What happens when the message we teach young children doesn't match the reality many families live every day?

In this episode of The Blackboard, Dr. Michelle DeJohnette talks with educator and abolitionist Ijumaa Jordan about why it's time to rethink the idea of police as "community helpers" in early childhood education. Together, they explore how children from different communities experience policing in very different ways—and why those experiences matter in our classrooms.

They discuss what children learn through play, books, classroom visitors, and everyday conversations, and why educators have a responsibility to make space for honest, thoughtful discussions about safety, justice, and community. Rather than asking what we should remove from the curriculum, this conversation asks what we should teach instead.

Whether you're an educator, parent, student, or community member, this episode will challenge familiar ideas and invite you to think differently about what it really means to help children feel safe.

About the guest

Ijumaa Jordan (she/her) is an early education consultant, and has worked across the work lattice of Early Childhood Education as a classroom educator, outdoor playgroup facilitator, college instructor, and various administrative positions. Ijumaa uses a reflective and transformative learning model when working with adults. Her work mainly focuses on anti-racism work with adults in early childhood education, abolition in ECE, play advocacy, and educational leadership. In addition to directly supporting programs in developing play based, anti-bias curriculum for young children and adults. Through speaking engagements, workshops and one-on-one mentoring, Ijumaa brings more than thirty years of teaching in early education and directing. With a strong belief in the value of an equitable, play-based and emergent curriculum, Ijumaa brings her skills and experiences to her keynote presentations and workshops. She has published articles in Exchange Magazine, Teaching Young Children, and has contributed to early childhood education books such as Developmentally Appropriate Practices (2021), Reflecting Children’s Lives (Second Edition), The Visionary Director (Third Edition). Ijumaa received her Basic Core Certificate in Early Childhood Education from UCLA Extension, her BA in Human Development from Pacific Oaks College with a concentration in Early Childhood Education, Emergent Curriculum, and Anti-bias Education. She also received her MA in Human Development from Pacific Oaks with a concentration in Leadership in Education and Human Services with sub-specializations in College Teaching/Teaching Adults.

Workshop links (Please pay the highest you can afford to contribute to those who need support):

Contact Ijumaa Jordan

Website: https://www.ijumaajordan.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ijordanececonsulting

Instagram: @ijumaa_jordan_consulting

Register for Police Free In ECE Summer Workshop - $25

https://www.ijumaajordan.com/register/p/register-for-police-free-in-ece-summer-workshop-15-mgymx-y6myt-xlbld

Register for Police Free In ECE Summer Workshop - $45

https://www.ijumaajordan.com/register/p/register-for-police-free-in-ece-summer-workshop-15-mgymx-y6myt-xlbld-h77cy

About the host

Dr. Michelle DeJohnette is an Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Studies. Her work focuses on preparing early childhood educators to teach critically and responsibly through anti-racist and social justice frameworks. Drawing on critical theories and culturally responsible pedagogy, her research interrogates how systems of discipline, punishment, and surveillance reproduce inequities and anti-Blackness in Black children’s early learning experiences.

Across her teaching, research, and public scholarship, Dr. DeJohnette is committed to building inclusive, liberatory learning spaces where all children and families are seen, valued, and supported.

Credits

• Cover art by: Emporium Designs; Podcast Branding
• Outro Music: "Lift Every Voice and Sing" Thomasina Petrus & Kashimana Ahua

Stay connected

• Follow on Instagram: @theblackboardpodcast
• Subscribe to The Blackboard Podcast
• Share this episode with an educator, parent, or colleague

The conversation presented in this episode underscores a crucial and stark reality: the adultification of Black boys within educational and societal contexts. This phenomenon, which effectively robs them of their childhood, manifests in the premature attribution of adult responsibilities and expectations, thus leading to severe repercussions for their psychological and emotional development. As we delve into the narratives shared by our guests, Dr. Amir Gilmore and Mike Brown, we explore their insights into the necessity of recognizing the complexities of Black boyhood—characterized not only by its challenges but also by its joys, aspirations, and inherent worth. Through their reflections, we aim to illuminate the systemic inequities that shape the experiences of Black children in educational environments and advocate for a more compassionate and nuanced understanding of their identities. This dialogue invites educators and listeners alike to engage in meaningful reflection about their roles in dismantling these inequities and fostering environments that celebrate the brilliance and joy of Black childhood. Ultimately, we emphasize the imperative of ensuring that Black boys are not merely seen through the lens of deficit but are recognized as vibrant and deserving of every opportunity to thrive.

About the guests

Amir A. Gilmore, Ph.D., is an associate professor of Cultural Studies and Social Thought in Education and the Judy Nichols Mitchell Faculty Fellow in the College of Education, Sport, and Human Sciences at Washington State University (WSU).

As a Black interdisciplinary scholar situated in Black Cultural Studies in Education, Amir’s broad research interests are Black Aesthetics, Black boyhoods, Black futurity, antiblackness, and the political economy of schooling. Amir’s current research unequivocally examines the nuances, complexities, and specificities of anti-blackness and how Black people are routinely dehumanized and subjected to physical, psychological, intellectual, and epistemic violence.

