Martha Biondi
Martha Biondi is a professor of History and African American Studies at Northwestern University. She is author of a book, To Stand and Fight, on Black politics in New York after World War II. She has been active in the Reparations Movement and other progressive causes and issues[1].
Partner of James Thindwa.
"Support Bill Ayers"
In October 2008, several thousand college professors, students and academic staff signed a statement Support Bill Ayers in solidarity with former Weather Underground Organization terrorist Bill Ayers.
In the run up to the U.S. presidential elections, Ayers had come under considerable media scrutiny, sparked by his relationship to presidential candidate Barack Obama.
- We write to support our colleague Professor William Ayers, Distinguished Professor of Education and Senior University Scholar at the University of Illinois at Chicago, who is currently under determined and sustained political attack...
- We, the undersigned, stand on the side of education as an enterprise devoted to human inquiry, enlightenment, and liberation. We oppose the demonization of Professor William Ayers.
Martha Biondi of the Northwestern University signed the statement.[2]
In These Times
As of 2009 Martha Biondi was a member of the Editorial Board of Chicago based socialist journal In These Times.[3]
Ella's Daughters
In 2009 Martha Biondi was a member of Chicago based organization Ella's Daughters-A network of artists, scholars and writers working in the tradition of militant Civil rights activist Ella Baker[4].
- We are a loose network of women who respect and admire Baker’s legacy, and are either interested in or already engaged in work that represents a continuation of her democratic, egalitarian humanistic tradition. We do not want to reinvent the wheel or duplicate or compete in any way with existing efforts. An argument can be made that the potential for a renewed progressive movement already exists and is embedded in the local trench work of organizers like Ella Baker.
Prominent members include Bernardine Dohrn, Tracye Matthews, Camille Odeh and Barbara Ransby.
Left Forum 2011
Transforming Public Higher Education in NYC
- Dr. Basil Wilson—John Jay College, CUNY Graduate Center
- Jerry Watts—UNY Graduate Center, Institute for African Diaspora in America & the Caribbean (IRADAC)
- Martha Biondi—Northwestern University
- Noliwe Rooks—Princeton University, Center for African American Studies
- Rod Bush—St. John's University
- Ydanis Rodriguez—Chair of City Council's Higher Education Committee