Can Astronauts Be Black?

In this inspiring episode of the Reading With Your Kids podcast, host Jed Doherty sits down with former Major League Baseball player turned artist and author Micah Johnson to talk about his powerful new middle grade novel, Aku: Journey to Ibra. Micah shares how a casual comment during spring training with the Los Angeles Dodgers unexpectedly launched his art career, eventually leading him to create Aku, a Black kid in an astronaut helmet inspired by his nephew's question, "Can astronauts be Black?" What began as a painting grew into 3D art, public sculptures, and now a fast‑paced, sci‑fi adventure book designed to help kids dream big, build confidence, and understand that no one reaches their dreams alone. Micah and Jed dive into themes of asking for help, vulnerability, and representation, exploring how seeing yourself in powerful roles—on a giant canvas, in VR, or on the page—can reshape a child's sense of what's possible. Micah also pulls back the curtain on his creative process, explaining how he uses VR sculpting and 3D printing to build the world of Aku and make art more accessible to kids and families. In the Listen Back segment, Jed revisits a conversation with author Andrea Williams about her book Baseball's Leading Lady: Effa Manley and the Rise and Fall of the Negro Leagues. They discuss Effa Manley's trailblazing role as a Black woman team owner, the history of the Negro Leagues, and why sharing honest, complex Black history with kids is essential for raising thoughtful, informed readers.