We are so excited to have our sister Caya Lewis Atkins, stopping by the class today. Caya is the founding principal of global DC Strategies and her resume reads like a masterclass of health equity Advocacy. Her early days at NAACP Health Division to literally being in the room where the Affordable Care Act was drafted and implemented to her more recent work as Chief Advisor for Policy and Strategy at Health and Human Services, office of Global Affairs. At the Global Fund fighting hiv, aids, tuberculosis, and malaria and zombie, and other places throughout the world, this sister has been moving mountains for our community.Protect Our Care https://www.protectourcare.org/join-the-movement/ Kaiser Family Foundation https://www.kff.org/tracking-the-medicaid-provisions-in-the-2025-budget-bill/ Black Women’s Health Imperative https://bwhi.org/ NAACP http://naacp.org/issues/health-wellbeing Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/teach-the-babies-w-dr-david-j-johns--6173854/support.
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51:02
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51:02
The Truth About July 4th and Black Freedom
Dr. David J. Johns examines what July 4th truly means for Black Americans in 2025. Drawing from Frederick Douglass's historic speech, Dr. Johns exposes how we're living under a "tyranny of the minority" where democratic institutions suppress the people's will. From the erasure of 2020's racial reckoning to nationwide Juneteenth cancellations, this episode reveals how performative allyship crumbles when real commitment is required. Dr. Johns calls for collective liberation rooted in African ways of community building, emphasizing that our freedom has always come from organized power, not appeals to oppressors.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/teach-the-babies-w-dr-david-j-johns--6173854/support.
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21:53
Black Pride & Ballroom Culture w-Kenya Hutton
Join Dr. David Johns for a powerful conversation with Kenya Hutton, President and CEO of the Center for Black Equity, as they explore the intersections of Black pride, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and community building. From the origins of Black Pride in Washington, DC, to the life-saving power of ballroom culture, Kenya shares his journey from bartender to movement leader, revealing how safe spaces and chosen family can transform lives.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/teach-the-babies-w-dr-david-j-johns--6173854/support.
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53:08
Kimberlé Crenshaw: A Born Back Talker
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!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/teach-the-babies-w-dr-david-j-johns--6173854/support.
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1:05:22
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1:05:22
Chasing Equity with Dr. Marcus A. Hunter and Dreisen Heath
"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 BoisPeopleTerrance Crutcher - Tulsa resident killed by police; his death sparked renewed organizingDr. Tiffany Crutcher - Sister of Terrance Crutcher, civil rights activistRebecca Brown Crutcher - Escaped the Tulsa Massacre, part of Crutcher family legacyBC Franklin - Renowned lawyer who set up tents after Tulsa Massacre to process insurance claimsTamika Mallory - Co-founder of Women's March, activistLinda Sarsour - Activist and Women's March organizerOrganizations 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/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/teach-the-babies-w-dr-david-j-johns--6173854/support.
On Teach the Babies with Dr. David J. Johns, we’re examining the intersection of education, access, race, and how government impacts the teaching of our babies. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/teach-the-babies-w-dr-david-j-johns--6173854/support.