Radical History Blog

Born on this day, Langston Hughes was one of the twentieth century's greatest poets “I swear to the Lord, I still can’t see, why Democracy means, everybody but me.” Langston Hughes was born today in 1901.

Born on this day, Ernest Jones fought for democracy and freedom across the world "Rise to freedom!

On this MLK Day, our historian Pete talks about the radical promise of the Reconstruction years “White historians had for a century crudely distorted the Negro’s role in the Reconstruction years.

Born on this day, Algernon Sidney was one of England's greatest revolutionaries “This hand, enemy to tyrants, by the sword seeks peace with liberty.” The second half of the seventeenth century was the great revolutionary period of British history.

Born on this day in 1908, Simone de Beauvoir was one of the great thinkers of the twentieth century “One’s life has value so long as one attributes value to the life of others, by means of love, friendship, indignation, compassion.” Simone de Beauvoir was many things.

Our historian Pete reflects on the passage of time and the possibility of radical progress in 2023 And so, another year comes to a close. 2022 becomes 2023. New Year’s Eve always seems to me a good time to think about… time.

On this day in 1956, Nelson Mandela and 152 other activists were put on trial in Johannesburg On 11 February 1990, walked free from Victor Verster prison in the Western Cape.

Born on this day in 1775, Jane Austen challenged the sexism of her time - and made a living in the process “I hate to hear you talk about all women as if they were fine ladies instead of rational creatures.

In December 1890, U.S. soldiers committed one of the worst massacres in American history... “Many innocent women and children who knew no wrong died here.” The Wounded Knee Monument In 1890, just a few days after Christmas, soldiers of the U.S.

Could the biggest capitalist day of the year actually have its origins in a workers' protest?! I've found at least three stories for the origins of Black Friday.