Raising Free People

Unschooling as Liberation and Healing Work

By: Akilah S. Richards, Bayo Akomolafe PhD - foreword

Narrated by: Akilah S. Richards

No one is immune to the byproducts of compulsory schooling and standardized testing. And while reform may be a worthy cause for some, it is not enough for countless others still trying to navigate the tyranny of what schooling has always been. Raising Free People argues that we need to build and work within systems designed for any human to learn, grow, socialize, and thrive, regardless of age, ability, background, or access to money.

Raising Free People explores examples of the transition from school or homeschooling to unschooling, how single parents and people facing financial challenges unschool successfully, and ways unschooling allows us to address generational trauma and unlearn the habits we mindlessly pass on to children.

In these detailed and unabashed stories and insights, Richards examines the ways that her relationships to blackness, decolonization, and healing work all combine to form relationships and enable community-healing strategies rooted in an unschooling practice. This is how millions of families center human connection, practice clear, and honest communication, and raise children who do not grow up to feel that they narrowly survived their childhoods.

©2020 Akilah S. Richards (P)2021 Tantor

Paradigm shift !! Wow

This is an amazing book that I will listen to over and over! I think it is absolutely important for anyone raising a tiny human regardless of the relationship or the age. I love love love that it’s in the authors voice and there are so many moments of shared parenting experiences and thoughts which give a much needed laughter and connection .

Exactly what I’ve needed

So raw and real. I really needed this listen this week, and I also appreciate that as children grow, the author was willing to change directions for their needs. Best unschooling book ever!

if you want to create a better world read this!!!

Incredible book, so many great and challenging ideas. Read this book and begin to liberate yourself and your children. Free everyone from the systemic oppression that we are taught to endure and pass on through our current system.

A wonderful book

An excellent book which addresses more than just -what is unschooling- I enjoyed the content as well as the narration

I will recommend this book forever

This is the first parenting book I have felt a true and honest connection to as a black woman parenting black children. She gets it, she is frank and honest and does a wonderful job of explaining and drawing parallels to increase understanding.

Healing balm and nourishment

Pitch perfect utterly poignant and humorous transgressive goodness for alternative parenting- especially for bipoc who are often taught that the freedom of descholling and unschooling is not for us and ours. I can see ourselves moving forward more whole more courageous more human this work is seminal for regenerative decolonial futures. Thank you to your whole family💫

The future of youth empowerment is healing

we must do this work, as humans who have been parented and taught through coercion and shame, we must unlearn, deschool and then reclaim the nature of learning in relationships. this is a wonderful guide.

A beautiful challenge for all parents

There is something especially magical about hearing Akilah’s thoughts in her own voice. This is a must for anyone wanting to shift their relationship with children from one of control to one of trust and joy.

I’m sure I cried half the book

I have been homeschooling my boys for 3 -5 years and listening to this hit me so many times that I need to start unschooling. So many things are programmed in us I feel I need to trust my kids more & that starts with trusting ME. THANK YOU FOR THIS

A must read!

This was beautifully written and narrated. My revelation didn’t happen until after I had children and put them through the system; Akilah’s journey resonates. I find it valuable to understand from marginalized and BIPOC perspective and reality. A few chapters in I had to pause and process for a while because it just hit deep. Thank you for this