Black Gaze

Dr. Bertrand and Dr. Porcher, co-host with Rev. Dr. Akosua Lesesne to discuss colorism. They have a critical family conversation about the discrimination and violence that dark skin Black folx experience. Rev. Dr. Akousua Lesesne provides a call to action on how we can show up better for dark skin folx.

Rev. Dr. Akosua Lesesne is an educational design leader and creator of a teacher development framework for Black pedagogical genius she termed the Black Teaching Tradition (BTT)(™). In 2018, she founded The Lesesne Collective Corp (Lesesne Collective) DBA Sisters in Education Circle (SIEC) and Lesesne Legacy Learning Village (Lesesne Learning). Akosua began her educational career as a high school social studies teacher. Prior to founding Lesesne Collective/SIEC and Lesesne Learning, Akosua’s commitment to upholding historical legacies of Black pedagogical genius for social justice and liberation defined fifteen years of work as a teacher and then district leader in the sixth, fourth, and nineteenth-largest school districts in the nation respectively and design consultant serving a wide array of educational organizations and initiatives across the United States--from preschool through higher education, including theological education. Akosua was licensed and ordained by the late and legendary Rev. Dr. Mack King Carter at New Mount Olive Baptist Church, Fort Lauderdale, FL and served under Dr. Carter as Interim Minister of Education. She is also an ordained elder, at Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA). Akosua earned a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Tufts University, and a Doctorate in Educational and Organizational Leadership at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education.

Dr. Bertrand and Dr. Porcher co-host with Kay Coghill to discuss Black Reproductive Justice. Kay leads us in a critical conversation about how we can truly support Black birthing people not just with our words, but with our actions. Kay Coghill (they/them) is an abortion doula based in Richmond, Virginia, and on the Richmond Reproductive Freedom Project board. They are a Ph.D. candidate that studies digital misogynoir, digital Black girlhood studies, and Hip Hop, an adjunct professor who teaches in the Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies department, and the Digital Director for me too. International (Me Too Movement). They enjoy writing poetry, reading, and making their friends laugh. They are all about service and showing up for their community. Kay founded alongside their sister-friend a sister circle at a local high school called GLOW that focuses on teaching young Black girls and gender-expansive folks about Black Feminism and Hip Hop Feminism.

Dr. Bertrand and Dr. Porcher co-host with Damaris Dunn to define and discuss Black Joy! The future Dr. Dunn taught us that Black joy is the politics of refusal. We all can learn how to embody and hold on to our joy! Get into this episode! Damaris is a doctoral candidate in the department of Educational Theory and Practice at the University of Georgia's Mary Frances Early College of Education. Her dissertation provides alternatives and possibilities based on the politics of refusal of Black women K-12 educators. She served students and families as a teacher and Community School Director in New York City Public Schools. She also taught at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture's Junior Scholars Program. Black is the color of joy and the birthright of Black women and girls.

Dr. Bertrand and Dr. Porcher have the privilege of co-hosting with Dr. Farima Pour-Khorshid and Yaribel Mercedes to discuss the multifaceted-ness of grief, and how to begin and/or continue on our journey of healing. We share our transparent experiences of grief personally and professionally, and how we are on our own healing journeys. We hope that you will explore how grief is present and manifesting in your life, accept it and allow it to guide your healing process.

Dr. Farima Pour-Khorshid is a Bay Area educator, organizer, and scholar. She taught at the elementary grade levels in her community for over a decade and spent the latter half of her teaching career also supporting educators locally, nationally, and internationally through her roles as a university professor, teacher supervisor, educational consultant, and community organizer. She is now an assistant professor and teacher supervisor at the University of San Francisco in California. Much of her work is rooted in her grassroots education organizing within the Teachers 4 Social Justice organization, the Abolitionist Teaching Network, and the Education for Liberation Network which organizes the Free Minds Free People conference. She is committed to centering abolitionist teaching and healing-centered engagement within and outside of the field of education. As such, she is one of the editors, authors, and organizers of, "Lessons in Liberation: An Abolitionist Toolkit for K-12 Educators", a toolkit in collaboration with the Education for Liberation, Critical Resistance, and several other grassroots abolitionist and justice-centered collectives. Follow her @dr.farima_ on Instagram.

