Category Archives: politics

June 2, 2017

200 Years of Illinois: Get your same-sex marriage license

Posted by rkcunningham
in gay/lesbian, Illinois / regional, law, politics | Tagged , | Comments Off on 200 Years of Illinois: Get your same-sex marriage license

We’re a day late with this bit of recognition, but here goes. On June 1, 2014, a same sex marriage law passed the previous fall went into effect across the state of Illinois. Passed over opposition and claims it violated … Continue reading →

May 16, 2017

Harry Edwards on fighting for black athletes and coaches, whether they like it or not

Posted by rkcunningham
in African American Studies, Olympic history, politics, sports history | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Harry Edwards on fighting for black athletes and coaches, whether they like it or not

An excerpt from the new introduction to The Revolt of the Black Athlete: 50th Anniversary Edition, by Harry Edwards. I believe that over the last fifty years, the facts, the relationships, and the conclusions drawn from them as portrayed in the … Continue reading →

May 11, 2017

Backlist Bop: John Lennon knows politics ain’t easy

Posted by rkcunningham
in american history, music, politics, radical studies | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Backlist Bop: John Lennon knows politics ain’t easy

As the tumultuous late Sixties and early Seventies retreat into history, the zeitgeist is steadily sanding the many rough edges off John Lennon in order to enjoy his music without all the bummer stuff. But Lennon in his own time … Continue reading →

April 26, 2017

200 Years of Illinois: John B. Anderson Versus the World

Posted by rkcunningham
in american history, Illinois / regional, politics | Tagged , , | Comments Off on 200 Years of Illinois: John B. Anderson Versus the World

On April 25, 1980, longtime Rockford congressman and powerful House leader John B. Anderson launched his independent campaign for the presidency.  Today, April 26, marks the anniversary of his first full day out on the stump. Unlike most people who run … Continue reading →

April 19, 2017

Dick Simpson on Against the Current

Posted by michael
in author commentary, authors, Illinois / regional, interviews, politics, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Dick Simpson on Against the Current

Dick Simpson, co-author of Corrupt Illinois: Patronage, Cronyism, and Criminality, recently sat down with Dan Proft on the latest edition of Against the Current to talk about the history of Chicago politics and the reforms the city needs. Check out … Continue reading →

February 27, 2017

Jose Angel N. on undocumented immigrants and negative growth

Posted by rkcunningham
in biography, immigration, politics | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Jose Angel N. on undocumented immigrants and negative growth

Today at The Point, José Ángel N. contributes an essay drawing on his experiences as an undocumented immigrant to ponder American progress, the idea of home, and today’s fraught immigration atmosphere. When I am invited to share my experience as … Continue reading →

January 25, 2017

Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four, and political words

Posted by rkcunningham
in biography, literary studies, politics | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four, and political words

Excerpted from Orwell: Life and Art, by Jeffrey Meyers. The chapter deals with George Orwell’s novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. The past is one of the dominant themes of the novel. The Party confidently believes: “Who controls the past controls the future: who controls … Continue reading →

January 13, 2017

UIP authors around the Internet

Posted by rkcunningham
in american history, author commentary, authors, labor history, politics, sports history | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on UIP authors around the Internet

A roundup of recent media activity by Press authors: Michael J. Socolow , author of Six Minutes in Berlin, contributed to an in-depth Only a Game piece on pioneering sportswriter Ted Husing and his secret effort at helping a Jewish family … Continue reading →

January 3, 2017

Release Party: Neoliberal Chicago, edited by Larry Bennett, Roberta Garner, and Euan Hague

Posted by rkcunningham
in Chicago, politics | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Release Party: Neoliberal Chicago, edited by Larry Bennett, Roberta Garner, and Euan Hague

The neoliberal philosophy of fiscal austerity aligned with reduced economic regulation has transformed Chicago. As pursued by mayor Rahm Emanuel and his predecessor Richard M. Daley, neoliberal thinking has led officials to gut regulations and social services, privatize everything from … Continue reading →

December 15, 2016

Corrupt Illinois strikes again!

Posted by rkcunningham
in Chicago, politics | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Corrupt Illinois strikes again!

Chicago alderman Willie Cochran received news of his impending federal indictment on corruption charges while attending a City Council meeting. You can’t say he skips out on work. You can say that the government is taking an interest in making … Continue reading →