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Welcome to the Season 2 Finale! In this episode of BWBK, we dive into the intricate relationship between Black hair and education. We explore how hair journeys mirror personal and professional growth, discuss the resurgence of diverse Black hairstyles in media, and reflect on the cultural significance of hair in Black communities. The conversation also touches on the impact of literature on Black women's lives, featuring book recommendations that resonate with our experiences. Join us for an insightful discussion that celebrates identity, community, and the power of Black hair.

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In this episode, we sit down with a powerful guest—a Black woman principal whose journey has taken her through multiple roles both inside and outside the classroom. She shares her lived experiences navigating school spaces where Black women are often underrepresented, reflecting honestly on the struggles she’s faced and the resilience required to keep going.

Our guest speaks candidly about what sustains her as a leader, how her identity shapes her leadership, and the lessons she’s learned along the way. She offers wisdom and encouragement for Black women in school leadership, as well as practical and affirming advice for classroom teachers who are trying to survive—and thrive—in similar environments.

This conversation is a reminder that while the work is challenging, Black women continue to lead with purpose, care, and courage. Whether you’re an aspiring administrator, a current school leader, or a classroom teacher, this episode will leave you feeling seen, validated, and inspired.

Scholarship: 

Dr. Jenn M. Jackson https://jennmjackson.com/

"Reimagining Teacher Education: Addressing the Developmental Needs of Black Women Preservice Teachers through a Hauntology Framework" by Mariah Deans Harmon https://doi.org/10.1080/10665684.2025.2565486

"The Space Traders" by Derrick Bell in his book Faces at the Bottom of the Well: The Permanence Of Racism https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/466460.Faces_at_the_Bottom_of_the_Well

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Welcome back, BWBK crew! This week's conversation explores the profound impact of loss and grief within the educational system, particularly focusing on the experiences of teachers and students. It delves into the complexities of navigating racism and capitalism in education, the complicity of educators in a flawed system, and the need for community support and advocacy for Black children in predominantly white spaces. The speakers reflect on their personal experiences with loss, the importance of valuing life, and the necessity of creating a supportive environment for both students and teachers.

Scholarship:

Some of us die: a Black feminist researcher’s survival method for creatively refusing death and decay in the neoliberal academy by Dr. Esther O. Ohito

https://doi.org/10.1080/09518398.2020.1771463

Check out the Miiriya app: https://www.miiriya.com/download-app/

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In this episode, we explore the charge of Black education outside of the classroom. We were lucky enough to have Dr. T. Gertrude Jenkins join us to talk about her experience providing extra-curricular education and her scholarship on the creation of Black Liberatory Educational Subversive spaces. We highlight the need for Black-centered spaces in predominantly white institutions and reflects on the significance of community engagement and scholarship in fostering Black joy and identity.

Scholarship:

Follow Dr. Jenkins on Instagram @your_favorite_damn_teacher

Join Dissertating While Black @DissertatingWhileBlack

Find out more about Making Us Matter @MakingUsMatter or at https://makingusmatter.com/

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This conversation explores the profound impact of black women on American culture, the unique challenges they face, and the importance of education in empowering future generations. We discuss the concept of 'black girl magic,' the commodification of black bodies, and the need for reclaiming intellectual property in educational spaces. We also delve into the dynamics of anti-blackness and whiteness, emphasizing the necessity of creating safe and affirming environments for black students.

Scholarship: Check out our Essential Booklist! https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/190364270-bwbk?shelf=black-women-be-knowing&utf8=%E2%9C%93

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In this episode, we delve into the legacy of Assata Shakur, discussing her impact on Black joy and excellence. We explore the challenges faced in education, particularly regarding ethnic studies and social justice curricula, amidst rising political scrutiny. The discussion emphasizes the importance of community advocacy and collective action in resisting educational oppression and fostering inclusive learning environments.

