EP 171: Black Child, You Are Seen

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We are back with our Deschooling Release Party sessions, Volume II. In today’s episode Akilah talks with Natalie Pipkin, founder of Black World Schoolers and Pulse Project Indy, a drumming community that promotes social, cultural and emotional development in vulnerable spaces. Her project seeks to disrupt dominant oppressive narratives, providing an environment of psychological empowerment through cultural awareness.

WHAT WE DISCUSS:

Natalie, like Kelly did in episode 169, tells us very early on what she’s noticing is actually stuff she has always felt, but feels uniquely compelled during this time, to pivot away from just noticing, over to acting upon. 

Natalie talks about problematic elements of the focus on Black Excellence and the dynamics that are involved when that excellence is rooted in white supremacy. 

Akilah and Natalie then go further and chat about the realities of unschooling as a privileged space, in some regards. They talk about how unschooling is not an option for all families, not every home is a safe environment, and if oppression at home exists, schools can become an escape from a tougher reality, there’s a certain privilege in choosing to homeschool. 

LIBERATION WALK

• Check out Black Worldschoolers and their Storytime Hotline: 1-844-950-1811. 

• Here you can find Natalie’s drumming community Pulse Project Indy and their blog.

• Make sure you head over to Maleka’s Patreon to see some webinar series that she’s been working on as a support for parents during these unusual times.

• Chill out and jam along with the rhythm of Buju Banton “Mr Nine”.

• Organizations like Metro Atlanta Mutual Aid Fund are organizing collective help for Atlanta’s BIPOC families affected by COVID-19 – Please donate.

• Support the show at patreon.com/akilah

• Join our Facebook group. 

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https://schoolishness.com/market/rfp-a-practice-deck/

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https://www.rfpunschool.com/p/manifesto

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