Episodes

Episode Summary What happens when the message we teach young children doesn't match the reality many families live every day? In this episode of The Blackboard, Dr. Michelle DeJohnette talks with educator and abolitionist Ijumaa Jordan about why it's time to rethink the idea of police as "community helpers" in early childhood education. Together, they explore how children from different communities experience policing in very different ways—and why those experiences matter in our classrooms. T...

Episode Summary The conversation presented in this episode underscores a crucial and stark reality: the adultification of Black boys within educational and societal contexts. This phenomenon, which effectively robs them of their childhood, manifests in the premature attribution of adult responsibilities and expectations, thus leading to severe repercussions for their psychological and emotional development. As we delve into the narratives shared by our guests, Dr. Amir Gilmore and Mike Brown, we...

Episode 1: Let Black Boys Play! with Dr. Nathaniel Bryan Challenging Systemic Inequities In the inaugural episode of the Blackboard podcast, host Dr. Michelle DeJohnette introduces the podcast’s focus on the experiences of Black children in early childhood education, highlighting systemic inequities and discussing solutions. Dr. DeJohnette's first guest is Dr. Nathaniel Bryan, a scholar whose research centers on the identities and pedagogical styles of black male teachers, the schooling realiti...

Trailer: Come sit at the Blackboard The Blackboard Podcast is a space to talk honestly about what’s happening in early childhood education—and what should be happening instead. In this trailer episode, Dr. DeJohnette introduces the purpose and vision behind The Blackboard Podcast, inviting educators, families, students, and community members into conversations that move beyond surface-level discussions of equity. This podcast brings research out of the academy and into community, making it acce...