167. A Modern-Day Brown v. Board - with Jamarria Hall, Youth Rights Activist & Social Entrepreneur

“Most youth say THE government. They don’t say OUR government. Or they say THE schools. They don’t say OUR school. Or they say THE house. They don’t feel connection. A lot of the autonomy from young people is being taken. The access is being suppressed. A lot of times youth are doing it without help and despite the system and despite the programs that be, because they had to do it on their own.” - Jamarria Hall

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Jamarria Hall. Jamarria is a Social Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, advocate, and activist for equitable education. He lead Detroit students in 2016, in a class action lawsuit against the state seeking a constitutional right to literacy, irrespective of zip code and based on the 14th Amendment. The lawsuit was a success. So what was it that prepared Jamarria to stand up for such a cause at such a young age? We’ll have to take off the mask to find out…

(1:00) Ashanti’s introduction.

(4:00) Jamarria introduces himself, his case against the state of Michigan, and his role as a youth advocate.

(7:45) Jamarria shares the front of his mask - happy, smart, unbothered.

(12:15) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - serious, passionate, caring - then, he and Jamarria reflect on their relationship with rest and self-care.

(20:25) Jamarria shares the back of his mask - lost, anxiety, worry.

(24:20) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - my brother, fear, self-doubt, worry.

(30:25) Jamarria describes what he is seeing with young people, the mindsets they have been adopting, and their relationships with elders.

(34:15) Jamarria looks back on his upbringing and relationship with basketball, and how it helped him step into leadership roles and create change.

(40:00) Jamarria shares how you can get in touch with him.

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Connect with Jamarria Hall:

Instagram: instagram.com/jamarriahall

Website: detroit-accesstoliteracy.org

Facebook: facebook.com/RighttoLiteracy

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Email us questions and comments at [email protected] 

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

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