Critical Race and Political Economy
Students and faculty listened intently as Lee Medovoi discussed his forthcoming book “The Inner Life of Race: Souls, Bodies, and the History of Racial Power.” Medovoi, professor of English and vice chair of the graduate program in social, cultural and critical theory at the University of Arizona, visited Mount Holyoke College on Wednesday, Feb. 21, to give a lecture titled ‘Racial Capitalism, Civil Society & Police Power.’
As a part of Building On Our Momentum Community Day, on March 28, 2023, Gaye Theresa Johnson gave the inaugural lecture for the critical race and political economy department. Johnson is the author of multiple books and an associate professor at UCLA, teaching courses in the departments of African American studies and Chicana/o studies. She specializes in topics of cultural history, spatial politics, race, racism and political economy.
On Tuesday, March 29, 74 Mount Holyoke community members gathered on Zoom to hear multiple professors discuss the creation of a new department and the future of the Africana Studies, Critical Social Thought and Latinx studies departments. Led by Class of 1929 Dr. Virginia Apgar Assistant Professor of Latina/o Studies Vanessa Rosa and Iyko Day, Elizabeth C. Small associate professor of English and chair of Critical Social Thought and Gender Studies, the event was held during the College’s annual Building On Our Momentum Conference. Faculty members joined Rosa and Day, having all worked towards the formation of this department for around six years.
