Tony Lamair Burks II - We Listen & We Don't Judge

This week on Black Art Is Lit, we’re reading We Listen & We Don’t Judge by Tony Lamair Burks II. Chapter 1, “The Principal, the Pastor, and the Pep Rally,” places us in a real-time decision where leadership, community expectations, and student safety all collide.

What seems like a straightforward moment quickly becomes a deeper question of power, responsibility, and who is actually being protected. In this episode, we move through the chapter and sit with what it asks of us.

Not just what we think—but what we would do when there isn’t enough time, enough information, or an option that satisfies everyone. We explore: what it means to make decisions under pressure why there is no such thing as a neutral choice how power shows up in adult and student dynamics and who we choose to center when it matters most While rooted in education, this conversation extends far beyond the classroom.

These are the same tensions that show up anywhere people are sharing space and making decisions that impact others. If you’ve ever had to make a call that affected someone else, this episode will sit with you.

Black Art Is Lit is a podcast dedicated to reading, reflecting, and discussing Black literature—one chapter at a time.