Teach the Babies w/ Dr. David J. Johns

• Mentoring Into Liberation - Million Man March 2

  Welcome to Event 2 of our Million Man March 30th Anniversary extended dialogue series: "Mentorship & World-Building."Thirty years after the Million Man March, we're asking: How do we mentor the next generation into liberation rather than conformity? How do we build radical brotherhood that includes ALL Black men across sexuality and gender expression?Hosted by Dr. David J. Johns, this conversation brings together Emmy Award winner Dyllon Burnside (Pose, P-Valley, creator of Burnside Artist Retreat), DC organizer Clarence Fluker, and artist Benji Coy.They explore what queer eldership offers ALL young people, how to mentor toward freedom instead of survival, and why Black queer men hold the keys to Black men's liberation. From refusing performative masculinity to living outside the binary, from creating brave healing spaces to "gentle parenting the adults," this conversation offers practical wisdom on building the world we need.This isn't about charity or saviorism. It's about mutual building, world-making, and teaching the babies how to be free.Resources Mentioned:Rashid Newsom - "My Government Means to Kill Me"Keith Boykin's booksBurnside Artist Retreat:  http://www.burnsideartistretreat.orgBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/teach-the-babies-w-dr-david-j-johns--6173854/support.

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• Gutting the Voting Rights Act w/ Cliff Albright

  The Supreme Court just heard arguments in Louisiana v. Callais—a case that could dismantle what's left of the Voting Rights Act and eliminate up to 19 majority-Black congressional districts nationwide. Cliff Albright, co-founder and executive director of Black Voters Matter Fund, was there on the front lines.In this urgent and essential conversation, Cliff takes us from his journey in Selma, Alabama—witnessing the 2000 mayoral election that finally ousted the mayor who presided over Bloody Sunday—to standing outside the Supreme Court fighting for Section 2 protections. He explains in plain speak what Louisiana v. Callais actually means: Louisiana had one majority-Black district despite Black people making up one-third of the state. A court ordered a second district. Then "non-African American voters" sued, claiming race-based representation violates the 14th Amendment—the very amendment designed to guarantee Black people equal rights.Cliff breaks down the 2017 Alabama Senate race that put Black Voters Matter on the map, why "The Blackest Bus in America" matters, how disinformation targets Black voters, what organizing with joy actually looks like, and the concrete actions people can take right now. This isn't just about one Supreme Court case—it's about whether our votes matter, whether our communities get representation, and whether the law will protect us or be weaponized against us.Resources: blackvotersmatterfund.orgBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/teach-the-babies-w-dr-david-j-johns--6173854/support.

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• Black Women's Political Power w/Glynda Carr

  In this conversation, Glynda Carr—co-founder, president, and CEO of Higher Heights—joins Dr. David J. Johns to discuss Black women's unwavering commitment to democracy, even as their political power faces unprecedented attacks. From the Brooklyn café where Higher Heights was born to the dungeons of Ghana where ancestors dreamed of freedom, Glynda traces the through-line of Black women's political organizing across generations.Glynda breaks down why Black women voters feel their power decreasing despite being democracy's most reliable defenders, how to navigate the current assault on election integrity, and what it means to "run toward your power" when authoritarianism is rising. She shares the "Kamala Effect," discusses the importance of creating political budgets, and issues a rallying cry: we are the ones we've been waiting for—our ancestors could see us, and we must build the yellow brick road to the possibilities they dreamed of.This episode is essential listening for anyone committed to defending democracy, understanding Black women's political power, and building the multiracial, multigenerational coalition necessary for this moment.Content WarningsThis episode contains discussions of:Historical and contemporary violence against Black people, including slavery and the Middle PassagePolitical persecution and attacks on Black women leadersGun violence and the murder of Jordan Russell DavisSystemic oppression and racial traumaElection-related anxiety and griefListener discretion is advised. Please practice self-care while engaging with this conversation.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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• Unbought and Unbossed: Joy-Ann Reid on Independent Black Media

  In a moment when major media companies are bending to power and silencing truth-tellers, Joy-Ann Reid is building something different. Fresh from her historic run as cable's first Black woman to host a primetime news program, Joy joins the class to talk about getting fired on her day off, launching The Joy Ann Reid Show the very next day, and what it really means to refuse fear in the face of autocracy.This conversation goes deep—from the behind-the-scenes call that ended The ReidOut, to standing firm when Trump targets you by name, to why your voice is the one thing they can never take. Joy breaks down the business of building independent Black media, the freedom that comes from owning your platform, and why resistance starts with refusing to be silent.If you've ever wondered what courage looks like in practice, or how to keep fighting when institutions fail us, this is your episode.Show Notes:Follow Joy Ann Reid: The Joy Ann Reid Show | Substack: joyannreid.comRead Joy's books including Medgar and Myrlie: Medgar Evers and the Love Story That Awakened AmericaSupport independent Black journalism and subscribe to Joy's platformsThis episode of Teach the Babies features candid conversation about serious topics. The discussion includes:Strong language (we believe in authentic conversation)Detailed accounts of sudden job loss and workplace traumaDiscussion of threats and intimidation from political figures, including threats of arrest and imprisonmentReferences to police violence against Black peopleDiscussion of the ongoing genocide in Gaza and violence against PalestiniansFrank talk about media censorship and institutional failuresWhy We're Not Sanitizing This Conversation:At Teach the Babies, we believe our community—especially our young people—deserves to hear truth-telling in its full complexity. Joy Ann Reid's story and voice represent the courage and clarity we need now. We trust you to engage with this content in ways that serve your own well-being while honoring the importance of what's being said.Take care of yourself: If you need to pause, step away, or return to this episode when you're ready, that's completely valid. Your well-being matters.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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• Governing Under Occupation w. Councilwoman Christina Henderson

  Councilwoman Christina Henderson breaks down what's really happening with federal occupation of DC, why National Guard troops on American streets should alarm everyone, and the pattern of attacks on Black women's leadership.As an independent councilmember raising two Black daughters in DC, she speaks truth about local power, why your council member matters more than you think, and what she's teaching her children about resistance.Three actions you can take: Ask your congressperson about DC statehood. Call your governor to bring troops home. Interrogate what you consume.Required listening for anyone who cares about democracy and the future our babies deserve.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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