New Books in History Martha Biondi, "We Are Internationalists: Prexy Nesbitt and the Fight for African Liberation" (U California Press, 2025)
Nov 8, 2025
Martha Biondi, a Professor of Black Studies and History at Northwestern University, discusses her book about Prexy Nesbitt, an influential figure in the fight for African liberation. Biondi reveals how Nesbitt's early exposure to international struggles shaped his activism. She highlights the Chicago movement's collaboration with African liberation efforts and contrasts the internationalist perspective with pan-Africanism. The conversation also delves into the U.S. anti-apartheid movement and the complexities of post-apartheid negotiations, showcasing how Nesbitt's story enriches our understanding of global solidarity.
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Biography As Movement Lens
- Using a single activist's life can humanize and organize a sprawling social-movement history.
- Martha Biondi uses Prexy Nesbitt as a through line to connect multiple actors and global networks.
Formative Chicago And Dar Es Salaam
- Prexy grew up in a progressive, multiracial household on Chicago's West Side and attended Francis Parker and Antioch.
- He did a junior year in Dar es Salaam in 1965 that sparked lifelong solidarity with African liberation.
Local Roots, Global Reach
- Prexy combined local Chicago organizing with transnational solidarity work across labor, churches, and unions.
- His Chicago networks helped shape municipal politics and national anti-apartheid campaigns.