Yaribel Mercedes is a doctoral student at Teachers College, Columbia University. She is also an educator who leads through a social, racial and moral justice leadership disposition to advance racial equity, inclusion, access, and opportunity in education. As a Black woman, she understands the impact of race in education, and her passion and purpose are grounded in her commitment to disrupt racist and oppressive systems, structures, and policies that marginalize and minoritize Black, Indigenous, racialized students of color. Additionally, she is a public scholar who uses social media to center the brilliance and beauty of Black scholars. Follow her @yari.mercedes on Instagram.

Dr. Porcher has a critical conversation with Dr. Bertrand about her personal experiences as a Black Mother Scholar. As a new Black Mother Scholar, Dr. Porcher gleans wisdom from Dr. Bertrand about her journey of becoming a Black Mother Scholar. We define mothers as all people who identify as mothers. Black Mother Scholars are Black Women working in academia (or any space) as mothers, growing literally and figuratively, and have a choice to “coalesce” our identities of mother and scholar (Matias, 2011). We discuss the beauty and challenges of being a Black Mother Scholar, balancing multiple identities. Even if you are not in academia, when you return to work, you have to find ways to coalesce your multiple identities. From the hood to academia, this episode is for you. We see you and we welcome you to this space. 

Dr. Porcher & Dr. Bertrand, co-host with Chanea Wells Bond and Dr. Courtney Rose to discuss ways to engage with students in classrooms (K-12 and teacher education) after anti-Black violence and shootings. 

Chanea Wells Bond is an educator, a teacher and an eternal student. Her current graduate work focuses on increasing access to dual credit and advanced academic opportunities for Black and Brown students. She is an English teacher at Southwest High School in Fort Worth, Texas, whose professional work focuses on increasing access to diverse texts, affirming Black, Brown, and LGBTQ+ student identities, and “being the teacher she  needed.”

Dr. Courtney E. Rose is a Visiting Professor in the Education Policy Studies Department at Florida International University and the Founder of the educational consulting firm, Ivy Rose Consulting.. Prior to beginning her doctoral studies, Dr. Rose taught Math & Science for three years in the Duval County Public School system in Jacksonville, FL (two years of which were completed during her commitment as a Teach for America corps member). Currently, her research and work interests include the development and implementation of innovative approaches to social justice-oriented critical and culturally relevant instructional practices and curricular designs. Her student-driven approach to teacher education and development aims to provide teachers with new tools and understandings on how to incorporate youth culture into curriculum and instruction to better engage students in academic content and facilitate discussions rooted in issues of diversity and social justice. Adopting a culturally relevant/responsive framework, Dr. Rose views curricular designs and instructional practices as powerful tools through which to construct, legitimate and impose messages about what is appropriate, intelligent, and valuable and impacting students' views. Given this, her approach to teacher education/professional development aims to help educators and administrators develop or enhance their practices to bridge students' cultural, academic and social identities and co-create more meaningful learning experiences with and for the increasingly racially, culturally, socially, linguistically diverse students and families of today's schools, which is the focus of her upcoming book set to be released in March 2023.

Dr. Bertrand & Dr. Porcher co-host with Mrs. Marian Dingle to discuss the great resignation of educators in K-12 spaces. More specifically, we discuss Mrs. Dingle's pivot from the classroom to an educational organization. Mrs. Marian Dingle was a classroom elementary educator for twenty-two years. Her early career involved local advocacy for marginalized students and families, while her later work involved national activism through publications, presentations and leadership in educational organizations. Realizing that she could no longer accept current schooling structures, she left classroom teaching nearly a year ago to work with an organization devoted to better social and emotional outcomes for Black and Latinx learners. She speaks from the heart and strives to lead with authenticity, determined to leave the world better than she found it.

Dr. Bertrand and Dr. Porcher had the absolute pleasure to co-host with middle school students: Darlene, Chloe & Nevaeh about their mental health personally, socially and academically! These co-hosts made history on the Black Gaze podcast, as the first middle school co-hosts! Educators & parents this episode is for you! Listen as we amplify their voices, AND let's get to work to make sure that they have a soft landing and options on their journeys.

Darlene is a 14 year old Black girl. She enjoys taking naps and doing hair. At school, she is involved with Best Buddies, Special Olympics (Unified Partner), band, track, and cheer. She aspires to be both a mortician and a hairdresser. Right now, she is into taking very long naps, and eating lunch with her English teacher.