Scholarship: 

"Remembering an Apocalyptic Education: Revealing Life Beneath the Waves of Black Being" by Dr. Tiffani Marie and Dr. Kenjus Watson https://www.rootworkjournal.org/marie-watson

Apocalyptic Education by Dr. Kenjus Watson and Dr. Tiffani Marie https://www.apocalypticeducation.org/culture

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In this episode, we dive deep into the often overlooked — but deeply rooted — phenomenon of white rage, and how these reactions to Black progress or visibility frequently come at the direct expense of the Black community. We explore how this whitelash, even when unwarranted, shapes policies, classrooms, and everyday interactions.

We examine the urgent need to integrate Black history, culture, and experiences into school curricula — not as a side note, but as foundational to any meaningful education. We also discuss why teacher preparation programs must be equipped to dismantle biases, confront systemic inequities, and truly serve diverse student populations.

Finally, we unpack the critical role of Black affinity spaces — in schools, workplaces, and communities — as sites of healing, empowerment, and resistance. These spaces aren’t exclusionary; they’re essential for survival and growth in systems not built with Black people in mind.

Tune in for a raw, necessary conversation that challenges the status quo and calls for transformative change in both education and community structures.

Scholarship:

“'It’s the who and what are you afraid of?' for me: Centering Blackness in teacher education to equip preservice teachers for Black student success" by Shamaine Bertrand https://doi.org/10.1080/09518398.2025.2452986

“The ‘Hidden Injuries’ of School Desegregation: Cultural Trauma and Transforming African American Identities” by Karida L. Brown https://doi.org/10.1057/ajcs.2016.4

"Research, ideology, and the Brown decision: Counter-narratives to the
historical and contemporary representation of Black schooling" by Jerome E. Morris https://doi.org/10.1177/016146810811000406

"Learning in a Burning House: The Disintegration of American Education" by Sonya Horsford https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wz4iYmM7Txs 

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We're back and want to welcome you home this school year! In this episode we explore the hidden labor of Black women and the lack of infrastructure we tend to deal with while still being expected to succeed. Join us as we think about how Black women will face their circumstances in world that has the privilege to not consider their needs.

Literature for the Week:

• "Deepening Black Celebration and Life in a Dying Empire: A Letter to Black People (and the people who love them)" by Justin A. Coles and Keisha L. Green https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10665684.2025.2504001?src=
• School Clothes: Black Student Witness by J.R. Givens https://www.jarvisgivens.com/books/school-clothes-a-collective-memoir-of-black-student-witness

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In this powerful episode, we sit down to answer pressing, real-world questions from our audience. Together, we reflect on the unique challenges and deep rewards of bringing the Black experience into classrooms and work spaces that often lack racial diversity.

Listeners ask: How do you approach discussions about race, culture, or equity in a setting where students might have limited exposure to Black folks? And have you found solidarity with other women of color or do you still feel like no one else gets it?

With honesty, heart, and hard-earned wisdom, we explore the possibilities of cross-racial solidarity, the emotional labor of representation, and the everyday strategies we use to affirm Black identity in predominantly white spaces. 

We were also asked for our essential reading list for the summer and while we listed six in the episode, we made an even more extensive on for you on GoodReads that you can find here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/190364270-bwbk?shelf=black-women-be-knowing&utf8=%E2%9C%93

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As we mark the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, this episode dives deep into the legacy and unfinished promise of school desegregation. While the 1954 Supreme Court ruling was hailed as a milestone for civil rights, we explore the complex realities that followed—from the mass displacement of Black female educators to the resegregation of schools under the guise of "color-blind" policies often championed by conservative agendas.

We discuss how research continues to affirm the academic benefits of students having Black women as teachers, and we highlight how project-based and community action-driven learning approaches can foster equity and engagement in today's classrooms. The episode also celebrates the power of student voice through participation in research symposiums and conferences—transformative spaces where both students and educators grow as scholars and changemakers.

Tune in for a powerful conversation about history, policy, and the radical potential of education when it is rooted in justice, identity, and action.

Scholarship:

Leslie T. Fenwick's Jim Crow's Pink Slip  https://hep.gse.harvard.edu/9781682537190/jim-crows-pink-slip/

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This is difficult work that we're doing, and even though we can't always be with you to bear witness, trust us, we know... Welcome home!