If James Baldwin and Toni Morrison had a literary baby, it would be Robert Jones Jr. He stops by the class to discuss what he learned about love from writing his debut novel, The Prophets. The New York Times Bestselling book shares the romance and love between two enslaved same-gender loving men on a plantation in the American South and a parallel story of Kosii and Elewa, who live and love in a place farther than the past on the African continent.

Robert discusses the importance of permitting yourself to love and interrogating the pleasure in bigotry. He also discusses the importance of witnessing, writing, and harnessing our superpowers. The episode celebrates caring and compassionate adults who invest in us, open windows, and expose us to mirrors so that we can explore who we are in this world we didn’t ask to be born into. 

Witness Substack: https://robertjonesjr.substack.com/ Jordan Neely

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Jordan_Neely 

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In case you missed it, as the new Texas state legislative session commenced on Tuesday, Jan. 14, Jones, one of the first Black same-gender loving men to serve in the state house, got down on one knee and proposed to his longtime partner, Gregory Scott Jr., moments after being sworn in at the State Capitol in Austin. Rep. Jones stops by the class to talk about the responsibility of elected office,, the importance of going back home to lea,d, the importance of love, afrofuturistic dreams that include family, and finding and creating safe and soft places. There’s some School House Rock revisiting how a bill becomes a law and the importance of sustained legislative and civic engagement. This episode is bound up on knowing love–love of yourself, love of community, and love of family.  We pray you know love.

E-mail [email protected] “GTN: Good Trouble Network” for more. 
 
Rep. Jones, Venton - District 100 https://house.texas.gov/members/4275 

Venton Jones: https://www.ventonfor100.com/ 

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Warning" This episode discusses self-harm.

On April 18, 2019, 15-year-old Nigel Shelby died by suicide in response to constant homophobic, anti-Black bullying at school. His mother, Camika Shelby, stops by the class to discuss keeping Nigel’s legacy as he celebrates his 21st birthday (2/1) with our ancestors.  Camika reminds us of the importance of everyone using every available resource to support our babies.  She says that if a child doesn’t have a safe space at home, they will go looking for it elsewhere. She provides lessons she’s learned, including through loss and in grief, for caring and compassionate adults. Listen to the episode and read her book, “A Need for Nigel.”  

National Suicide Hotline 988
Camika Shelby- Facebook
@longlivenigelshelby- Instagram 
Iamnigelshelby- Facebook group page 
Website. www.thenigelshelbyfoundation.org

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Ask anyone in DC for recommendations for disability advocates, and they’ll likely name Dara Baldwin. She works within the Disability Justice movement to end racism and systems of oppression. She served as the Director of National Policy for the Center for Disability Rights, Inc., and Senior Policy Analyst at National Disability Rights Network.  She has worked on over 25 bills signed into law by five Presidents. She stops by the class to discuss the most important lessons learned in fighting for disability justice for all!

Baldwin, Dara. To Be A Problem: A Black Woman’s Survival in the Racist Disability Rights (July 2024).

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Survival, friendship, acceptance, and love are themes that thread this episode together. Angela Rye, political strategist, culture architect, entrepreneur and Dr. Johns’ twin, joins the class to process what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s life and legacy have to teach us in this moment: the importance of engaging in rituals that soothe and restore you, including building with friends who challenge you.  The two Capitol Hill veterans discuss lessons they learned, including the critical role of the Congressional Black Caucus and building IMPACT to increase political, civic engagement, and economic empowerment among young professionals.  The friends and political strategists debate if there are limits to liberal progressivism, how we ensure the safety of every member of our beautifully diverse community, and how we will measure success toward collective freedom and liberation. 

#MLK: But, If Not https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-kgkeuNOB4 

Native Land Pod: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/native-land-pod/id1724078118

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Brother Brother Baba Ron Walker has more than 50 years of experience as a teacher, principal, staff developer, and consultant. He is the founding and retired executive director of the Coalition of Schools Educating Boys of Color. He joins the class to discuss lessons learned from educating Black Boys and being educated by Black people who love Black people. 
 
Walker, Ron. Solomon’s Plan’s A Gift of Education from a Father to His Son. https://www.americanreadingathome.com/bookstore/book/9781640532809/ 

Walker, Ron. Delores’s Dream. https://www.americanreadingathome.com/bookstore/book/9781648515842/ 

Website:ronwalkerbooks.com

Coalition of Schools Educating Boys of Colo
coseboc.org

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Brother Baba Christopher “Chris” Chatmon is the visionary founder and CEO of Kingmakers of Oakland, an award-winning nonprofit that elevates Black boys' educational and life outcomes nationwide. He stops by class to talk about the work he pioneered as the inaugural Executive Director of African American Male Achievement at Oakland Unified School District, the first of its kind nationally within a public school district, and lessons learned along the way–including the importance of making space to support non-binary and gender-expansive young people. We also celebrate the life and legacy of Civil Rights & Education Advocate Oscar C. Wright.

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Dr. Johns and your favorite auntie’s DJ Eugene “Grovvy Gene” Brown reflect upon what they’re most thankful for, what they’re leaving in 2024, and are most excited about experiencing in the New Year. Eugene also shares the five songs that will absolutely be featured on his New Years Eve playlist. Does his playlist match yours?

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Let’s be honest: this Holiday season doesn’t hit the same. This session holds space for processing all of the feelings washing over us.  Dr. Johns reflects on the origins of the pod in search of lessons to survive under legislated sub-humanization.  He processes out loud messages shared by ancestors like James Baldwin, who names the rage those of us who are relatively conscious are righteous in feeling and Fannie Lou Hamer, who reminds us that none of us are free unless and until all of us are free.  He also shares grounding books, including Michael Singer’s The Untethered Soul, Sonbufu Some’s The Spirit of Intimacy and Bayard Rustin’s FBI Files.  Toplines and takeaways include guarding your joy and owning your power; celebrating that we have nothing to lose but our chains (shout out to Assata); finding safety and security in community; and remaining focused on Black Facts, including we’re much closer to freedom than they want us to believe. 

Black Facts www.nbjc.org/BlackFacts 

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Few people know the responsibilities of leading one of the nation’s largest school systems or innovating a tech company to teach African American history and culture. Kaya Henderson stops by the class to discuss the lessons learned while innovating across sectors to ensure that poor Black students can access the resources affluent white students may demand and take for granted.  Kaya shares advice for leaders working in supportive positions, discusses plans for a new venture she’s building WITH young people, and talks about the politics of leadership.

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