Citizen is a Verb

How to Citizen with Baratunde by Baratunde Thurston
August 20, 2020

The podcast "How To Citizen with Baratunde," is a platform where Baratunde Thurston reimagines “citizen” as a verb. In an interview with NPR, Thurston commented, “I think we've had a very narrow definition of citizen as a legal status, as some privilege you're born into rather than a set of actions, a way to be, things to do that involve really participating in society.” Thurston believes that we should all be invested in grappling with our local and national governments’ issues and the political process. Today, while we witness two pandemics – COVID and the racial injustice in our country – many educators are trying to find ways to best support their students and educate them about the reality of the political issues of our time. In his podcast, Thurston speaks with guests, including students, about how they have become agents of change in their communities. He engages in topics such as policing, food deserts, corporate power, segregation, and discrimination. He then provides resources for listeners and shares questions to promote reflection. The podcast offers useful perspective and tools for teachers to include for middle and upper school students, helping them to develop the critical skills they will need to be part of, and lead, change.