#91: Amir Whitaker: Free The Youth!

Dr. Amir Whitaker Esq. weaves together his experience and knowledge as an educator, musician, and human rights lawyer and spoke about how those things have inspired each other throughout his life. I loved how he talked about following a question, which led to more questions, as he pursued degree after degree. He spoke about how his multiple titles and roles really come back to passion for justice and the arts and his mission to free the youth. He touched on his own personal background with the (in)justice system, which he shares more of in his book, “The KnuckleHead’s Guide to Escaping the Trap.” He also offered some advice for teachers in connecting with students and breaking down barriers. Amir was very generous in allowing me to share clips of his music on the podcast. I love being able to use this audio format to the fullest!

Amir is a civil rights lawyer, educator, and musician on a mission to #FreeTheYouth. He is the founder and director of Project KnuckleHead, a nonprofit organization empowering youth through music, art, and educational programs since 2013. As a lawyer referred to as a “civil rights and education stalwart” by the Daytona Times, Amir has negotiated settlements and policy changes that have improved the lives of thousands of youth across the country. Amir is currently a staff attorney with the ACLU of Southern California and researcher with the UCLA Civil Rights Project. He has taught varying grade levels and in different educational settings for over a decade, and has held teaching certifications in Florida, California, and New Jersey. He has written for publications like TIME Magazine and Washington Post. Amir's autobiography, “The KnuckleHead’s Guide to Escaping the Trap” has been featured on ABC News and in The New Yorker. Amir is the current board chair for the Arts for Incarcerated Youth Network, a collaborative of 12 organizations providing arts programming to incarcerated youth throughout Los Angeles county. As an artist, Amir has collaborated with musicians around the world, and has studied and taught several styles of music and dance. He is the co-founder of Rhythms of the Exodus, a Black music and cultural kinship movement spanning several countries. He received his doctorate in Educational Psychology from the University of Southern California, juris doctorate from the University of Miami, and his bachelors from Rutgers University.

Blog Post with links and images: https://www.teachingartistpodcast.com/episode-91-amir-whitaker

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