Teaching as Liberation

Education is the foundation of freedom.

But freedom doesn’t begin or end in a classroom—it lives in how we imagine, question, create, and connect. My pedagogy is rooted in the belief that learning should transform. It should free us—mind, body, and spirit.

I teach with the whole self. I teach to spark imagination. I teach to reclaim time, space, and story.

Five Guiding Principles

1. Education is for Everyone
   Knowledge lives in books, in bodies, in communities. My teaching honors the self-taught, the culturally-taught, and those rediscovering their voices.
2. Imagination is Resistance
   Afrofuturism, storytelling, and speculative methods challenge what is and make space for what could be.
3. Learning with the Whole Self
   I bring in reflection, ritual, and personal narrative so that learning becomes embodied—not just intellectual.
4. Reclaiming Time, Space, and Self
   We connect past, present, and possible futures to shape grounded, liberatory practice. This is how we reclaim our narratives.
5. Community is the Classroom
   Learning is communal. In every course or workshop, we build a space where shared wisdom leads the way.

In Practice: What This Looks Like in the Classroom

My courses are designed to do more than meet outcomes—they’re designed to transform. Drawing from Black feminist theory, Afrofuturism, and cultural critique, I create learning spaces where students feel seen, supported, and stretched.

1. Education as Freedom
   Students are invited to reclaim their voices, see themselves as part of living history, and understand writing and inquiry as tools for change.
2. Storytelling & Reflection
   Whether we’re analyzing literature or writing personal essays, storytelling is at the center. I regularly incorporate journaling, creative projects, and conversation to deepen engagement.
3. Critical Meets Creative
   In courses like Black Speculative Fiction, students not only analyze texts—they create their own speculative futures. In Writing and Critical Inquiry, we use research and rhetoric to explore the world—and reshape it.
4. Holistic Engagement
   We talk about identity, power, and lived experience. We connect the personal to the structural. We ask big questions—and make room for honest, vulnerable reflection.
5. Access & Inclusion
   My classrooms are built for students at every starting point. I diversify materials, honor varied learning styles, and actively create space for those too often pushed to the margins.

Outcomes

Students leave my courses with:

• Critical Thinking Skills: The ability to analyze texts and ideas deeply and connect them to broader cultural and societal issues.
• A Sense of Empowerment: A clearer understanding of their own stories and how they intersect with larger movements for liberation.
• Practical Tools for Change: Skills in writing, collaboration, and creative problem-solving that they can apply in their personal, professional, and academic lives.