Episodes

  • A Master Class on the Middle East and Political Engagement w/Marc Lamont Hill

    A Master Class on the Middle East and Political Engagement w/Marc Lamont Hill
    Oct 31 2024
    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.
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    39 mins
  • Dreaming With My Children

    Dreaming With My Children
    Oct 29 2024
    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.com
    https://gauge.ai/
    https://x.com/joshuadubois
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    35 mins
  • Black Republicans and Grifting (w/Clay Cane)

    Black Republicans and Grifting (w/Clay Cane)
    Oct 24 2024
    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)
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    54 mins
  • Everything is a Literacy

    Everything is a Literacy
    Oct 22 2024
    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
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    53 mins
  • Office-Hours-Black-Facts

    Office-Hours-Black-Facts
    Oct 17 2024
    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.
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    14 mins
  • Decolonizing the Genius Black Mind

    Decolonizing the Genius Black Mind
    Oct 15 2024
    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.
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Afro-Futuristic Dreaming in the Key of Barbara Johns

    Afro-Futuristic Dreaming in the Key of Barbara Johns
    Oct 8 2024
    This episode also 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.
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    6 mins
  • Season One Recap

    Season One Recap
    Oct 2 2024
    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.
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    32 mins