Today I'm in conversation with the brilliant Professor Kimberlé Crenshaw—legal scholar, civil rights advocate, chief architect of Critical Race Theory. 

From her parents' kitchen table discussions that shaped her critical consciousness, to her groundbreaking work challenging legal institutions, to founding the African American Policy Forum, Professor Crenshaw has spent decades translating academic theory into tools for resistance. 

In this powerful conversation, we explore what it means to be "a born back talker," why pivoting away from our truth won't save us, and how we can resist critically—and in community—during these challenging times. Enjoy!

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"The time for studies that lead to inaction is over. The time for reparative justice is now." Those aren't just words—they're a battle cry from our movement. In this episode, we dive deep into reparations with two of the movement's most powerful voices: Dr. Marcus Anthony Hunter, author of "Radical Reparations" and NBJC board member, and Dreisen Heath, founder of the Why We Can't Wait National Reparations Coalition. We're talking about Maryland's vetoed reparations bill, federal momentum, Equity Week, and how we currently organize for justice in the movement. This conversation is timely and important because, when they come for our rights, we don't retreat—we revolutionize.

• Equity Week 2025 - June 10-14, Washington, D.C.

Books 

• "Radical Reparations: Healing the Soul of a Nation" by Dr. Marcus Anthony Hunter (HarperCollins/Amistad 2024)
• "Black Citymakers: How The Philadelphia Negro Changed Urban America" by Dr. Marcus Anthony Hunter (Oxford University Press)
• "The Philadelphia Negro" by W.E.B. Du Bois

People

• Terrance Crutcher - Tulsa resident killed by police; his death sparked renewed organizing
• Dr. Tiffany Crutcher - Sister of Terrance Crutcher, civil rights activist
• Rebecca Brown Crutcher - Escaped the Tulsa Massacre, part of Crutcher family legacy
• BC Franklin - Renowned lawyer who set up tents after Tulsa Massacre to process insurance claims
• Tamika Mallory - Co-founder of Women's March, activist
• Linda Sarsour - Activist and Women's March organizer

Organizations 

• National Black Justice Collective (NBJC) www.nbjc.org 
• Why We Can't Wait National Reparations Coalition www.reparationscantwait.org 
• United by Equity https://unitedbyequity.com/ 
• Black Veterans Project https://www.blackveteransproject.org/
• Equality Florida https://www.eqfl.org/

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Today, we're traveling to Tulsa, Oklahoma - not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually - to commemorate one of the most devastating acts of domestic terrorism in American history: the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. #WordsMatter.  I want to be clear about the language we use - this wasn't a "race riot." This was a massacre. This was domestic terrorism. This was a coordinated attack on Black wealth, Black success, and Black lives.

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In this heartfelt episode of "Teach the Babies," host Dr. David Johns welcomes friends, activists, and thought leaders Brittany Packnett Cunningham and Jovian Zayne Peters for an intimate conversation about Black motherhood, community building, and raising children with purpose.

The conversation delves into Black mothers' challenges in healthcare systems, the importance of partners who show up fully, and the wisdom passed down through generations. Both women offer powerful insights on raising children who are compassionate, confident, and deeply connected to their cultural heritage.

This episode stands as a testament to the strength of Black motherhood and offers lessons for anyone involved in nurturing the next generation. As Jovian beautifully summarizes, the key is "being malleable, being like water, being present and honoring the seasons" of life.

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In this rich conversation, Eboni takes us on her journey from a young girl who was "playing president, not playing with baby dolls," to a woman who discovered that motherhood could be her unexpected mojo pouch – that sacred vessel of African protection and power. She shares how choosing motherhood on her own terms has expanded rather than limited her options, and why she refuses to do anything "by committee" – whether it's integrating the cast of Real Housewives of New York or raising our daughter Liberty Alexandria.

We explore how Eboni draws and respects her boundaries in spaces where she's often the first or the only, her reflections on representation in media, and the ancestral wisdom she's reclaiming. From Fox News to Revolt TV, from courtrooms to television courts – Eboni shares lessons that will challenge you to bet on yourself and honor your own authentic path.

