Belonging & School Connection - Featured Guest: Darren Rainey

From Desegregation to Displacement: The Erasure of Black Educators In this episode of Project: School Dad, Eric Gardner sits down with educator and professor Darren Rainey for a powerful conversation about the historical displacement of Black educators and the lasting impact of their absence on Black students and school culture today. Grounded in the works of Leslie T. Fenwick, Adam Fairclough, and April L. Peters, this episode explores what truly happened after Brown v. Board of Education and how desegregation led to the systematic removal of thousands of Black teachers and principals from American schools. Together, they unpack: The cultural and relational loss caused by the displacement of Black educators Why Black male educators now represent only about 1.3% of the teaching workforce The role of representation, belonging, and mentorship in the lives of Black boys How schools often mistake discipline for connection What it means for students to experience radical advising, affirmation, and culturally responsive care This episode is not simply about education policy — it is about memory, identity, and the urgent need to rebuild the Black male educator pipeline. Recommended Readings Mentioned: Leslie T. Fenwick — Jim Crow’s Pink Slip Adam Fairclough — Black Teachers in the Jim Crow South April L. Peters — Desegregation and the Disintegration of Black School Leaders