BRIAN KWOBA W/ CHARLES W. MCKINNEY JR: HUBERT HARRISON
Join us as we welcome BRIAN KWOBA in conversation with CHARLES W. MCKINNEY JR on WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 at 6:00 PM to celebrate the release of his new book HUBERT HARRISON: FORBIDDEN GENIUS OF BLACK RADICALISM.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The significance of Hubert Henry Harrison (1883-1927) -as a journalist, activist, and educator- lies in his innovation of radical solutions to grave injustices, especially the staggering luxury for the few alongside the crushing poverty for the many in the first few decades of the twentieth century. White mob violence continually haunted African American communities, while imperial conquest and world wars wrought wanton destruction upon entire nations of people. These conditions sparked a global political awakening to which Harrison gave voice as a leading figure in cutting-edge struggles for socialism, in the free love movement, and in the Harlem Renaissance. He also played a pivotal role in the rise of Marcus Garvey and the establishment of the largest international organization of Black people in modern history. Because of his fierce and fearless radicalism, however, he has been erased from popular memory. Hubert Harrison presents a historical restoration of Harrison’s numerous intellectual and political breakthroughs. Offering a fresh interpretation of his contributions to social movements for economic, racial, and sexual liberation, Brian Kwoba’s richly textured narrative highlights the startling and continued relevance of Harrison’s visionary thinking across generations.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dr. Brian Kwoba is an associate professor of history and Director of the African and African American Studies Program at the University of Memphis. Over the past two decades, Dr. Kwoba has been an activist on issues including anti-imperialism, immigrant workers rights, climate justice, Falastin, and the movement for Black lives. His new book on Hubert Harrison is an intellectual biography of one of history’s most brilliant and under-appreciated political visionaries.
ABOUT THE CONVERSATION PARTNER:
Charles W. McKinney, Jr. is Professor of History at Rhodes College. His areas of expertise are the Civil Rights/Black Power Era, African American Activism, and African American Politics. He received a bachelor’s degree in history from Morehouse College and completed his doctoral studies at Duke University. His first book was titled Greater Freedom: The Evolution of the Civil Rights Struggle in Wilson, North Carolina. His second project, co-edited with Aram Goudsouzian, is An Unseen Light: Black Struggles for Freedom in Memphis, Tennessee. His most recent book, co-edited with Françoise Hamlin, is titled From Rights To Lives: The Evolution of the Black Freedom Struggle, published by Vanderbilt University Press.
His writing has appeared in newspapers and information venues across the country, including the Memphis Commercial Appeal, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Black Perspectives, Vanity Fair, and MLK50: Justice Through Journalism. He has provided commentary on radio programs across the country, news outlets in the United Kingdom, Europe, China, New Zealand, Australia, and has appeared on CNN.
