Who Told Black Kids They Were Bad at Math? (feat. Akil Parker)

When did “I’m bad at math” become something we accepted about ourselves, and passed down to our children? On this episode of Crim’s Class Podcast, Ernest Crim III sits down with math educator, author, and All This Math founder Akil Parker to explore the relationship between mathematics, Black history, and Black empowerment. We discuss how parents can support their children’s learning, why algebra and geometry matter beyond the classroom, and how the way we talk about math can shape whether children approach it with confidence or fear. Akil also introduces Histematics, his framework for teaching mathematics through Black history and Black history through mathematics. What changes when we stop treating math as something only certain people can do—and start treating it as a tool our communities can use? A conversation for parents, educators, and anyone who has ever said, “I’m just not a math person.”