Another World Is Possible: Revolutionary Visions, Past and Present
The Zapatistas tell us, “Another World Is Possible.” Activists in the past have often been guided by the same belief: that alternatives to an unjust status quo are both conceivable and achievable.
On the 50th anniversary of the mass movements of 1968, and in the face of growing threats to democracy, to racial, gender, and economic justice, and to environmental sustainability, the 2018 Feinberg Family Distinguished Lecture Series explores revolutionary visions of the future. The series takes its inspiration from visionary movements led by poor people and people of color that have confronted the immediate challenges impacting people's lives while simultaneously working to build alternatives. Drawing on the words of historian Robin D.G. Kelley, this series explores their “freedom dreams.” That is, it looks at “what people in particular movements dreamed of, what they thought they were fighting for,” and how they imagined and built new and radically different worlds.
Series events and initiatives will explore the radical imaginations of intellectuals, artists, political leaders, renegade thinkers, community organizers, and everyday people who have worked to make another world possible.
All events are FREE and open to the public. Most events will be audiorecorded and available on the history department's podcast.
A professional development series for K12 educators and an undergraduate course will accompany the series.
Calendar of Events
Sept 6 | Opening Panel: Reawakening the Black Radical Imagination
The past decade has been marked by a resurgence of the Black Freedom Struggle. Mary Hooks of Southerners on New Ground, Kali Akuno of Cooperation Jackson, and Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, author of From #Blacklivesmatter to Black Liberation and How We Get Free, will explore the emergence of new ideas – Freedom Dreams – of the world to be won. 6:00 pm, Mahar Auditorium, UMass. Audio. Facebook Livestream.
Sept 13 | State Violence and Revolution: Lessons from El Salvador
In the 1980s, Salvadoran revolutionaries fought to overthrow a U.S.-backed dictatorship and build popular democratic alternatives. Many people in Massachusetts supported them. Former guerrilla Carlos Henríquez Consalvi, peasant organizer Rosa Rivera, and Pioneer Valley Workers Center immigrant rights organizer Diana Sierra Becerra will discuss the lessons for today’s social movements. 5:30 pm, UMass Student Union Ballroom, UMass. Event Audio. English language transcript. Facebook Live Stream.
Sept 20 | Keynote Address by Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II
Rev. Barber is the co-chair of the national Poor People’s Campaign, architect of the Moral Monday Movement, president of Repairers of the Breach, and co-author of The Third Reconstruction: How a Moral Movement Is Overcoming the Politics of Division and Fear. Inaugural James Baldwin Lecture, established by Allen J. Davis, '68. Tickets are FREE and available online, by phone (413-545-2511), or at the Fine Arts Center Box Office. All seating is general admission. Tickets are valid up until 15 minute before the lecture begins. Any remaining tickets will be available on a first come, first served basis on the night of the lecture. Co-hosted by the W.E.B. Du Bois Department of African American Studies. This event was generously supported by the Office of Equity & Inclusion, Office of the Provost, Student Affairs and Campus Life, the Graduate School, the Fine Arts Center, and partners. See link for details. 6pm, Fine Arts Center, UMass. Event Audio, Facebook Live Stream.
Oct 1 | Imagining Community, Living in Community
An exploration of efforts to create intentional communities based on participants' visions of just and harmonious social relationships. Often described as “utopian,” these movements have focused on realizing transformative visions on a small scale in the “here and now,” and were envisioned by participants as an opportunity to live rightly even within a larger oppressive society. Recognizing the complicated social realities in which such movements have been embedded, this event places practitioners and scholars in critical conversation about the movements' premises, challenges, contradictions, blind spots, impacts, and transformative potentials. Panelists include Ousmane Power-Greene (Clark University and the David Ruggles Center), Lior Libman (Binghamton University), Jasmine Burems (Wildseed Community Farm and Healing Village), and Kate Daloz (Columbia University, author of We Are As Gods). Includes discussion of abolitionist, socialist-Zionist, anti-racist, queer/trans, and back-to-the-land movements. 5:30 pm, Cape Cod Lounge, UMass Student Union
Oct 17 | 21st-Century Socialism: Venezuela’s Communes in Historical Perspective
Venezuelan communes are radical experiments in grassroots democracy and economic production that attempt to “concretize utopia.” Atenea Jiménez (Network of Communers, Venezuela) and George Ciccariello-Maher (Hemispheric Institute of Performance and Politics, New York) will examine the communes’ history, achievements, and present challenges. 6:00 pm, Bernie Dallas Room, Goodell Hall, UMass. Event Audio. English Translation.
