You taught history for more than 20 years, right?

Correct.

You were in the African kind of studies department at Rutgers,

which is New Brunswick, that Smises alma mater.

Shout out to Rutgers Jersey here.

What happened, what did you learn in those 20 years?

Oh, broad question.

The main thing I've learned is that the system doesn't work for

black children. And it's not always intentional, but the way the system is designed, is not designed to meet the unique challenges

of being a black person in America. And I often get a lot of pushback on that even with black people

because the argument I make and I make it on the first page in my book is that I

don't believe all children are the same.

Black children's experience in America

is very different from that of their white counterparts.

Their social historical experience makes them view the world differently,

makes them interact with the world differently,

and schools don't match that.

And when people push back, you know, there's this thing like, you know,

kids are kids

uh... people are people uh... we're all the same

and the way i simply explain the difference

between that that black kid sitting in your classroom

...