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.
Judith Browne Dianis is the Executive Director of the Advancement Project National Office. She’s served as a lawyer, professor, and civil rights advocate for the movement for racial justice for decades, including at the NAACP-LDF. Did you know that for every one white male student suspended or expelled K-12th grades, the rate is three times higher for Black boys? The rate is six times higher when comparing suspension rates of Black girls to their white counterparts. This episode reflects on how Brown increased surveillance and discipline for Black students, the consequences of carceral policy-making, and the power of context and community.
Dr. Christina Grant is the DC State Superintendent of Education for the Office of the State Superintendent of Education. She is a system leader, researcher, and highly sought-after public speaker with decades of receipts for improving life opportunities and outcomes for children and families across the country. If you’ve ever wondered what a superintendent is responsible for or why it’s important to support Black women educators, you’ll want to bookmark this episode.
Melanie Willingham-Jaggers is the Executive Director at GLSEN, a national nonprofit working to ensure public education is safe and affirming for all students, including those who identify as and are assumed to be queer, trans, or gender expansive. Our conversation explores why it’s essential to say gay, bi, trans, and other words that have held important meanings before being politicized while ensuring that all students have access to adults who are competent and compassionate. Melanie discusses the work of GLSEN, which is incredibly important considering recent increases in anti-LGBTQ legislation targeting students, schools, and democracy.
I was invited to deliver a keynote address during the Summer Training Institute, and this trip would mark a decade almost to the day that I was last at Knoxville with my CDF family and our ancestors knew that my soul needed the food that could only be prepared by social justice warriors working to defend democracy by supporting students in schools. This special episode of the Teach the Babies Podcast features the keynote address that I delivered at this year's conference. I hope, if nothing else, you can feel a fraction of the energy that was palpable to me both then and now. I also hope that you are inspired to learn more about the legacies of the Children’s Defense Fund, Freedom Schools, the indomitable Marian Wright Edelman and the team's quarterback at present, Reverend Dr. Starsky Wilson.
Damon T. Hewitt is the President and Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. He possesses more than 20 years of civil rights litigation and policy experience, including prior leadership roles in the nonprofit, philanthropic, and public sectors. This episode revisits the legal motivations for bringing the Brown V. Board lawsuit, the role of courts and our legal system in facilitating access to opportunity (or not), strategies to disrupt resource hoarding, and the white-washed memory of Brown’s legacy.
Bianca Baldridge is a youth worker, scholar, and educator currently serving as an associate professor of education with expertise in community-based education and critical youth work practice at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. This episode explores out-of-school learning spaces and the lessons we can learn from youth workers to support students, improve schools, and strengthen democracy. Loving, listening to, and learning from Black children, youth, and young adults are salient and unifying themes throughout.
Andrea Foggy-Paxton brings a unique perspective to leading change across sectors, drawing from leadership roles in start-up organizations, established organizations, and philanthropic organizations supporting systems transformation. This episode answers the questions: What is civics, and why should it be taught to all students? Andrea shares lessons from her experience as an industry titan and appointed school board member. She also talks about philanthropy and corporations' responsibility for ensuring educational equity.edloc.org
Stephanie Allen does God’s work. A career educator for more than two decades, Ms. Allen currently teaches high school in Guilford County Schools in Greensboro, North Carolina, the third largest school district in North Carolina. She was recognized as a Teacher of the Year in 2019 and 2024–a recognition she’s earned. This episode features the front-line experiences of a classroom teacher, centers stories about under-supported students, and describes necessary steps to dismantle the social hierarchy that relegates Black students to the lowest rungs of every quality of life indicator ladder.