Teach the Babies w/ Dr. David J. Johns – Details, episodes & analysis

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!

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.