Rev Left Radio [BEST OF] Joy James on Du Bois, Liberation Struggles, & Revolutionary Love
Apr 17, 2025
Joy James, an esteemed Professor of Humanities at Williams College and author of 'New Bones Abolition,' delves into the profound legacies of W.E.B. Du Bois and George Jackson. She highlights the crucial role of Black women in activism and critiques systemic oppression, connecting historical movements to contemporary struggles. James discusses the paradox of the 13th Amendment and its implications, as well as the importance of community resilience. The conversation emphasizes love, liberation, and the power of intellectual discourse in fighting for social justice.
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Inspiration for Studying Du Bois
- Charlene Mitchell, a Black communist leader, inspired Joy James to deeply study Du Bois' memoirs at the Schomburg Library.
- This led James to shift from academia-driven writing to activism-focused work.
Challenging Elite Leadership
- Du Bois' sidelining of Ida B. Wells wasn't solely his doing; it reflected broader elite dynamics, including Mary Church Terrell and Mary White Ovington.
- This highlights the importance of challenging elite leadership formations, regardless of identity.
We Charge Genocide Petition
- The "We Charge Genocide" petition, signed by Du Bois and others, was a powerful campaign against US oppression of Black people.
- It aimed to expose US violence and genocidal practices to the international community during the Jim Crow era.
