
Varying Viewpoints
Episode 91: Preserving Black Educational Histories
The Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute for Leadership, Equity, and Justice is proud to present another episode of the “Varying Viewpoints” podcast. In an interview led by Harvey Long, 2026 John Smartt Summer Scholar, and featuring Marlee S. Bunch, Senior Research Associate with the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute for Leadership, Equity & Justice at Rutgers University, they discuss her latest book, Unlearning the Hush. Drawing on the rich tradition of Black memory work, the book features oral histories of Black women educators who taught in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, before and after school desegregation. Together, they explore the power of memory, storytelling, and oral history to preserve hidden histories and deepen our understanding of Black educational experiences. Listen as they discuss the importance of oral history and Black memory work in documenting and preserving the lived experiences of Black educators.



