Black College Achievers: Metropolitan State University cover art

Black College Achievers: Metropolitan State University

Black College Achievers: Metropolitan State University

By: Mr. Lucky — Social Studies Teacher M.A. M.S. Urban Education Student
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Summary

Mr. Lucky

M.A., Master of Advocacy and Political Leadership (MAPL)

M.S., Graduate Student, School of Urban Education

See My Book: www.weusoursluckybooks.com

The Metro State Black Student Achievers Podcast was created to reach Black youth in charter schools, churches, recreation centers, barbershops, hair salons, and community spaces where many have been led to believe higher education is not for them. The mission is to bring real stories of Metro State students and graduates directly into these environments so young people hear voices that reflect their identities, experiences, and potential. The podcast also functions as an instructional tool, with select episodes paired with lesson plans highlighting Black innovators including the Black nurse who invented the home security system, the Freedom House Ambulance Service—the first modern EMS—and the Black nurses who served in every major American war. These materials help students collaborate with peers, complete activities at home, and allow educators to integrate the content into their courses. The mission also models self‑determination by showing this podcast was created without begging for money, without seeking validation, and by embracing the mindset of asking “What can I do?” instead of “What can’t I do?” The vision is to cultivate a generation of Black youth who see themselves as scholars, innovators, and leaders, transforming community spaces into learning spaces, elevating overlooked Black excellence, and building a culture where young people pursue goals with confidence, dignity, and purpose. Black students do not need permission to achieve—they need opportunity, representation, and courage. The podcast stands as an example of what is possible when students lead with purpose and institutions support authentic student voice. It advances the university’s commitments to student leadership, equity, culturally responsive engagement, community partnership, academic access, and the amplification of historically marginalized voices.

Lucky is an award‑winning educator and community leader with 15+ years of experience in secondary education, juvenile justice, and public service. He has developed culturally responsive curricula, mentored educators, and taught Leadership, Race in America, and Community Organizing. His work has increased student achievement, reduced disciplinary incidents, and supported legislative efforts that secured over $355,000 for student programs. His leadership has earned recognition across Minnesota and beyond, including induction into the National Society of Leadership and Success, the Pillsbury United Communities Service Award, and commendations from Ramsey County Corrections, the U.S. Army, and state civic institutions. He chaired the Governor’s Legacy Committee, overseeing $240,000 in arts grants with a perfect audit. His background includes roles as Juvenile Probation Officer, Paralegal, Veterans Case Manager, Urban Elder Teacher Coach, Park Police and Military Police Officer. He has authored four books and released a gospel album produced by Numero Records. He holds advanced degrees in Advocacy, Leadership, Social Sciences, Counseling Psychology, Paralegal Studies, and Law Enforcement, and is completing a second master’s in education. “When people talk behind your back, remember—they’re behind you for a reason.” “During struggles, always ask what I can do—never what can’t I do.”

This podcast is student‑run and operates under the First Amendment.

radiotalklr@gmail.com Phone: 773-809-8594

Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Student Lisa wants you to know: Better Days Are Coming
    May 17 2026

    Request A Song at 773-809-8594

    Student: Lisa's Request

    Lesson Plan: “Better Days — Hope Beyond Present Pain”

    Learning Objective

    You and your family will understand how faith provides hope during adversity, using Romans 8:18 and the song Better Days as real‑life examples.

    Example: After listening to the song, you and your family point out lyrics that show perseverance, hope, or trust in God’s future promises.

    Learning Outcome

    You and your family will be able to explain how spiritual endurance transforms suffering into strength, connecting Romans 8:18 to your own life experiences.

    Example: A family member might say, “Romans 8:18 reminds me that what we’re going through now is temporary — God has something better ahead.”

    Mini‑Lesson Flow (5E Model)

    Engage

    Play Better Days by Le’Andria Johnson. Ask: “What part of this song speaks to you the most?”

    Explore

    Read Romans 8:18 together. Discuss: “What does this verse say about our struggles?”

    Explain

    Connect the verse to the song: Both teach that present pain cannot cancel future glory.

    Elaborate

    You and your family share examples of times you pushed through hardship and later saw God’s purpose or blessing.

    Evaluate (Formative Assessment)

    Each person writes or says a short reflection answering:

    “How does Romans 8:18 help you understand the message of Better Days?”

    You check for:

    • Clear explanation
    • Connection to scripture
    • Personal insight

    Order My Book: www.weusoursluckybooks.com

    Show More Show Less
    11 mins
  • LIES MY TEACHERS TOLD ME-Black Founders
    May 6 2026

    See My Lesson Plan Below

    Comments call: 773-809-8594

    Black Americans: Nothing But the Truth All parents, teachers, and fellow Americans must listen to this episode. Share it with someone—then ask them to share it with someone else. Keep it moving. Keep the truth alive.

    "We were never told the full story about Black Americans and the American Revolution. Pull up images of the Battle of Bunker Hill and Washington’s crossing of the Delaware. Look closely. Find the Black patriots. Learn the truth." Mr. Positive.

