Welcome to the Institute of Black Imagination, beaming in conversations from the galaxy of black genius. Today, we're thrilled to present Shani Peters and Joseph Cuillier III, the co-founders of The Black School—an innovative art institution dedicated to teaching radical Black politics through experimental approaches to art and design education.

Both artists and organizers in their own right, Founded by Joseph Cuillier and Shani Peters, they're mixing art with talks about Black politics and community projects. Inspired by past community-run schools, like those from the Civil Rights and Black Power movements, they're making a difference today.

The Black School has three parts: the School itself, the Festival where students show off their work, and the Studio, where students learn about design and get job training. It's all about helping students understand their neighborhoods, make art that matters, and get ready for the future.

Connect with us on Twitter and Instagram @blackimagination, subscribe to our newsletter for updates, and support the show by clicking this support link. and explore more content on blackimagination.com. Join us as we explore how organizations like The Black School are changing the game in education and beyond. Now, let's warmly welcome Shani Peters and Joseph Cuillier, the Co-Founders of The Black School, to our conversation.

Key Links

Joseph A. Cuillier Career Center - We are a school dedicated to providing an education that empowers our students to succeed in the workforce and beyond.

bell hooks - American author

Alma Thomas - American artist and teacher

Rosenwald/Booker T. Washington Schools- Booker T. Washington of the Tuskegee Institute and Julius Rosenwald, philanthropist and president of Sears Roebuck, built state-of-the art schools for African American children across the South.

Augusta Savage -American sculptor

Harlem Community Art School - The Center was a place for the Harlem community to receive education in the arts for free or little charge.

Oakland Community School - was a Black Panther-run liberation school that operated in Oakland from 1973 to 1982.

Emory Douglas - The former Minister of Culture and Revolutionary Artist for the Black Panther Party

Black Love Festival- presented by The Black School, is an art and music festival promoting a cultural movement for Black love.

Welcome to the Institute of Black Imagination podcast, beaming in conversations from the galaxy of Black genius. I am your host, Dario. Today, we're excited to introduce Olalekan Jeyifous, an innovative artist and architect whose world-building practice reimaginations the relationship between community, urbanity, nature, and time; It’s very much giving Main Character Energy, and citizens of the Black Atlantic take centerstage.

In today's conversation, Olalekan and I discuss how architecture alone is rarely sufficient in solving problems in the urban landscape, we reimagine what the continent of Africa COULD have looked like if colonial powers were expelled post-independence, and Lek challenges conventional notions of beauty and success in architecture and why storefront churches and bodegas deserve a shoutout.

Connect with us on Twitter and Instagram @blackimagination, subscribe to our newsletter for updates, and support the show by clicking this support link. and explore more content on blackimagination.com. And now, take a breath, as we take a ride with artist and architect Olalekan Jeyifous.

Key Links

Lebbeus Woods - American architect and artist

Silver Lion - an annual award presented for best directing achievements in a feature film at official competition section of the Venice Film Festival since 1998.

Saul Williams - American singer-songwriter and musician

The Apocryphal Gospel of Oakland- A discussion between artist, Olalekan Jeyifous and UC Berkeley assistant professor of Geography, Dr. Brandi T. Summers on the generative power of collaboration and the potential for speculative architecture as a means to develop comprehensive constructions of urban Utopias/Dystopias that engage with a variety of social, political, and environmental realities.

Black Reconstruction Collective -American architecture collective

Black Quantum Futurism - A literary and artistic collective

Amanda Williams - Visual Artist

Justin Garrett Moore- a transdisciplinary designer and urbanist.

Torkwase Dyson - Interdisciplinary artist

Norma Merrick Sklarek - American architect

Grace Wales Bonner - London-based designer

Venice Biennale - an international cultural exhibition hosted annually in Venice,...

Hey explorers, it's Dario. Welcome to the IBI podcast, beaming in conversations from the galaxy of Black genius. Today, we browse the mind of Dr. Carla Hayden, the 14th Librarian of Congress, appointed by U.S. President Barack Obama. Dr. Hayden is the first woman and the first African American to hold this position at the National Library. As an actual librarian, Dr. Hayden is known for advocating for the privacy of library users and for her initiatives to promote broad access to public libraries and their resources.

Our dialogue today, much like the Library of Congress itself, is a treasure trove of literary jewels. We discuss how the Library of Congress is not your mother’s library, containing priceless artifacts like the Bayard Rustin papers, and a handwritten letter from Nina Simone to Hazel Scott. We talk American literacy rates, how parents can engage reluctant readers, and we even get personal, as Dr. Hayden and i discuss the health challenges black women face in the workplace, especially in positions of power.

Connect with us on Twitter and Instagram @blackimagination, subscribe to our newsletter for updates, and support the show by clicking this support link. and explore more content on blackimagination.com. So grab your library card and a snack… It’s time to check into the people’s university, with Dr. Carla Hayden.

Key Links

Library Of Congress - the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office.

Nina Simone - American singer-songwriter, pianist, and activist.

Hazel Scott - Jazz pianist and singer

Enoch Pratt Free Library- the free public library system of Baltimore, Maryland.

American Library Association - largest membership association in the world for the library industry.

August Wilson - American playwright

André Leon Talley - American fashion journalist

Citizen DJ - Make music using the free-to-use audio and video materials from the Library of Congress

Jessye Norman - American opera singer

What to Read

Seven Guitars - August Wilson