Chloe is a 13 year old proud Black girl. She enjoys reading books and eating food. At school, she is involved with track & field. She aspires to be a cardiologist one day. Right now, she is into watching TikToks and listening to NBA YoungBoy.

Nevaeh is a 14 year old beautiful, proud Black girl. She enjoys making money, being with family, and being different. At school, she is involved with track and culinary. She also works with a local Black youth community organization focused on action and opportunity. She aspires to be a cosmetologist, business woman, and teacher. Right now, she is into having fun, making money, checking in on herself, doing her nails, and educating herself.

Dr. Porcher and Dr. Bertrand co-host with Dr. Cierra Kaler-Jones, Dr. Aja D. Reynolds, and Dr. Autumn A. Griffin, to discuss the beauty, complexity, and brilliance of Black Girls. 

Dr. Cierra Kaler-Jones, Ph.D. (she/her) is a social justice educator, researcher, dancer, and choreographer based in Washington, D.C. Dr. Kaler-Jones’s research broadly focuses on how to create and sustain educational spaces rooted in joy and love, while refuting control and management tactics in schools that deny young people opportunities for creativity and critical consciousness-building. Her heart’s work includes running a program that uses art and political education to fuel social change through the co-creation of healing-centered spaces for and with Black girls and TGNC (transgender, non-conforming) young people. She currently serves as the Director of Storytelling for Communities for Just Schools Fund. She is also the Founder and Director of Unlock Your Story, an organization that supports women and organizations in leveraging storytelling and movement for liberation, community-building, and social change.

Dr. Aja D. Reynolds, is a healer, activist, artist and educator. She is the legacy of Linda and the late Ralph Reynolds, a testament of her family's survival and resistance in the US. In the many roles she is positioned in, she is led by a Black feminist spirit of care, collectivism and courage to confront systems of oppression. Her gifts possess the power to bring people together, and bring light into dark places through laughter. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor at Wayne State University. Her classroom is an invitation to grapple with critical theories, deep reflection within ourselves and brave dialogue. Aja's research interests are inspired by her on-going relationships with Black girls to engage theories and practices in geography, youth development, and social movements. Her collaborative engagement with Black girls focuses on creative 'fugitive' or freedom spaces through the use of art, activism and healing through her dissertation titled "Ain't Nobody Checking for Us: Race, Fugitivity and the Urban Geographies of Black Girlhood" is her most current work that documents this labor of love. 

 Dr. Autumn A. Griffin is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Reading, Writing, and Literacy department at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education.  Her research interests center the multiple and digital literacies of Black students, with a particular focus on Black girls. In particular, Autumn employs Black Feminist and critical race theories to explore the literacies of Black girls both in and out of classrooms and hopes to use her research to influence policy related to literacy, race, and gender. Autumn hopes to amplify the voices of Black girls through her scholarship. Autumn is also a 200hr RYT and loves combining yoga with Black Feminist practices of healing to create sacred spaces for Black women and girls.

***Warning if you are experiencing/experienced Maternal Health Challenges, please take care of yourself (mentally, physically and/or spiritually). Decide if you are in the best space to hear the testimonies/experiences of others.***

In support and awareness of Black Maternal Health Week, Dr. Bertrand interview Dr. Porcher and co-host Dr. Windom about Black Maternal Health. More specifically, Dr. Porcher's shares her story of giving birth to her son. Furthermore, Dr. Windom serves as an expert on the experiences of Black Mothers in the health care system. Dr. Windom was born and raised in New Haven CT. Her mother was a pharmacist and her father was a pediatrician. Dr. Watson always knew that she wanted to be a doctor. She always wanted to take care of children and families. Dr. Windom went to Spelman College for undergrad which was the best decision of her young adult life. She went to Tufts university for medical school, also where her father went, and received her MD and Masters in Public health. Dr. Windom then completed pediatric residency and pediatric cardiology fellowship at Duke University and she is now an outpatient pediatric cardiologist with an interest in fetal imaging and improving healthcare systems. She leads diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts within her heart center focusing on the effects of implicit bias on healthcare delivery striving to improve patient safety. If you would like more information about Black Maternal Health, Dr. Windom recommends visiting Black Mamas Matter Alliance: https://blackmamasmatter.org/ for resources and support. 

Dr. Bertrand & Dr. Porcher, co-host with Ariana Bertrand, Reniya Johnson, Ms. Stacey Joy & Mrs. Marian Dingle about their experiences teaching and learning during both pandemics of racism and Covid-19; specifically going back into the school building after remote learning. 

