This is a word, a podcast from Slate. I'm your host, Jason Johnson. Our public school

system is underfunded and under siege from politicians and the schools that serve

black and brown students faced extra challenges. But there are still many success stories

and reasons for hope.

These are exceptional students, there are exceptional people, ordinary people who do exceptional things

in the schools to ensure that we lift up the young people.

More on the film, defining us children at the crossroads of change coming up on a word

with me, Jason Johnson. Stay with us.

Welcome to a word, a podcast about race, impolitex and everything else. I'm your host, Jason

Johnson. This September, a word is focused on education. Today we're looking more closely

at how public schools can and should adapt to serving the majority of their students

who are black and brown. Defining us children at the crossroads of change is a documentary

that aims to open that conversation and to redefine the stakes for America's future.

If we have associations and beliefs that certain parts of our population could be written

off and marginalized, our society is in for a lot of trouble.

That's the voice of career educator Paul Forbes. He's a diversity and equity consultant

and the executive producer of Defining Us. Paul Forbes joins us now. Welcome to a word.

I'm thrilled to be here. Thank you for having me.

What inspired you to make this film defining us?

I've been an educator for all my life. Twenty, four plus years in the New York City Department

of Education, the largest school system in the country, in various roles. In the last

couple of years, probably about ten years ago, I was asked to lead at the time the largest

...