Barbara Ransby is a professor at the University of Illinois Chicago, where she directs the Social Justice Initiative and the Portal Project. A feminist and longtime activist, she is author of Ella Baker and the Black Freedom Movement, two other books, and many essays and articles. Her current book project examines the crises of racial capitalism and the response of 21st justice movements.
ViewpointThe Socialism Issue
Racial Capitalism Is in Real Peril This Time
The climate crisis is a hard one to buy your way out of.
Barbara Ransby
Viewpoint
Introducing the Movement for Black Lives Issue Takeover
Lessons on building collective power.
Barbara Ransby, Chinyere Tutashinda, Karissa Lewis, M Adams and Shanelle Matthews
Culture
Letter From the Year 2071
A vision of where the Black freedom movement could take us.
Barbara Ransby
Feature
With Biden in Power, Beware the Neoliberal Backlash
Grassroots organizers and Black voters led Biden to victory. Our concerns and demands must be taken seriously.
Barbara Ransby
Viewpoint
Our Biden Problem
Movements face a challenge: how to oust Trump while still combatting Biden's neoliberalism.
Barbara Ransby
Viewpoint
Not Here To Behave: What Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Shirley Chisholm Have in Common
Like Shirley Chisholm and Ella Baker, when candidates like Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib enter the halls of power, they bring their people with them.
Barbara Ransby
Feature
With Pardon of Arpaio, Trump Gives a Green Light to Racist Cops and Vigilantes
This presidential action comes at a perilous time in U.S. history.
Barbara Ransby
Feature
MLK Called for a “Radical Revolution of Values.” The Movement for Black Lives Delivers One.
50 years ago today, King blasted militarism, racism and poverty in his "Beyond Vietnam" speech. The new Beyond the Moment campaign carries forward his radical vision.
Barbara Ransby
Viewpoint
The (R)evolutionary Vision and Contagious Optimism of Grace Lee Boggs
Boggs' love for humanity ran strong and deep, serving as a generative force for creating change.
Barbara Ransby
Feature
Quilting a Movement
Real movements for social change need many grassroots leaders—not one charismatic politician.
Barbara Ransby
Viewpoint
The Rot of D’Souza’s Rant
Barbara Ransby
Feature
Coalition to Community
Barbara Ransby