Oct 20 and Oct 24 | Decolonizing Cultural Production and Building Radical Solidarity
An evening with Teatro de Papel Machete and AgitArte, an organization of working class artists and cultural organizers that creates projects and practices of cultural solidarity with grassroots struggles against oppression, and proposes alternatives for transforming our world. Based in their more than twenty years of collective, collaborative work, the presentations will include Solidaridad y sobrevivencia para nuestra liberación/Solidarity and Survival for Our Liberation a recent cantastoria created by Papel Machete, AgitArte’s theater collective, in the aftermath of Hurricane María, and End the Debt! Decolonize! Liberate! Scroll Project, a collaboratively produced, collectively experienced art object that visually unfurls a history of colonialism and resistance in Puerto Rico. AgitArte’s residency takes place in conjunction with the installation The Museum of the Old Colony by artist Pablo Delano, on view in the Hampshire College Art Gallery until November 11. October 20: 5:00 pm (presentation and dialogue), 7:00 pm (dinner and celebration), Wisteriahurst, Holyoke. October 24: 6:30 pm (presentation and dialogue), 8:00 pm (reception) Hampshire College Art Gallery
Nov 1 | Domestic Workers Building Dignity and Power, Past and Present
Domestic workers are drawing lessons from past movements to organize on a massive scale and build feminist economies. A panel conversation with Linda Burnham (National Domestic Workers Alliance), Monique Tú Nguyen (Matahari Women Workers’ Center), and Jennifer Guglielmo (Putting History in Domestic Workers’ Hands), moderated by Diana Sierra Becerra (Putting History in Domestic Workers’ Hands). 5:30 pm, Bernie Dallas Room, Goodell Hall, UMass. Event Audio.
Nov 5 | Dreams and Nightmares: The Promises and Perils of Revolutionary Visions
What is at stake, and what is at risk, in the building of new worlds? Five College faculty will deliver short presentations and lead a community conversation on the nightmarish visions of social transformation and oppressive aspects of liberatory movements around the world. 5:30 pm, 131 Marcus Hall, UMass
Nov 8-9 | Eqbal Ahmad Lecture and Sympoisium*
The Hampshire College Office of the President and Ethics and Common Good present the 21st Annual Eqbal Ahmad Lecture, "Jackson Rising: Participatory Democracy, Solidarity Economy, and the Struggle for Racial Justice in Jackson, Mississippi." In 2017, newly elected mayor Antar Lumumba pledged to make Jackson “the most radical city on the planet,” building on decades of work toward the creation of a solidarity economy and alternative institutions like people’s assemblies and workers cooperatives. This intergenerational panel of political strategists Rukia Lumumba, Dr. Safiya Omari, and Charles Taylor will discuss the history of organizing for economic democracy, Black self-determination, and political transformation in Jackson and beyond. An activist workshop and exchange will be held the following day, focusing on Black-led cooperative economics, food sovereignty, and the role of environmental justice in the fight against racism and state violence. The keynote panelists will join Iya’falola Omobola, former co-director of Cooperation Jackson, and regional activists from Soul Fire Farm for an opportunity to learn from one another’s experiences. Both events are free and open to all. Lecture: November 8, 4:00 pm Robert Crown Center, Hampshire College. Workshop: November 9, 12:00-3:00 pm, Prescott Tavern, Hampshire College
Nov 13 | People's Encyclopedia and Zine Making Workshop [FULL]
It has been 50 years since the historic Civil Rights and Liberation Movements of the 1960s and 1970s. In this workshop with Walidah Imarisha, participants will imagine themselves 55 years in the future, and engage in writing entries for the 2070 People’s Encyclopedia about current issues and events now, as a way of imagining how the world today can lead to the world we want. Space is limited and registration is required. Tickets will be available starting at 9:00 am on Monday, November 5. 3:30 - 5:30 pm, UMass Museum of Contemporary Art.
