The Blackboard

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 communiti...

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 de...

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 rese...

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 discu...