Spoiler Alert: Our conversation includes references to the film "Sinners" – so if you haven't seen Ryan Coogler's masterpiece yet (and seriously, what are you waiting for?), you might want to bookmark this episode and come back after your viewing.

Mocha SMC Podcast


Bet on Black The Good News about Being Black in America Today 


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In this soul-nourishing episode of "Teach the Babies," host Dr. David Johns sits down with doula, author, and maternal health advocate Latham Thomas, founder of Mama Glow. Together, they explore the revolutionary act of reclaiming birth as a sacred, communal experience deeply rooted in ancestral wisdom.

Latham shares her journey to becoming a doula after her own transformative birth experience, which led her to create Mama Glow, an organization that has trained over 3,000 doulas nationwide. In a healthcare system where Black women face dramatically higher maternal mortality rates, Latham's work stands as both resistance and restoration.

The conversation delves into how doulas serve as modern-day midwives, holding space for birthing individuals while helping them access their ancestral magic during this powerful transition. Latham illuminates how birth is meant to be experienced in community rather than in isolation, with profound insights on how even non-birthing individuals physically change to support new life.

From the power of language as a tool for healing to the alchemy that transforms trauma into joy, this episode offers wisdom for anyone interested in reproductive justice, community building, and reclaiming African ways of being. As Latham beautifully articulates, "It's not enough to survive—our birthright is transcendence.

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In this profoundly personal season opener, host David Johns sits down with his first teacher—his mother, Edith Johns—to explore the foundations of advocacy, resilience, and love. Mama Johns shares her journey from experiencing childhood trauma to becoming a fierce advocate for her children, fighting educational injustice with lawyers in tow when necessary. With remarkable candor, she discusses her path to acceptance, the challenges of single motherhood, and her recent discovery of peace at age 68.

This conversation starts our season 'Rooted Resistance: Ancestral Wisdom for Revolutionary Times,' centered on lessons from mothers and maternal figures who've shaped us. Through laughter, vulnerability, and generations of wisdom, this episode reminds us that our collective liberation begins with healing our relationships and showing up fully for one another, especially in challenging times.

Whether you're a parent, a child, or both, this episode offers powerful lessons about advocating for the next generation while finding your path to peace. As fascism threatens our communities, Mama Johns reminds us that fierce love is our most powerful weapon.

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In this season finale of Teach The Babies, Dr. David J. Johns welcomes power couple Michelle Molitor and Caroline Hill for a profound conversation about the revolutionary potential of community. These visionary educators and equity champions share their journey from meeting in a principal training program to becoming partners in both purpose and love. Together, they explore how to "flatten hierarchies without flattening people" and remind us that in times of political uncertainty, our collective power remains undiminished.

This capstone conversation weaves together the season's central themes: the courage to dream in Afrofuturistic colors, the necessity of equitable education, and the radical potential of loving community. Listeners will leave inspired by their practical strategies for "seeding disruption" and creating environments where everyone is seen as enough because they exist. Join us for this inspiring finale as we close Season 2 and look ahead to new explorations in Season 3. As Caroline reminds us, "We cannot take our humanity for granted" - a fitting conclusion to a season dedicated to defending democracy and expanding equity through education.

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I bet cash, US dollars, that you’ve heard “Don’t Say Gay,” but have you met the leader behind the truth-anchored reframing of a Florida bill (HB 1577) designed to prevent us from honoring that people be gay (in my Quinta Brunson voice). Civil Rights activist Nadine Smith stops by class to talk about how much we’ve gained in the fights for racial equity and LGBTQ+ equality, why she founded Equality Florida, a statewide advocacy organization she continues to lead, in 1997, and she drops gems to help us all get closer to freedom including the importance of returning home to lead and having a local and state political strategy, looking to history for lessons to win the future, and organizing in community.

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Leave it to the babies to stop by class to teach us the importance of staying woke. Hobbes Chukumba is a STEAM-loving scholar who helped organize the national trans prom when he was sixteen. Hobbes and his father, Stephen, provide a master class on the importance of sacrificing to do our part so that the opposition does not win and the importance of appreciating one another’s humanity. They want us to remember that when we come together, there’s nothing we can’t do and provide tangible strategies to get closer to freedom and center joy in the process.

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