This episode presents the work of Prof. Anthony Brown (University of Texas), who examines how the narrative of dysfunctional Black families has influenced education policy. As a historian of the social sciences, Prof. Brown demonstrates how both Black and White scholars in the early 20th century advanced the image of the absent Black father. Further, he highlights that the image of the Black male as being both simple and beastly has dictated policy since the first slaves were brought to America. Even though these assumptions about Black families and Black men have been proven false, they continue to shape how we approach racial disparities in a variety of policy realms. Prof. Brown’s work demonstrates how certain narratives can be powerful, long lasting, and harmful.