The blueprint for Black history education | Smokin' Joe takes the steps episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 21, 2026 · 38 MIN

The blueprint for Black history education | Smokin' Joe takes the steps

from Bridging Philly · host Audacy

Black educators are navigating classrooms where their presence is shrinking and the history they teach is being challenged. Racquel Williams talks with Sharif El-Mekki, founder and CEO of The Center for Black Educator Development, and Ismael Jimenez, Director of Social Studies Curriculum for the School District of Philadelphia, about the 100-year legacy of Black History Month and the undeniable impact of Black teachers in the classroom. Plus, they tell us about their partnership on the Blackprint 20 summit earlier this month, which opened discussion on best practices for teaching Black history. Then, on Shara in the City, we're celebrating a victory for the legacy of Philadelphia's own boxing legend Smokin' Joe Frazier, whose statue is officially relocating from South Philly to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Shara Dae Howard talks with a relative of Frazier’s about the grassroots fight to make this happen, plus Frazier’s connection to the late Jesse Jackson.

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The blueprint for Black history education | Smokin' Joe takes the steps

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