Ariana Bertrand is a 15 year old proud black girl. She enjoys listing to music and reading a good book. She inspires to be a lawyer and live out her dream of traveling the world. Right now she into fashion and Steve lacy.

Reniya Johnson is 17 years old. She is currently a senior at DePaul Cristo Rey High School and has been accepted into over 30 schools and has gotten over $200,000 in scholarships. She loves to dance and have fun. She is ready for college! Her one hope that you get from this podcast is that her one voice can only do so much. If we continue to stick together that’s when real changes will occur.

Stacey Joy is a National Board Certified Teacher, Google Certified Educator, and a former L.A. County Teacher of the Year. Stacey has been an elementary school educator for 37 years in Los Angeles Unified. Currently, she teaches 5th grade at Baldwin Hills Pilot and Gifted Magnet School. In addition to teaching her Joyteam scholars, she also mentors novice teachers, and is a teacher leader within her school community.

Marian Dingle was a classroom elementary educator for twenty-two years. Her early career involved local advocacy for marginalized students and families, while her later work involved national activism through publications, presentations and leadership in educational organizations. Realizing that she could no longer accept current schooling structures, she left classroom teaching nearly a year ago to work with an organization devoted to better social and emotional outcomes for Black and Latinx learners. She speaks from the heart and strives to lead with authenticity, determined to leave the world better than she found it.

Dr. Bertrand and Dr. Porcher, co-host with Dr. Tiffany Mitchell Patterson, to discuss critical race theory in education, mask mandates, the banning of books, and removing history in schools. Born and raised in Hampton, Virginia, Dr. Tiffany Mitchell Patterson (or Dr. TMP) is a critical educator passionate about social justice and social studies. She has over a decade of experience teaching in elementary, middle and university settings. She holds a B.S. in Political Science and Communications from Old Dominion University, MAT in Elementary Education from American University, and a PhD in Multilingual/Multicultural Education & Education Policy from George Mason University. Advocacy, activism, intersectionality, and anti-racist/anti-oppressive education lie at the core of her teaching practice, research, and community work. Education is her revolution.

Dr. Porcher and Dr. Bertrand, have a vulnerable and critical conversation about where they have been, and what has been going on in their personal lives, that kept them from recording the Black Gaze podcast. Grab your tissues, this one will have you in your feelings. They discuss the challenges of mental health during a panorama, and how we can show up for one another. Black Gaze podcast is back, bigger and better! 

To end Season 2, Dr. Bertrand and Dr. Porcher have critical conversations with their mothers, Camala and Teresa. This episode was birthed from their mentor, Dr. Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz as a healing opportunity for Black mothers and daughters. We discuss our relationship experiences as daughters and mothers. We model ancestor Morrison's quote, "Daughters continue to tell the stories of their mothers, until they become their own." 

Dr. Porcher & Dr. Bertrand co-host with Dr. Heidi Oliver-O'Gilvie & Dr. Crystal Edwards, to discuss the ways in which Black women lead in educational spaces and in their personal lives. They also discuss the challenges of leading as Black women during multiple pandemics. This episode is for all Black women leaders, regardless of your career space. If you want to connect with these amazing Black leaders, contact Dr. Oliver-O''Gilvie on Twitter @DrHpo and Dr. Edwards on Instagram at @Crystalsaidthat. 

Dr. Porcher & Dr. Bertand co-host with J'Nay Reckard & Tamisha Ponder, to discuss the importance of Black Mental Health & Self Care. J'Nay is a licensed mental health counselor in both Florida and New York. Tamisha Ponder is a doctoral candidate and owner of both the Sankofa Yoga & Wellness Center and Sankofa Health Express & Primary Care. Our dope co-host provide practical strategies that we can engage in to take care our physical, mental and spiritual health. For more information about our co-host, follow them at: 

• https://smarttalktherapy.com/jnayreckard/
• https://www.sankofayogacenter.com/

Resources: 

• https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Identity-and-Cultural-Dimensions/Black-African-American
• https://therapyforblackgirls.com/

Dr. Bertrand & Dr. Porcher co-host with the dope owners of the Double Scoop Ice Cream in Georgia, Janay Boucan & Evonne Bazemore. We discuss the importance of buying Black and Black wealth! We also discuss how these two Black women bought the ice cream shop that they worked at as teens, and is now franchising the company. You do not want to miss this episode! You will learn some new things and apply what you learn! 

