Leading By History

In this new episode, host Ma'asehyahu Isra-Ul sits down for a conversation with an intriguing and important man - Rabbi Capers Funnye. Not only is he First Lady Michelle Obama's first cousin but also the rabbi and spiritual leader of Chicago's oldest extant synagogue (Beth Shalom B'nai Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation). The history of African American Jews in Chicago and throughout the United S...

In this brief episode of the Leading By History podcast, host Ma'asehyahu Isra-Ul does a "Check in" with Deijha Gordon who was with us on Season 3 Ep. 5. If you want to find out what Deijha has been doing since she set up shop in Ghana, this episode will bring you up to speed. From Egypt to Tanzania, Deijha recounts her visits, her challenges and her aspirations. Come along for the journey! *To su...

In this long awaited episode of the Leading By History podcast, host Ma'asehyahu Isra-Ul talks with Professor Cyndi Parker about the power and purpose of geography for unravelling historical mysteries and disputes. Were the Egyptians white Europeans? Is Egypt in Africa or the Middle East?  How can we know the location of ancient events? Is religion developed within a geographical context? The...

In this long awaited episode of the Leading By History podcast, host Ma'asehyahu Isra-Ul delves deep into the work of Dr. Jessica Marie Johnson to discuss enslavement era constructs of race and beauty in the Atlantic world. We can't say enough about this discussion. The host made a decision to forgo a commercial break in this episode in order to maximize the time with the guest. If you are looking...

In this episode we speak with Latin Americanist and transatlantic slavery scholar Dr. Mary Hicks about the history of free and enslaved people of African descent in Brazil. This discussion dives deeply into the perceived reality of African people in Brazil and their unique journey to preserve their Africanness and their identities while carving out meta-realities of freedom and liberation in a rac...

In this episode of Leading By History, Ma'asehyahu Isra-Ul talks with educational journalist Jill Barshay to dig into some of her recent articles and the state of bias in K-12 classrooms. This discussion is one that will show the importance of anti-racist and anti-bias education and how even our most vulnerable students (those in K-2 education) can be in danger when teachers are not trained in cul...

In this episode of the Leading By History podcast, Ma'asehyahu Isra-Ul talks with Dr. Tiffany Florvil about the work of Black women in the cause of Black liberation in Germany. Many may not be familiar with the history of the Black struggle in Germany and this discussion will surely center this history in this episode. You can read more about Dr. Florvil's research in her book Mobilizing Black Ger...

In this episode Ma'asehyahu Isra-Ul speaks via Google Meet with Deijha Gordon of Deijha's Views about her journey of repatriation to Ghana. From leaving the United States before covid-19, to opening a food business in Ghana and then having to return during the surge, Deijha details her successes and challenges with her attempt to repatriate to Ghana. Driven by a conviction that Africans in America...

In this episode, Ma'asehyahu Isra-Ul taps back in with season 2 guest - Dr. Claudrena Harold, Chair of UVA's Corcoran Department of History to discuss her new book When Sunday Comes. Harold's book details the creative shifts, sonic innovations, theological tensions, and political assertions that transformed gospel music. This episode is inspiring and filled with great insight as the two historians...

In this episode, Ma'asehyahu Isra-Ul speaks with the founder of Cult of Pedagogy - Jennifer Gonzalez about the current state of K-12 teaching practice and how recent events have made it evident that there needs to be a major focus on critical thinking instead of rote memorization. Tasks rooted in Project-based learning provide opportunities for students to think, understand (in context) and solve...

In this episode, Ma'asehyahu Isra-Ul sits down with Civil War historian Kevin Levin to discuss Civil War memory and the creation of statuary at the end of the Reconstruction period which was produced in order to induce fear and reinforce the "Lost Cause" narrative. Kevin and Ma'asehyahu dig into historical imagery and uncover the history behind Richmond, Virginia's Monument Avenue and the recent c...

Welcome to SEASON 3 of the Leading By History Podcast! We are back for ANOTHER YEAR of relevant and engaging content for 2021/2022! In this episode 1 of season 3, Ma'asehyahu Isra-Ul speaks with Gemima Neves Barlow - Democratic executor and supporter of electoral integrity around the world. She has coordinated large international election observation missions in such countries as Ghana, Nigeria, a...

