In this episode, I had the absolute honor of sitting down with Dr. Daphne Chamberlain and Benjamin Saulsberry, two freedom fighters whose work is rooted in truth, history, and justice. We went deep on the role young people have always played in liberation movements and what it means for us as educators today. Spoiler alert: Our students aren’t waiting to be empowered, they’ve always had power. It’s on us to stop underestimating them and start making space for them to lead.
We talked about the story of Emmett Till, and his mother Mamie Till-Mobley, the 1946 student-led bus boycott in Jackson, Mississippi, the activism of high schoolers long before the names we usually uplift, and the mindset shift educators must make to truly center student voice. If you’ve ever felt the urge to do school differently, this one is for you.
Resources I Mentioned
The Emmett Till Interpretive Center Events (August 2025): https://www.emmett-till.org
Book Shoutouts: Local People: The Struggle for Civil Rights in Mississippi by John Dittmer & Mississippi, Conflict and Change: A New Edition by James W. Loewen
Join the Liberation Library: This is where we go beyond inspiration and actually build revolutionary classrooms together. Weekly trainings, monthly live group coaching, and a community to walk in the work with you.
Reflection Prompt: Where in my current practice am I dimming student voice instead of amplifying it?
