Black Teacher Matters

Abdel Shakur

Abdel Shakur is a writer and teacher concerned with telling the stories of Black teachers. A Catalyst Chicago Classroom Story Slam winner and a 17 year veteran in the classroom, Abdel and his guests reflect on the power of Black folks engaged in the teaching art. Holler at me @abdelshakur.bsky.social

  1. 10/25/2025

    Hodari Davis Part II: When Grief is the Bee in the Classroom

    In part 2 of the @mrdavis510 interview, I ask about his "bee in the classroom" moment-- , when something uncontrollable thing enters the classroom space. Mr. Davis talks about how he helped his students grieve from the death of a beloved classmate, Yaheem King, and what led him to retire from ETHS.  https://youtu.be/_GfIhtOzZss

    19 min
  2. Hodari Davis Part I: School Colors

    10/09/2025

    Hodari Davis Part I: School Colors

    Hodari Davis was an icon not just at Berkeley High when I went there, but nationwide after the release of the Frontline documentary Berkeley High: School Colors. In part one of this interview, I talk to Mr. Davis about what it was like to be a young Black teacher in the eye of that storm, doing amazing work. #Blackteachermatters #BerkeleyHighSchool #blackmaleteachers

    44 min
  3. Mr. Davis on arming students for intellectual battle

    09/27/2025

    Mr. Davis on arming students for intellectual battle

    Are y'all ready to battle? Mr. Hodari Davis on the School Colors documentary that flipped his life upside down, arming students for intellectual and spiritual battle, and creating space for Black celebration and grief at Berkeley High. Full episode debuts next week. #BHS #blackteachermatters

    4 min

  4. 09/12/2025

    Dr. Micia Mosely on letting history guide our movement.

    Dr. Micia Mosely talks about the importance of understanding this moment, and what we need to do next, in a historical understanding.

    3 min
  5. Teaching under Trump: Liberating classrooms in an Authoritarian Era

    09/07/2025

    Teaching under Trump: Liberating classrooms in an Authoritarian Era

    Dr. Micia Mosely of the Black Teacher Project talks about the ways imagination and collaboration can help teachers promote healing, liberation, and learning in classrooms even during the authoritarian era.

    55 min

  6. 05/02/2025

    Black boys and The Circle of Goodness

    Teaching at a summer camp taught me how important it is to discover the Good in the children I care for.

    8 min
  7. Tim Seibles reads a poem and talks about the benefits of being naive.

    04/22/2025

    Tim Seibles reads a poem and talks about the benefits of being naive.

    What does it mean to be naive? What does it have to do with being a Black child, with being a Black teacher? Tim Seibles reads his poem "Naive", Originally published in Poem-a-Day on March 19, 2024, by the Academy of American Poets.

    13 min
  8. Alexs Pate on Black teachers, Liberation, and Innocence

    04/13/2025

    Alexs Pate on Black teachers, Liberation, and Innocence

    The special opportunity and challenge that Black teachers face when teaching Black students. Excerpt from Episode 2.

    8 min
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4.7
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

Abdel Shakur is a writer and teacher concerned with telling the stories of Black teachers. A Catalyst Chicago Classroom Story Slam winner and a 17 year veteran in the classroom, Abdel and his guests reflect on the power of Black folks engaged in the teaching art. Holler at me @abdelshakur.bsky.social

Information

  • Creator
    Abdel Shakur
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    70
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Abdel Shakur
  • Show Website
    Black Teacher Matters