In this final episode of Season 2 of the Leading By History podcast, founder Ma'asehyahu Isra-Ul walks the audience through the analytics for 2020 and explains the growth of the podcast over the last year. Having started in November of 2018, the continued growth of the podcast through 2020 has been amazing. We have had some of the most influential thinkers on this platform and Ma'asehyahu walks th...

In this episode of the Leading By History Podcast, Specialist Ma'asehyahu Isra-Ul speaks with Michael Lawrence-Riddell and Bayete' Ross-Smith of Self-Evident Media about the educational and historical resource selections which they are providing to teachers around the world. In the midst of a world-wide epidemic, which is causing many teachers to teach online, the resources from Self-Evident Media...

In this episode, we speak with Will Morris, the founder and chief executive of EdConnective - the trailblazers in the world of online coaching and observation. Will talks to us about his initial vision for EdConnective and how the changing post-covid educational world is providing opportunities for educational innovation in the midst of desperate challenges. If you want to be motivated by someone...

In this episode of Leading By History, Specialist Ma'asehyahu Isra-Ul speaks with Dr. Afiya Mbilishaka of Psychohairapy concerning Black Identity and the psychology of beauty.  Dr. Mbilishaka takes us through the lessons of self-love and how it is important to understand the meaning of identity and how it ties us back to our illustrious past as people of the African Diaspora. Who are you? Whe...

In this episode of Leading By History, Ma'asehyahu Isra-Ul speaks with Dr. Gina Paige of AFRICAN ANCESTRY .com. Ma'asehyahu gets his maternal (mother) mitochondrial DNA examined and gets a revelation of exactly who his ancestors were on his mother's mother's side of the family. If you want to understand DNA testing, the most efficient process for finding lineage and who Ma'asehyahu is descended fr...

In this episode 13 of season 2, Ma'asehyahu Isra-Ul speaks with Dr. Gholnecsar "Gholdy" Muhammad (Professor and author of Cultivating Genius: An Equity Framework for Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy ). In this discussion, Dr. Muhammad speaks from experience. She has been an ELA teacher, history teacher, reading coach, district administrator, school board president and educational co...

In this final episode of the Black Gods series, Ma'asehyahu Isra-Ul speaks with Dr. Fatimah Fanusie (Howard Thurman Historical Home Historian and scholar of African American Islamic history) about the influence of the Ahmadiyya movement on the Nation of Islam in America. Dr. Fanusie discusses partial aspects of her dissertation and current research, documenting historical and religious nuances in...

In this episode of Leading By History, Professor/Specialist Ma'asehyahu Isra-Ul has a discussion with Dr. Jose' Pimienta-Bey (Associate Professor of African & African American Studies) of Berea College, Ky. about the philosophy and works of Noble Drew Ali. Discussing his research on Moorish history and his book Othello's children in the "New World", Dr. Pimienta-Bey brings out the information abou...

In this episode of Leading By History, Specialist Ma'asehyahu Isra-Ul speaks with historian Menika Dirkson from Temple University's PhD history program. Menika speaks with us about her dissertation research which is focused on street organizations and unjust systems in the city of Philadeplphia. In this part 4 of the Black Gods series, Menika helps us to make the connection between black religious...

In the previous episode, Specialist Ma'asehyahu Isra-Ul presented the premise that it was Marcus Mosiah Garvey who laid the groundwork for "Black Godism" in America. While there were others who presented themselves as "Gods" in black flesh (i.e. Father Divine), it was Garvey who defined the purpose and need for having a "Black God". In this part III, we delve into the history of the Five-Percenter...

In this follow up episode, Specialist Ma'asehyahu Isra-Ul continues his dive into the most influential black religions of modern inner-city society - while tracing them back to the Black nationalist philosophy of Marcus Mosiah Garvey. From the Rastafarian Tabernacle and the Moorish Science Temple of America to the Nation of Islam and the Five Percenters, we explore the historical link to the early...

In this episode, Specialist Ma'asehyahu Isra-Ul discusses the most influential black religions in modern inner-city society. From the Moorish Science Temple of America to the Nation of Islam and the Five Percenters, we embark upon a conversation of influence in music, style and language in America's urban culture. If you are unfamiliar with these groups, you will want to come along for the ride as...

In this episode of Leading By History we have a discussion with Liz Kleinrock in order to discuss the need to teach and transform classrooms with critical pedagogy focused in an Anti-bias/Anti-Racist approach. From racism to the current xenophobia attached to the novel corona virus, we travel into many areas and methods of effective practice. If you want to learn more about how to ensure that your...