The Signal | Black History Is a History of Resistance and Liberation, with Rann Miller

Black History is a history of resistance and liberation. This may explain why, in part, we’ve seen such a whitelash and a war against Black studies – and Black history in general – being waged by right-wing reactionary groups like Moms for Liberty, and Republican lawmakers. 

Today I am joined by Rann Miller. Rann is an author, educator, and advocate for the education of Black children in the Delaware Valley Region. His experience as an author and writer spans over ten years and his experience in both K-12 settings and higher education settings spans over 15 years. As an educator, he’s served in various capacities, including faculty and administration. His current role is Director of DEI Initiatives. He is the author of the recently released, Resistance Stories from Black History for Kids. 

Rann is also an opinion columnist for Atlanta Black Star. His writing has also appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Washington Post, Education Week, Salon, and a host of other platforms. Rann is a graduate of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. 

Rann can be followed on Twitter @RealRannMiller. You can also keep up with Rann at linktr.ee/rannmiller.  

Host Cyril Mychalejko’s 5 Reading Recommendations to Further Shine a Light on the Issue:

1. How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America, by Clint Smith
2. The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story, by Nikole Hannah-Jones
3. Force and Freedom: Black Abolitionists and the Politics of Violence (America in the Nineteenth Century), Kellie Carter Jackson 
4. For 150 Years, Black Journalists Have Known What Confederate Monuments Really Stood For,  Donovan Schaefer
5. Teachers, Students and the Central York Community Defeated a Racist Book Ban in Their School District, by Cyril Mychalejko

ALSO LISTEN TO: 

• EPISODE 2 – The Merchants of Deception: The Dark Money and Front Groups Behind School Privatization, with Maurice Cunningham
• EPISODE 6 – The Right’s Long War On Public Education, With Jennifer Berkshire
• EPISODE 7 – Understanding Backlash Politics And Religious Conservatives Inciting School Board Wars, With PRRI’s Melissa Deckman
• EPISODE 8 – Students and Teachers Fight Back Against Book Banning in Central York, with Christina Ellis and Ben Hodge
• EPISODE 11 –Unmasking Moms For Liberty’s Extremism, With Olivia Little And Diana Leygerman
• EPISODE 21- Understanding the Nation’s Mounting Book Banning Crisis in Public Schools, with PEN America’s Sabrina Baêta