After 1954

Brown v. Board of Education held the promise of creating an integrated school system with equal education for all, but there was an unspoken consequence to this historic decision: Tens of thousands of Black teachers in the South were fired, leaving a gap that reverberated through generations of students to come. Hosted by educator and nonprofit leader Aimée Eubanks Davis, this five-part series spans the decades to provide an important look at the impact a Black educator can have on a Black student’s life, and how we all can help support and strengthen the roots that help our children achieve.

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Episodes

Listen Now: Good Things - How to Fight Back Through Giving

Good Things from Lemonada Media is a podcast about the good people in the world who are rolling up their sleeves and working hard to make things better. Each week, we'll be talking about this country's most complex and confounding issues in an effort to affect systemic change, with a rotating cast of incredible guests and Lemonada hosts. From the dire condition of the American foster care system to the decline of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives, protecting democracy, and more, we’re ...

Jul 05, 2025•32 min

Bonus: Now is the time to invest in Black education

Traditionally, Black-led nonprofits have only received 2 to 4 percent of total philanthropic funding nationally. That’s in part why Liz Thompson co-founded The 1954 Project, which seeks to radically redesign how philanthropy connects with Black leaders in education. Every year, her organization awards a cohort of Luminaries with one million dollars each to continue their innovative work in education. In this episode, host Aimée Eubanks Davis is in conversation with Liz Thompson about her organiz...

Apr 13, 2022•22 min

The teacher shortage is a global crisis

The United Nations has declared the teacher shortage a global crisis. Who will teach the next generation of students? How will we recruit and retain Black educators, especially when they are leaving the profession at even higher rates? This week’s guest, Kimberly Eckert, is on a mission to address these problems in the state of Louisiana. With initiatives like hers, there is a glimmer of hope for saving our schools and in a larger sense, saving society. Resources: Kimberly Eckert is passionate a...

Apr 06, 2022•22 min

No Black teachers in the building

The culture of our schools needs to change. In this episode, we hear from Morgan Jackson and her son and daughter, Kaleb and Aaliyah, about their education in predominantly white schools. Morgan is a Las Vegas educator, and a Ph.D student. She explains how she instills self-confidence and social awareness in her students and her own kids. Resources: Jacqueline Woodson, Brown Girl Dreaming https://jacquelinewoodson.com/product/brown-girl-dreaming/ Website, The Brown Bookshelf https://thebrownbook...

Mar 30, 2022•33 min

From the hood to Hogwarts

As a teen, Jason Brooks left his hometown of Watts in South L.A. to attend an all-boys boarding school. While he was there, he encountered many racist incidents with no adult to guide him through those experiences. That ignited his passion for teaching because he wanted to be there for kids like himself. In this episode, Jason recalls his teen years and speaks with his mentor Troy Kemp about how they reach and teach Black boys. Resources: Harkness AI https://www.harkness.ai/ Troy Kemp Speaks htt...

Mar 23, 2022•43 min

Student parent work is racial justice work

Forty percent of Black female undergraduates attending college are parents. This week’s guest is author of “Pregnant Girl,” Nicole Lynn Lewis, who had a newborn when she first enrolled at the College of William & Mary in the ‘90s. There, Nicole found a friend in her financial aid counselor, Tammy Currie. We reunited them after 20 years to discuss how that financial aid support helped Nicole feed her family and what colleges can do to support this invisible population of students. Resources: ...

Mar 16, 2022•36 min

It’s a sin to waste Black talent

An estimated 38 thousand Black educators and administrators in public schools were fired in the South after the Brown v Board of Education decision in 1954. This episode highlights the rich past of Black education through the research of professor Michele Foster, best known for interviewing Black teachers who taught in the ‘50s. Michele is in conversation with one of her former PhD students, Tryphenia Peele Eady. Resources: Michele Foster, Black Teachers on Teaching https://www.amazon.com/Black-...

Mar 09, 2022•44 min

After 1954 (Official Trailer)

After the historic Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court ruling in 1954, thousands of Black teachers lost their jobs in the process of integration. What did we lose when we lost these Black role models in the classroom? How does education for Black students and teachers in the 1950s stack up to where we are now? After 1954 is a new podcast from Lemonada Media that explores what education for Black students looked like before and after Brown v. Board. Join us for stories about who we become w...

Feb 21, 2022•3 min

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