voice matters!Cane, C. (2024). The Grift: The Downward Spiral of Black Republicans from the Party of Lincoln to the Cult of Trump. Sourcebooks, Inc.. Key facts about Black eligible voters in 2024 https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/01/10/key-facts-about-black-eligible-voters-in-2024/ (Documentary) Kenyatta: Do Not Wait Your Turn (2023)

Tina Turner famously sang, " What’s love got to do with it?” Educators in meaningful relationships with their students know love is the answer to this question is Love. Love is at the center of Dr. Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz’s pedagogy, and is also at the center of this conversation between educators who understand the power of love. Questions fueling this conversation include: Where did you catch sense (or learn who and whose you are)? What is your racial literacy? What do you believe? Which children are you teaching (and what are you teaching them)? And do you have the capacity to love? Parents, educators, and people in relationships with young people will want to bookmark this episode. Dillard, Cynthia B. "The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen: Examining an endarkened feminist epistemology in educational research and leadership." International journal of qualitative studies in education 13.6 (2000): 661-681.Sealey-Ruiz, Yolanda. "The critical literacy of race: Toward racial literacy in urban teacher education." Handbook of urban education. Routledge, 2021. 281-295.Sealey-Ruiz, Yolanda. "An archaeology of self for our times: Another talk to teachers." English Journal 111.5 (2022): 21-26.https://www.yolandasealeyruiz.com/academicbooks-yolandasealeyruiz, TEDx Talk: https://www.yolandasealeyruiz.com/tedxtalk

In addition to our regularly scheduled class, we’re adding office hours. These office hours will feature election-specific content.  Sometimes, it’ll be just me, and sometimes, I’ll invite thoughtful people who also care about and spend time working to understand, defend, and expand democracy to join me. The goal is to cut through some of the dis-information, misinformation, and straight-up BS (that’s the technical term) to ensure that we all have fact-based information to use as those of us who can exercise our right to vote and empower and support others in doing the same. We kick off our Teach The Babies office hours by reviewing crucial facts about Black-eligible voters.

There is something powerful about educators who are committed to introducing children to the genius in them.  Dr. Chris Emdin is a genius personified, and this intellectual cipher between two intellectual powerhouses who love Black people, teach the babies, and defend democracy is anchored by the freedom to dream and the importance of having safe and supportive spaces to nurture our dreams.Dr. Emdin earned his PhD in urban education with a concentration in Mathematics, Science, and Technology to birth the #HipHopEd social media movement, wrote books for “White For White Folks Who Teach In the Hood, and the Rest of Yall, too,” (yup, that’s the book title, get into it), and helps all of us get closer to freedom, faster.As Dr. Emdin says, “Science is the ultimate, hybridized knowledge,” and he breaks down why.  This conversation between colleagues and friends celebrates the best part of Afro-Futuristic dreaming and system design, the trappings of white supremacy in public schools and policy-making, and the critical role that words and affirmation play in surviving white supremacy.Emdin, Christopher. For White folks who teach in the hood... and the rest of y'all too: Reality pedagogy and urban education. Beacon Press, 2016.Emdin, Christopher. Ratchetdemic: Reimagining academic success. Beacon Press, 2021.Givens, Jarvis R. Fugitive pedagogy: Carter G. Woodson and the art of Black teaching. Harvard University Press, 2021.

This episode features the story of Barbara Johns–no relation–the 16-year-old high school student who organized a student-led protest when her teachers dismissed her concerns about poor facilities and shabby equipment.

Host Dr. David J. Johns reflects upon the inaugural season of this podcast and the lessons learned in producing it. He discusses the best parts of teaching in this medium, which include the community that’s been cultivated, the conversations had both those recorded and inspired by what’s aired, and the Afro-futuristic anchored freedom dreams that are strengthening schools, communities, and democracy.  He thanks the community created through this virtual class offering, which includes YOU, the listening audience, the faculty, the co-teachers who graced the class with their wisdom and administration, and co-producers Thomas Cunningham and Emily Leugers.

