Stay ConnectedOn Teach the Babies with Dr. David J. Johns, we’re examining the intersection of education, access, race, and how government impacts the teaching of our babies.
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Copyright: © Dr. David J. Johns
Real accountability isn't comfortable—but it's how we all get free. In this powerful third conversation of our Million Man March 30th Anniversary series, Dr. David J. Johns brings together three organizers whose work centers the intersections that harm Black communities the most: Kenya Hutton (CEO of the Center for Black Equity), Oluchi Omeoga (who leads the Black LGBTQIA+ Migrant Project), and Preston Mitchum (Black queer-loving lawyer, strategist, and advocate).
Together, they name what Black men owe Black women, trans folks, and each other—not through guilt, but through genuine repair. They expose how anti-blackness, misogyny, trans misogynoir, and homophobia work together to reinforce systems that harm us all. They challenge us to move beyond performance to practice: building actual structures of accountability that cross borders, cultures, and comfort zones. From the streets of DC to organizing spaces in South Africa, from the ballroom to the policy room, these three truth-tellers refuse to let us off easy.
This isn't about shame. It's about safety and solidarity. Protection rooted in love, not control. Refusing to give up on each other even when it's hard. And remembering that real accountability is a required act of love—because liberation requires all of us.
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Welcome to Event 2 of our Million Man March 30th Anniversary extended dialogue series: "Mentorship & World-Building."Thirty years after the Million Man March, we're asking: How do we mentor the next generation into liberation rather than conformity? How do we build radical brotherhood that includes ALL Black men across sexuality and gender expression?
Hosted by Dr. David J. Johns, this conversation brings together Emmy Award winner Dyllon Burnside (Pose, P-Valley, creator of Burnside Artist Retreat), DC organizer Clarence Fluker, and artist Benji Coy.
They explore what queer eldership offers ALL young people, how to mentor toward freedom instead of survival, and why Black queer men hold the keys to Black men's liberation. From refusing performative masculinity to living outside the binary, from creating brave healing spaces to "gentle parenting the adults," this conversation offers practical wisdom on building the world we need.
This isn't about charity or saviorism. It's about mutual building, world-making, and teaching the babies how to be free.
Resources Mentioned:
The Supreme Court just heard arguments in Louisiana v. Callais—a case that could dismantle what's left of the Voting Rights Act and eliminate up to 19 majority-Black congressional districts nationwide. Cliff Albright, co-founder and executive director of Black Voters Matter Fund, was there on the front lines.
In this urgent and essential conversation, Cliff takes us from his journey in Selma, Alabama—witnessing the 2000 mayoral election that finally ousted the mayor who presided over Bloody Sunday—to standing outside the Supreme Court fighting for Section 2 protections. He explains in plain speak what Louisiana v. Callais actually means: Louisiana had one majority-Black district despite Black people making up one-third of the state. A court ordered a second district. Then "non-African American voters" sued, claiming race-based representation violates the 14th Amendment—the very amendment designed to guarantee Black people equal rights.
Cliff breaks down the 2017 Alabama Senate race that put Black Voters Matter on the map, why "The Blackest Bus in America" matters, how disinformation targets Black voters, what organizing with joy actually looks like, and the concrete actions people can take right now. This isn't just about one Supreme Court case—it's about whether our votes matter, whether our communities get representation, and whether the law will protect us or be weaponized against us.
Resources: blackvotersmatterfund.org
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In a moment when major media companies are bending to power and silencing truth-tellers, Joy-Ann Reid is building something different. Fresh from her historic run as cable's first Black woman to host a primetime news program, Joy joins the class to talk about getting fired on her day off, launching The Joy Ann Reid Show the very next day, and what it really means to refuse fear in the face of autocracy.
This conversation goes deep—from the behind-the-scenes call that ended The ReidOut, to standing firm when Trump targets you by name, to why your voice is the one thing they can never take. Joy breaks down the business of building independent Black media, the freedom that comes from owning your platform, and why resistance starts with refusing to be silent.
If you've ever wondered what courage looks like in practice, or how to keep fighting when institutions fail us, this is your episode.
Show Notes:
Councilwoman Christina Henderson breaks down what's really happening with federal occupation of DC, why National Guard troops on American streets should alarm everyone, and the pattern of attacks on Black women's leadership.
As an independent councilmember raising two Black daughters in DC, she speaks truth about local power, why your council member matters more than you think, and what she's teaching her children about resistance.
Three actions you can take: Ask your congressperson about DC statehood. Call your governor to bring troops home. Interrogate what you consume.
Required listening for anyone who cares about democracy and the future our babies deserve.
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In this deeply personal and politically urgent conversation, Dr. David Johns welcomes his White House family—Deesha Dyer, former Social Secretary to President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama—for a raw discussion about what we lose when power demolishes history, and what endures when community builds with intention.
Deesha takes us inside the moment she saw excavators tearing down the East Wing of the White House in October 2025—the space where she orchestrated state dinners, opened doors for people who never thought they'd walk through them, and made the People's House truly belong to the people.
This conversation moves from the rubble of demolished institutions to the unshakeable foundation of community organizing. Deesha shares lessons learned from Michelle Obama about grace under pressure, why she wrote Undiplomatic for Black girls who "risk it all," and what defending democracy actually looks like in practice: investing in local organizations, letting leaders lead in their expertise, documenting our work, and showing up for each other with intention.
Deesha's story is a masterclass in refusing to let imposter syndrome—or anyone else—define your worth. As she reminds us: buildings can be demolished in 72 hours, but they can't demolish the memories, the legacy, or the collective power we build together.
This is required listening for anyone who believes that mutual aid isn't charity—it's how we survive, build, and love each other into liberation.
Website: DeeshaDyer.com
Instagram: @deedyer267
Email: deesha@deeshadyer.com (She answers every email!)
Book: Undiplomatic: How My Attitude Created the Best Kind of Trouble
(Available at libraries and independent bookstores)
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Four years after we lost Michael Kenneth Williams to an accidental overdose, his legacy continues to light the way forward. In this powerful Mental Health Awareness special, Dr. David J. Johns sits down with Dominic Dupont—Michael K's nephew and advocate carrying his uncle's torch—and Jonnel C. Doris, CEO of Startcare, the nation's oldest and largest Black-founded behavioral healthcare organization.
This isn't just a memorial. It's a call to action
Together, we explore how to break the silence, expand access to culturally responsive care, and create spaces where Black men feel safe asking for help. They celebrate Michael K's radical honesty, iconic portrayal of Omar Little, and commitment to criminal justice reform. Most importantly, they remind us that joy was Michael's catalyst—and it can be ours too
This conversation could save a life—maybe yours
Resources mentioned:
This is a special episode of Teach the Babies.
On October 16, 2025, we celebrated 30 years since the Million Man March. To honor that anniversary, I sat down with three brothers for a conversation about what the March got right, what it got wrong, and what repair requires of us now.
You're about to hear Rev. Mark Thompson (who emceed the original 1995 March), Pastor Jamal Bryant (who's leading one of the nation's largest Black churches), and Sean Ebony Coleman (who's keeping Black trans youth alive in the Bronx) get honest about:
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