Mike Browne (he/him) is a New York–raised Afro-Caribbean educator, coach, consultant, and storyteller. He co-hosts Napcast, a podcast on early learning, race, and social justice, and Parallel Play, the Office of Head Start’s national podcast on toddler development. A former tap dancer and collegiate athlete, Mike lived and worked in London, Spain, and across the U.S., bringing a justice-centered, relational approach to early learning. He centers his work on ancestral wisdom with a modern twist, adapting the lessons of the past to guide children, families, and educators in reclaiming culturally grounded practices and joy in learning today. Tune into Napcast wherever you get your podcasts, and follow on Instagram @napcast206 or Twitter @miguelitobrowne.

About the host

Dr. Michelle DeJohnette is an Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Studies. Her work focuses on preparing early childhood educators to teach critically and responsibly through anti-racist and social justice frameworks. Drawing on critical theories and culturally responsible pedagogy, her research interrogates how systems of discipline, punishment, and surveillance reproduce inequities and anti-Blackness in Black children’s early learning experiences.

Across her teaching, research, and public scholarship, Dr. DeJohnette is committed to building inclusive, liberatory learning spaces where all children and families are seen, valued, and supported.

Credits

• Cover art by: Emporium Designs; Podcast Branding
• Outro Music: "Lift Every Voice and Sing" Thomasina Petrus & Kashimana Ahua

Stay connected

• Follow on Instagram: @theblackboardpodcast
• Subscribe to The Blackboard Podcast
• Share this episode with an educator, parent, or colleague

Challenging Systemic Inequities In the inaugural episode of the Blackboard podcast, host Dr. Michelle DeJohnette introduces the podcast’s focus on the experiences of Black children in early childhood education, highlighting systemic inequities and discussing solutions. Dr. DeJohnette's first guest is Dr. Nathaniel Bryan, a scholar whose research centers on the identities and pedagogical styles of black male teachers, the schooling realities of black boys, and teacher preparation for urban early childhood education.

Dr. Bryan shares insights into his pioneering frameworks, Black Boy Crit Pedagogy and Black Play Crit, which aim to challenge and dismantle anti-blackness in education. The discussion covers the impact of racial and gendered inequities on black boys' education, the importance of creating humane and liberating educational spaces, and the role of educators, policymakers, and families in fostering environments that support Black children's joy and learning.

Dr. Bryan also recounts his personal motivations stemming from the tragic death of Tamir Rice and underscores the need for a societal shift towards genuinely valuing the humanity of black children.

00:00 Introduction to the Blackboard Podcast 00:26 Meet Dr. Nathaniel Bryan

02:56 The Importance of Discussing Black Boyhood

06:21 The Impact of Tamir Rice's Story

15:13 Black Boy Crit Pedagogy and Black Play Crit

41:05 Broader Implications and Future Directions

50:19 Closing Thoughts and Staying Connected

Follow @theblackboardpodcast on Instagram and subscribe on Apple podcast so you don’t miss the first episode.

About the host

Dr. Michelle DeJohnette is an Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Studies at Cal Poly Pomona. Her work focuses on preparing early childhood educators to teach critically and responsibly through anti-racist and social justice frameworks. Drawing on critical theories and culturally responsible pedagogy, her research interrogates how systems of discipline, punishment, and surveillance reproduce inequities and anti-Blackness in Black children’s early learning experiences.

Across her teaching, research, and public scholarship, Dr. DeJohnette is committed to building inclusive, liberatory learning spaces where all children and families are seen, valued, and supported.

Credits

• Cover art by: Emporium Designs; Podcast Branding
• Outro Music: "Lift Every Voice and Sing" Thomasina Petrus & Kashimana Ahua

Stay connected

• Follow on Instagram: @theblackboardpodcast
• Subscribe to The Blackboard Podcast
• Share this episode with an educator, parent, or colleague

The Blackboard Podcast is a space to talk honestly about what’s happening in early childhood education—and what should be happening instead.

In this trailer episode, Dr. DeJohnette introduces the purpose and vision behind The Blackboard Podcast, inviting educators, families, students, and community members into conversations that move beyond surface-level discussions of equity. This podcast brings research out of the academy and into community, making it accessible, relevant, and actionable.

The Blackboard Podcast brings together scholarship, lived experience, and real stories to challenge harmful narratives and center the experiences of Black children in early learning spaces.

Follow @theblackboardpodcast on Instagram and subscribe on Apple podcast so you don’t miss the first episode.

About the host

Dr. Michelle DeJohnette is an Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Studies at Cal Poly Pomona. Her work focuses on preparing early childhood educators to teach critically and responsibly through anti-racist and social justice frameworks. Drawing on critical theories and culturally responsible pedagogy, her research interrogates how systems of discipline, punishment, and surveillance reproduce inequities and anti-Blackness in Black children’s early learning experiences.

Across her teaching, research, and public scholarship, Dr. DeJohnette is committed to building inclusive, liberatory learning spaces where all children and families are seen, valued, and supported.

Credits

1. Cover art by: Emporium Designs; Podcast Branding

Stay connected

1. Follow on Instagram: @theblackboardpodcast
2. Subscribe to The Blackboard Podcast
3. Share this episode with an educator, parent, or colleague