Off the Shelf: Revolutionary Readings in Times of Crisis

What does it mean to be human at this moment in time, with rising resource inequality, the unaccountability of big tech, and a global pandemic exacerbating already-existing poverty? Professor Ken Salo and host Augustus Wood draw from a panoply of works and ideas from Göran Therborn and Amartya Sen to Frantz Fanon and Steve Biko, Paulo Freire and Samira Mill to Rosa Luxemburg, Samir Amin, and C.L.R. James, as well as former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis and his concept of techno feudalism. Along the way, Salo explains why it's essential for students to "ground truth" by walking through real communities, and why we need to sharpen our own "BS GPS" on our way to consciousness. View full show notes and transcript

 In Episode 4, Professor Sundiata Cha-Jua and host Augustus Wood explore Cha-Jua's concept of the "New Nadir," examining the impact of global capitalism on Black socioeconomics and community building. The discussion ranges from Cha-Jua's articles and research to foundational works by Hal Baron, W.E.B. Du Bois, and C.L.R. James. Cha-Jua outlines key historical periods of transition, illustrating how these transitional moments are “...where we can really see the role of agency and resistance.”  View full show notes and transcript

 Professor Helen Neville and host Augustus Wood explore Black liberation through the lens of Black psychology, discussing key research and ideas by Bill Cross (including Neville's work with him), Janet Helms, Frantz Fanon, Paulo Freire, and Della Mosley. Tune in for a vibrant discussion around concepts like self-emancipation, racial awakening, and critical consciousness, and how they relate to today's debates around "wokeness."  View the show notes and transcript 

 Professor Teresa Barnes and host Augustus Wood discuss Barnes' 2018 book Uprooting University Apartheid in South Africa: From Liberalism to Decolonization, while also exploring parallels between South Africa’s apartheid and the current political atmosphere in the U.S. Note: this interview was originally recorded in fall 2020. View full show notes and transcript

Professor Lou Turner and host Augustus Wood take a deep dive on the life and work of Harold "Hal" Baron (1930-2017). Baron was a Director of Research for the Chicago Urban League (1962-1968) and, later, public policy architect of the historic mayoral campaign of Harold Washington, followed by a tenure as the Chief Policy Advisor for the Washington administration. As a scholar, reformer, and policy shaper, Baron initiated and influenced key struggles against institutional racism and economic inequality. Wood and Turner consider what Baron's work and activism can teach us about our current moment. Note: this interview was originally recorded in fall 2020. View full show notes and transcript