Nov 13 | All Organizing is Science Fiction
Educator, writer, public scholar and spoken word artist Walidah Imarisha will explore the history of sci-fi and social change, sharing tools for using science fiction as a practice ground for social justice strategizing and vision. Imarisha is co-author with adrienne maree brown of Octavia's Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements. 7:00 pm, Ballroom, UMass Student Union. Event Audio.
Nov 27 | Escaping Slavery, Envisioning Freedom
Distinguished historians Erica Armstrong Dunbar (Rutgers) and Barbara Krauthamer (UMass) will explore how enslaved and formerly enslaved African American women envisioned and experienced freedom. This is the capstone event of All Hamptons Read, a community-wide reading of Armstrong Dunbar's award-winning book, Never Caught. A FREE direct bus from UMass to the venue will leave from Haigis Mall at 6:15 pm and return at approximately 9:15 pm. Any remaining bus seats will be available on a first come, first served basis on the night of the event. 7:00 pm, First Churches, 129 Main St, Northampton, MA.
Feb 2 | Pa’lante: Building a Youth-led Transformative Justice Program from the Ground Up
A workshop with Pa'lante Restorative Justice, a youth-led transformative justice program at Holyoke High School that is working to build youth power and dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline. Geared toward K-12 educators and community-based organizations, participants will experience being in circle, learn about Pa’lante’s model, and apply ideas to their own setting. Full and half day options. Sliding scale suggested donation. Registration required. See link for details. 10:00 am, Holyoke High School, 500 Beech St, Holyoke, MA
March 2 | Beehive Design Collective: Mesoamérica Resiste! for Educators
The Beehive’s narrative graphics are used around the world to build collective, creative, and fun educational spaces where people of all ages can discuss complex issues like globalization, colonization, climate change, ecology, and social movement history. Come learn how you can use cartoons and interactive storytelling to present the big issues in an accessible and engaging way in any community or classroom. 10:00 am, Northampton Center for the Arts, 33 Hawley St, Northampton, MA
March 28 | Plug In: Building Other Worlds Where We Are, Capstone Event*
This year's Feinberg Series hosted visionary scholars and organizers from across the U.S. and globe. This capstone event is a participatory forum to "plug-in" and contribute to collective visions right here in western Massachusetts. This participatory forum will bring together students, scholars, community members, and local activists around various specific other-world-making projects. Come learn and collaborate with people in the region who are are building local cooperative economies, just food systems, community-driven education, and more. Hosted by the UMass Alliance for Community Transformation. 4:30-7:00 pm, Holyoke City Hall Ballroom, 536 Dwight St, Holyoke, MA. With FREE public buses from UMass to Holyoke. See link for details.
* Events marked with an asterisk were organized by partner organizations. The Feinberg Series is proud to incorporate these events into the 2018 Feinberg Series. See descriptions for more information about the presenting organizations.
