Back in the wake of COVID quarantine, we were graced with the wisdom of Dr. Gholdy Muhammad!

????️ Episode 102 (Throwback): “Artist in the Industry” with Dr. Gholdy Muhammad

Originally aired in 2021 — Revisited in 2025

In this powerful conversation, Gerardo Muñoz and Kevin Adams sit down with Dr. Gholdy Muhammad, author of Cultivating Genius: An Equity Framework for Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy. Together, they explore how teaching rooted in Black literary history, collectivism, and joy can transform classrooms into spaces of liberation, not compliance.

Dr. Muhammad breaks down her five pursuits of learning — identity, skills, intellectualism, criticality, and joy — and explains how these pursuits emerged from 19th-century Black literary societies that defined learning as a communal and purposeful act. The conversation bridges theory and practice, showing educators how to design lessons that humanize, empower, and center students of color.

From joyful pedagogy to abolitionist teaching, from curriculum design to hip-hop as literacy — this episode remains as relevant now as it was when first released.

Since our original conversation, Dr. Gholdy Muhammad has continued to shape the field of equity-centered education. Now a nationally recognized keynote speaker and professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, she has expanded her work through Unearthing Joy and new initiatives that help schools move beyond trauma-informed practices to healing-centered, joy-based learning.

In 2025, as many schools continue to navigate political attacks on culturally responsive education and Black Studies curricula, Dr. Muhammad’s message — that children of color deserve brilliance, joy, and excellence — resonates even louder. Her framework remains a beacon for educators seeking to humanize instruction in a time when educational equity is under threat.

???? Listen for:

• The roots of culturally and historically responsive literacy
• Why joy is an act of resistance
• What “abolitionist teaching” looks like in real classrooms
• How to center identity and genius in every lesson
• Dr. Muhammad’s Top 5 MCs (you won’t want to miss it)

???? Learn more about Dr. Muhammad’s work: www.hillpedagogies.com

Follow her on Instagram and Twitter: @GholdyM