    🧭Lesson Plan to Be Used with This Podcast: Reclaiming Black Patriots of the American Revolution

    Presented by the Positive People USA Podcast

    🎯 Learning Objectives (with Examples)

    Students will:

    • Identify and explain the contributions of Black patriots in the Revolutionary War, such as:
      • Wentworth Cheswell, the first Black elected official in U.S. history, who rode north in 1774 to warn of British troop movements.
      • James Armistead Lafayette, a double agent whose intelligence helped secure victory at Yorktown in 1781.
    • Analyze how post-Civil War political forces erased Black contributions from historical narratives, using:
      • David Barton’s claim that Southern Democrats rewrote textbooks between 1870–1890 to support segregation and suppress Black patriotism. "Verbal Presentation."
    • Evaluate primary sources to restore historical truth, including:
      • William Cooper Nell’s 1855 book, The Colored Patriots of the American Revolution, which documents figures like Crispus Attucks and Salem Poor.

    📈 Learning Outcomes

    By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

    • Name and describe at least five Black patriots, including:
      • Peter Salem, who killed British Major Pitcairn at Bunker Hill (June 17, 1775).
      • Phillis Wheatley, who corresponded with George Washington in 1775–76, praising his leadership through poetry.
    • Explain the mechanisms of historical erasure, such as:
      • The removal of Black figures from post-Reconstruction textbooks to justify Jim Crow policies and white supremacy.
    • Create a civic restoration message that reclaims a forgotten legacy, such as:
      • A podcast script honoring Lemuel Haynes, the first Black ordained Protestant minister, who preached liberty and pastored churches in Massachusetts and New York.

    🧪 Assessment

    Formative:

    • Quick write: “Why was Wentworth Cheswell’s election in 1768 historically significant?”
    • Group discussion: Analyze Prince Whipple’s symbolic presence in Washington Crossing the Delaware and its implications for visual legacy.
    • Draw a picture and explain the significance of any part of the podcast that strikes you as important.

    Summative:

    • Civic Restoration Project: Students will produce a mini-podcast script, PSA, or infographic that reclaims one Black patriot’s legacy and critiques the mechanisms of historical erasure.
    • Rubric will assess:
      • Historical accuracy (dates, locations, roles)
    Show More Show Less
    45 mins
  • We Are Worldwide — Despite Resistance
    May 14 2026

    Order My Book: www.weusoursluckybooks.com

    Metro State Black College Achievers Podcast

    Positioning Black Scholarship Within the National Black Studies Podcast Landscape

    The Metro State Black College Achievers Podcast strengthens and expands the presence of Black Studies in the Twin Cities and nationwide by centering Black student voice, Black scholarship, and Black community life. Rooted in the intellectual traditions of Black Studies and aligned with Metro State University’s commitments to diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti‑racism, it bridges academic knowledge and community empowerment.

    Within the national landscape, the podcast complements scholarly platforms such as the Black Studies Podcast featuring Dr. André Carrington and Dr. Imani Perry. While national shows document the history and theory of the discipline, Metro State’s podcast cultivates the next generation of Black scholars, leaders, and critical thinkers. Together, they form a complete ecosystem—one preserving the tradition, the other developing those who will carry it forward.

    Our mission is to create a community‑centered, learner‑centered, and empowerment‑centered space where Black students, educators, and community leaders share stories, research, and lived experiences. We believe Black students are producers of knowledge whose voices are essential to the future of Black Studies. Through interviews, historical modules, culturally responsive lesson plans, and conversations grounded in truth‑telling and liberation, the podcast activates Black Studies as both academic discipline and community practice.

    Commitments: • Amplify Black student voices as essential contributors to the discipline. • Highlight Black scholarship across generations—from emerging thinkers to established experts. • Provide educational tools for teachers, parents, and community organizations. • Strengthen community connections through culturally grounded storytelling. • Expand access to higher education by showcasing Black academic excellence. • Build a future pipeline of Black scholars, educators, and leaders.

    This podcast is more than a platform—it is a living archive, a teaching tool, and a community resource. It is where Black Studies lives, breathes, and grows.

    Across the country, national Black Studies podcasts preserve the intellectual foundations of the field. The Metro State Black College Achievers Podcast stands in direct conversation with that tradition but does something distinct and urgently needed. It reaches Black youth in churches, barbershops, recreation centers, charter schools, and community spaces—connecting scholarship to everyday life. It teaches, lives, and activates Black Studies through community engagement.

    Grounded in the belief that Black Studies is not just an academic field but a practice of liberation and truth‑telling, this podcast carries forward a discipline born from struggle and sustained by community. Each episode invites listeners into a national movement—hearing voices that will shape the next chapter of Black Studies and witnessing the creation of a new archive rooted in lived experience, scholarship, and possibility.

    This is the Metro State Black College Achievers Podcast. Where Black Studies lives, breathes, and grows. Where the next generation of Black scholars begins.

    Mr. Lucky, M.A., MAPL | M.S. Urban Education Student Host, Metro State Black College Achievers Podcast.

    To be a guest on the podcast email: radiotalklr@gmail.com

    Show More Show Less
    9 mins
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