Black History Nerds Saturday School

This session examines the historical foundations of the contemporary Black home education movement, positioning it within the broader legacy of Black self-determination and educational resistance. The presentation explores the often-overlooked trajectory of Black educational practices, from historical necessity to present-day deliberate choice, highlighting the continuity of community-driven learning approaches across generations.

The discussion will address the fugitive dimensions of Black educational history—those practices and institutions that operated outside dominant systems—and their influence on current homeschooling movements within Black communities. Drawing connections between historical and contemporary contexts, the session will consider whether today's educational landscape calls for new forms of educational marronage, examining how Black families navigate and create alternatives to traditional schooling structures.

Participants will gain insight into the rich tradition of Black educational self-sufficiency and its relevance to modern debates about educational equity, choice, and community empowerment.

Khalid el-Hakim, PhD, founder and curator of the Black History 101 Mobile Museum, will share the story of how a personal collection of artifacts grew into a nationally known traveling museum with over 15,000 pieces. Spanning centuries of African American history, from the transatlantic slave trade to the rise of hip hop, the collection has been displayed in 43 states at more than 1,000 institutions. el-Hakim will talk about how these artifacts bring history off the page, create space for dialogue, and inspire people to value and protect our shared heritage.

He’ll also reflect on the lasting impact of the historic Million Man March in 1995, the moment that sparked the idea for him to begin sharing his personal collection in public spaces. The march’s themes of unity, self-determination, and accountability continue to shape his mission today. Through this lens, el-Hakim will connect the power of grassroots movements with the need to preserve cultural memory, showing how the Black History 101 Mobile Museum serves not just as a traveling exhibit, but as a living reminder of the struggles, triumphs, and responsibilities that bind us together.

Using his newest book, "If We Don't Get:  A People's History of Ferguson," as a reference, award-winning educator and scholar Stefan M. Bradley will highlight the work of leaders from the modern democracy movement that grew from the Ferguson Uprising of 2014-2015.  Black youth, eschewing respectability and tradition, quickly mobilized to protect their community from state repression after a white law enforcement officer shot dead Michael Brown, Jr., an unarmed recent Black high school graduate.  Using their voices and bodies, fearless activists took to the streets to demonstrate their desire to be recognized as humans and citizens worthy of life.  Following his students, Bradley, a young professor at an area university, joined the young democrats in their campaign to get justice for their peer and to reconceptualize the look of American leadership.    

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina made landfall and devastated the city of New Orleans. In the aftermath, the Orleans Parish School Board put 7,500 school employees on unpaid disaster leave on September 15, 2005, and 4,500 teachers were fired. This resulted in the largest displacement of Black educators since desegregation. Black educators have played a pivotal role in supporting the academic and nonacademic needs of students while serving as important bridges between schools and the broader community.

In her work, Cook Sumpter explored the experiences of Black educators with school reforms in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. She used a unique approach: creating "composite character counter stories"—composite narratives drawn from in-depth research—to highlight their perspectives and insights. Her presentation focuses on the lasting educational impact and lessons learned from these reforms.