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Childhood: Education, Identity and Growth

Yellow background. "TRUTH" in maroon text,  underneath is "BE" in light green text, and "TOLD" in orange text with a dark green half speech bubble underneath. Under that is CHILDHOOD in green text. BTPM NPR logo in the top left.

How does identity form in childhood? And who helps shape it? Every child deserves to see themselves reflected in the world around them. In this episode of Truth Be Told, parents and educators Akil and Mariyama Ajamu share their story of raising and teaching Black children with pride, purpose and power. Their journey reveals how identity, family and advocacy intersect — and what it takes to create schools and communities where every child feels they belong.

Truth Be Told, a podcast exploring racial inequity across the lifespan.

Truth Be Told Season 1
Latest Episodes
  • What happens when schools stop seeing Black children as children? In this episode of Truth Be Told, Chelest Ponzo shares her family’s story navigating bias, discipline and advocacy inside America’s education system. We examine how racial bias and ableism shape educational experiences from elementary school onward.
  • What does it take to build a healthy start for a child when the odds are stacked against you? In this episode of Truth Be Told, we follow Faye Gomez, a mother of three under 3, as she works to provide health and joy for her children amid food deserts, housing challenges, and limited child care.
  • In this premiere episode of Truth Be Told, host Wil Green introduces us to Shyana Broughton—a mother, sister and doula—whose fight for dignity and safe birth exposes the deep inequities in healthcare and the strength that drives change.