Dr. Porcher & Dr. Bertrand co-host with amazing Black youth: Reniya and Ariana. We discuss their personal experiences as Black youth in schools and classrooms. Our co-hosts provide the #blackprint of how teachers can demonstrate that Black Lives matter, in action in schools! Not just talk about it, but make shifts in relationships, curriculum and activism to teach Black children. This episode is for every educator and student! 

Dr. Bertrand & Dr. Porcher co-host with some amazing Black Educators: Mrs. Nita Creekmore (@loveteachbless), Dr. Kristopher Childs (@drkchilds) and Mrs. Crystal Watson (@_CrystalMWatson)! We discuss the importance of Black educators in K-12 schools. Furthermore, we discuss the history of Black excellence and genius (Muhammad, 2020). As Black educators, we offer next steps for Black children and educators to be free (physically, spiritually and educationally) in schools. 

Dr. Porcher and Dr. Bertrand breakdown the Black agendas of each presidential candidate. We share our personal experiences of voting in presidential elections. Furthermore, we unpack the strengths and challenges of each presidential candidate's Black agenda, and provide feedback about how the agendas can be improved to impact the most marginalized Black communities. This is not an election that you can sit out! We have to hold elected officials accountable for Black Lives Matter, in Action! The presidential election will not dismantle anti-Blackness; however, with a Black agenda, we can begin the process and demand that the lives of Black people are positively impacted personally and systemically. For more information about the both presidential candidates Black agendas,  visit: 

• https://joebiden.com/blackamerica/
• https://blackvoices.donaldjtrump.com/ 

Dr. Bertrand and Dr. Porcher discuss the barriers and voter suppression that occurs in the hood. We share our own personal experiences of experiencing voter suppression aka "trickery" in our own hoods growing up. We provide preaching points of how we can combat voter suppression and ensure that the policies that are in place, trickle down and support our most marginalized Black folx.  

In this episode, Dr. Porcher and Dr. Bertrand discuss the importance and need to Protect Black Womxn. Malcolm X said: “The most disrespected person in America is the Black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the Black woman. The most neglected person in America is the Black woman.” We share our own personal stories about neglect and disrespect we have received as Black Womxn. We also provide concrete steps that can be enacted by all, to ensure that we are protecting ALL Black Womxn. 

Dr. Porcher and Dr. Bertrand invite their husbands Maurice Porcher and Andy Bertrand to this final episode "Married to the Game" to discuss their experiences being married to a woman in academia. The gloves are off in this discussion, and you will experience our healing in real time and out loud. Learn about the joys and challenges of marriage, along with our ongoing steps to create balance and center our families over our careers. 

Dr. Bertrand and Dr. Porcher invite Mrs. Tasha Austin and Ms. Brittany Marshall to this episode to not only talk about Sankofa as a verb--action, but to demonstrate it. In this episode, Tasha and Brittany discuss their experiences as Black doctoral students. With full transparency and respect, we make requests of our Black O.G.'s. Furthermore, we all make commitments to healing intergenerational relationships. 

Dr. Bertrand and Dr. Porcher invite their very first co-host, Dr. Betina Hsieh to discuss the solidarity needed between Blacks and Asians. We have a critical conversation about anti-Blackness in the Asian community.  Dr. Hsieh provides historical information about the experiences of Asian Americans and their similarities with Black Americans in the fight for freedom. Dr. Hsieh provides practical steps that Asian Americans can engage in to stand in solidarity with Black Americans. We are stronger together. None of us are free until all of us are free.  

In this episode, Dr. Porcher and Dr. Bertrand invite Black preservice teachers to share their reasons for entering the teaching profession, their experiences in white-dominated teacher preparation programs, and the Impact of COVID-19 as they prepare to enter the classroom.  This episode elevates their narratives and pushes us all into action to ensure that we understand the history of Black teachers and make changes in our teacher preparation programs to ensure that they are welcomed, supported, and cultivated. 

In this episode, Dr. Bertrand and Dr. Porcher discuss the history of the Black Teacher Shortage. The Black Lives Matter at School movement is demanding that we increase the number of Black teachers in our schools, which we totally agree with. However, it is important that we understand what happened to Black teachers after desegregation, and what we must do in teacher preparation programs and K-12 classrooms, to welcome, support, and retain them.