The Legacy: Why I Earned My PhD for Those Who Never Got the Chance

Education as an act of remembrance, resistance, and community care.What keeps you going when the academic journey gets hard?In this soundbite from Season 1 of the Black-Liberation.Tech Podcast, Dr. Renee Jordan reflects on the deeper why behind her educational path — a story rooted in family history, policy, and legacy.Dr. Jordan shares the story of her grandmother, born in 1909 and a descendant of enslaved people, who taught school until policy changes required credentials she never attained. Pushed out of teaching, her grandmother did the work she could do — working as a cook — despite her talent and experience as an educator.This segment reframes academic achievement not as individual ambition, but as collective reclamation. Dr. Jordan explains how earning a PhD became less about titles or prestige and more about doing something meaningful because she could — for her family, her community, and future generations.This episode is especially for:Students questioning their motivationMothers/guardians and daughters navigating education togetherAnyone carrying the weight of being “the first” or “the one”Listen, reflect, and consider what legacy you are building through your learning.