Brittany Packnett Cunningham is an educator, activist, writer, award-winning podcaster, leader, mother, and friend. She is an NBC News and MSNBC Political Analyst and host of UNDISTRACTED, a news and justice podcast with an intersectional lens on the world. This series concluding episode of the inaugural season of this podcast invites listeners to the freedom dream with one of our generation’s most sought-after thought leaders, policy advisors, and public speakers.  Brittany and Dr. Johns discuss how the game of politics is played, how to stand on business while building Black futures where all Black students thrive, and that there are no lay people in the work of defending democracy and getting everyone to freedom. Listen to Brittany Packnett Cunningham's Undisdtracted podcast.

Can you imagine walking out of fourth grade in protest against white supremacy and racism? Dr. John B. Diamond did exactly that before becoming a sociologist studying race and education. He’s not alone, did you know about Barbara Johns and the 1951 student walkout in Farmville, VA? In this episode, we break down the relationship between social inequality and educational opportunity, revisit what DuBois described as the color line, and Derrick A. Bell noted as the permanence of white supremacy and anti-Blackness, describe what Brown and the NAACP got wrong,  unpack the consequences of distortions and failures (including Black educators losing the ability to teach), discuss the cost of integrating Black students into hostile environments, and the value of what Dr. Jarvis Giving termed “Fugitive Pedagogy” and libratory spaces that are supportive of Black and other non-white, non-privileged students thriving. Educators, system leaders, policymakers, and legal-activist/scholars will want to bookmark this episode.  Despite the Best Intentions: How Inequality Thrives in Good Schools 2022 Brown Lecture in Education Research https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqAC4GoBBww Distributed Leadership in Practice (Critical Issues in Educational Leadership Series) by John B. Diamond and James P. Spillane (Editor), John B. Diamond (Editor), & 1 more

This would only be a Dr. David J. Johns production if the perspective and experiences of a student were centered.  This episode features Oceanne–a brilliant non-binary/gender fluid middle school student who talks about the reality of being othered and what it really means to be “normal,” the (un)learning unspoken school and societal rules, and finding your purpose and passion.  Their mother, Christine Ruiz, an entrepreneur, business owner, and fierce defender of her babies' ability to thrive, talks about the importance of finding support, working through the desire to control, and allowing your children to challenge you to stretch and grow.  This episode celebrates the power of Black women and their nurturing love, the importance of good therapy, and unschooling as a decolonizing movement.

In this bonus episode, we dive into two significant stories that illuminate the complexities of race, identity, and possibilities for Black children. Our journey takes us back to the 1940s and then forward to the present, where we will explore the groundbreaking work of psychologists Kenneth and Mamie Clark, as well as the narrative of Black Barbie, brought to life by director Ava DuVernay. The experiences of Black children, both in the 1940s and today, are shaped by societal views of race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression. We must continue to engage in conversations about racism, anti-Blackness, identity, orientation, and expression, and the importance of representation in all aspects of life—from education to play. Acknowledging this not only empowers children today but also sets the stage for a more equitable future. Let’s all get free!Credit: Emily Leugers and Niko Feliciano, with production support.

Naomi Shelton is nationally known and respected as a vocal advocate for quality choice options for Black and Brown students and families. She currently serves as CEO of the National Charter Collaborative. Do you know what distinguishes a charter school from other public schools? Do you have questions about whether charter schools are public schools? Tap into this episode to grapple with these questions and more.

This episode features a book talk conversation where Dr. Johns interviews author Brian Rashad Fuller about his latest publication, Being Black In America’s Schools.  The conversation, which took place on James Baldwin’s Centennial Birthday draws inspiration from the prolific witness and writer, touches on the apologies that educators owe their students, the process of unlearning trauma taught in public schools, and the process of learning that teaching is political.

Maia Blankenship  is a mother, career educator, and proud Spelman University Alumna. She helped found Wildflower Schools in 2021 and is the co-CEO of Black Wildflowers Fund. Have you ever wondered what happens at Montessori schools and if they’re suitable for Black students? This episode answers these questions and more. Parent, family, and community engagement, the enduring legacy of lessons learned at HBCUs, and African-centered child-centered learning are unifying themes.

Bobby Edwards is the director of community inclusion and external relations at the McLean School.  His current role calls for constant engagement with our community to develop and implement Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts.  This episode describes the role that elite private schools play in preserving privilege, what privileged families seek to buy when playing the real estate for school access game, and the importance of supporting the unique needs of all learners.