Podcast Categories: Religion & Spirituality

The Reckoning traces the history and lasting impact of slavery in America by looking at how the institution unfolded in Kentucky. The state remained in the Union during the Civil War, but many white Kentuckians fought to hang onto slavery and the wealth the enslaved provided. In the years that followed, former Unionists and Confederates banded together to violently deny black citizens a seat at the table. As part of this story, we will meet members of two families, one white and one black, whose lives were intertwined through slavery. These families reflect how slavery touched nearly every person, place and institution in America, and how the country still needs to reconcile this painful past with the the impact slavery has had on the present day health, wealth and safety of African Americans.

Want a deep dive into the history of equity and public schooling in the U.S.? Education policy expert and former elementary school principal Dr. Aaliyah Samuel is your guide through revealing discussions with education experts across the US examining the history of race and education. Topics include impacts of desegregation, school funding, testing, curriculum, and much more. Subscribe for a one-of-a-kind look at the problems and possibilities of education in America. Covering history from the 1950’s through now, Testing America’s Freedom looks at policies put in place to perpetuate inequities based on race as well as discussing urgent solutions needed for schools and students in the wake of COVID19. The first episode features Dr. Samuel’s moving introduction to the topic, including her life-changing meeting with Civil Rights hero Minnijean Brown-Trickey and a look at a devastating artifact of racial prejudice, the Charlottesville Letter. The series concludes with an inspiring conversation with a group of student leaders from two different states.This limited podcast series was produced by NWEA, a leader in education research and pioneer in adaptive assessments. To find out more about our work, visit nwea.org.