University Courses
Five College students and the general public are invited to enroll in the UMass Department of History’s official Feinberg course, “New Approaches to History: Revolutionary Visions, Past and Present,” with Professor Kevin Young (History 200, HS GenEd). Additional university courses are connected to the series in various ways, including field trips to Feinberg events:
Fall 2018
- “Anthropology and Sociology 324: Protest!,” Amherst College, Nusrat Chowdhury and Hannah Holleman
- "Black Studies 131: Black Freedom Struggle," Amherst College, Alec Hickmott
- “Congnitive Science 1014: Cognitive Science Fiction,” Hampshire College, Lee Spector
- “History 114: China, Origins to 1600,” UMass Amherst, Sigrid Schmalzer
- “History 120: Colonial Latin America,” UMass Amherst, Heidi Scott
- "History 200: New Approaches to History: Revolutionary Visions, Past and Present," UMass Amherst, Kevin Young, Official Feinberg Series Course
- “History 263: Women and Gender in Latin America,” Smith College, Diana Sierra Becerra
- "History 316: History of the U.S.S.R," UMass Amherst, Audrey Altstadt
- “History 394CI: Ideas that Changed History,” UMass Amherst, Emily Redman
- "History 397RL: Rape Law: Race, Gender, (In)Justice," UMass Amherst, Jennifer Nye
- "History 397RR: History of Reproductive Rights Law," UMass Amherst, Jennifer Nye
- "History 450:01: Latin American Revolutions," UMass Amherst, Kevin Young
- “History 492Z: Zionism, Palestine, Israel,” UMass Amherst, Alon Confino
- “Latin American Studies 150: Introduction to Latin American Studies,” Smith College, Michelle Joffroy
- “Political Science 290B: American Political Ideologies,” UMass Amherst, Justin A. Gross
- "Public Health 499N: Honors Project, Public Policy and Citizen Action," UMass Amherst, Deborah Keisch
- “School of Public Policy 397M: Making/Difference: Soc. Change,” UMass Amherst, Elizabeth Schmidt
- “Service Learning 293H: Learning through Community Engagement,” UMass Amherst, Deborah Keisch
- “Spanish 260: Decolonizing Latin American Literature,” Smith College, Michelle Joffroy
Spring 2019
- “Anthropology 380: Grassroots Community Organizing,” UMass Amherst, Jen Sandler
- "History 397JL: Social Justice Lawyering," UMass Amherst, Jennifer Nye
- “Sociology and Environmental Studies 342: Socio-Ecological Visions and Victories,” Amherst College, Hannah Holleman
Offerings for K-12 Teachers and Students
K-12 educators and students are warmly welcome at all series events. Certificates of attendance will be provided and financial support may be available for school field trips.
Educators who wish to deepen their exploration of these issues are invited to participate in the associated series for teachers, Another World is Possible: Teaching for Liberation, which includes workshops by social justice educators Safire DeJong and Ousmane Power-Greene. PDPs and graduate credit available. Offered with the Collaborative for Educational Services. Registration information forthcoming.
Financial support is available on a first-come-first-served bases to support transportation for groups of young people to Feinberg Series events. Email @email to inquire about the availability of funds.
Transportation and Accessibility
Free public parking is available after 5:00 pm in most staff parking lots. Click the links for each event to find campus maps with venue locations and nearby free parking indicated. Click here for bus schedules. If you directions or additional assistance to plan your visit, please contact the History Department communications assistant, Adeline Broussan, at communications@umass.edu.
All UMass events are wheelchair accessible. Click here for more information about accessible parking on the UMass campus. We are working to make all events more accessible to all of our community members. If you have questions or would like to request specific accommodations, please contact @email.
Co-sponsors and Community Partners
Amherst College
Department of American Studies
Department of Anthropology and Sociology
Hampshire College
Ethics and the Common Good
Hampshire College Art Gallery
Mount Holyoke College
Department of English
Smith College
Department of English
Department of History
Latin American and Latino/a Studies Program
UMass Amherst
Anthropology Department
Center for Research on Families
Civic Engagement and Service Learning
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Commonwealth Honors College
Communications Department
English Department
Fine Arts Center (keynote)
Graduate School (keynote)
Institute for Holocaust, Memory and Genocide Studies
Institute for Social Science Research
James Baldwin Lecture, established by Allen Davis '68 (keynote)
Labor Center
Massachusetts Society of Professors
Office of Equity & Inclusion (keynote)
Office of the Provost (keynote)
Political Science Department
Public History Program
Prison Abolition Collective
Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies
Social Thought and Political Economy Program
Student Affairs and Campus Life (keynote)
Student Government Association
University Museum of Contemporary Art
Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies Department
W.E.B. Du Bois Department of Afro-American Studies
Community Organizations
All Hamptons Reads
Arise for Social Justice
Collaborative for Educational Services
David Ruggles Center
Great Falls Books Through Bars
Hampshire/Franklin Labor Council
Historians for Peace and Democracy
International Socialist Organization Western Mass
Massachusetts Peace Action
Northampton Committee to Stop the Wars
Out Now
Pa’lante Restorative Justice
Pioneer Valley Democratic Socialists of America
Pioneer Valley Workers Center
Racial Justice Rising
Resistance Center for Peace and Justice
Springfield No One Leaves
Western Mass Jobs with Justice
Western Mass Prison Abolition Network
Western Mass Showing Up for Racial Justice
Contact: @email