Overview

In this episode of "Rooted2Thrive," host Rochelle Peterson-Ansari speaks with Dr. Bill Ayers, a retired distinguished Professor of Education, about the concepts of freedom, abolition, and collective liberation from his latest book. Dr. Ayers explains that freedom is a contested term, often meaning cruelty for the conquered when claimed by the conqueror, and is best understood by examining its opposite—unfreedom. He argues that true liberation is a collective "world-building" process that balances individual worth with community, moving beyond simply erasing oppressive systems to creating a society where they are unthinkable. The conversation emphasizes that teaching should foster agency and discovery, and that social change requires recognizing one's own privilege, maintaining hope without being a determinist, and taking collective action in "a million experiments" of joy and resistance.

Topics Covered in This Episode:

• The contested meaning of freedom 

• Abolition as a world-building project 

• Teaching for agency and discovery 

• Balancing individual and collective liberation 

• Privilege, hope, and social action

Guest Information:

Bill AyersDistinguished Professor of Education (retired)

Social Media:

Facebook : Bill Ayers

LinkedIn: William Ayers

X: @BillAyers   @underthetree

Website: BillAyers.org

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