12:00 PM Pacific Time: Mondays - Wednesdays
Acclaimed program of ideas, in-depth analysis, and commentary on a variety of matters—political, economic, social, and cultural—important to progressive and radical thinking and activism. Against the Grain is co-produced and co-hosted by Sasha Lilley and C. S. Soong.
Are we, as a species, at war with nature? We might think so, given the ways that our planet has been ecologically ravaged. But has it always been that way? Have we, since at least the dawn of settled agriculture, destroyed the natural world around us? Scholar James McGregor argues that the history of our … Continued
According to Theodore Brown, proletarian internationalism converged with social medicine in the early twentieth century; what emerged, he asserts, was a “health internationalism” rooted in the belief that factors shaping health are embedded in the social and political order. Brown’s narrative encompasses the efforts of iconic radicals like Marx and Engels as well as the … Continued
Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy have been recent reminders of the power of massive storms to not only inundate cities and change landscapes, but to reshape or reinforce existing class and racial divisions. Historian Stuart Schwartz reflects on five centuries of hurricanes and conflict in the greater Caribbean, including the Southern United States. For more … Continued
In Michael O’Hare‘s view, art museums should focus on one goal: putting more people, more effectively, in front of more art. O’Hare thinks admission should be free; educational programs should be expanded; and museums should display more of their art (most of which is held in storage). He also proposes a way to pay for … Continued
Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers may seem synonymous. The charismatic leader headed up the union through strikes and boycotts that garnered nationwide attention and made him a labor icon. Former farm worker Frank Bardacke argues, however, that the history of the UFW needs to be understood from the bottom up. He reveals the … Continued
Why do men commit rape, child sexual abuse, and other sex crimes? Does the answer lie in the way males are brought up, in the traits they’re encouraged and expected to develop? Alissa Ackerman contends that while certain aspects of masculinities — the socially constructed ways in which men perform their manhood — can be factors … Continued
Young men of color who are or aspire to be rap artists have long been targeted by police departments and the FBI. The lyrics they write are often viewed not as artistic expression but as evidence of a criminal disposition or even as confessions of wrongdoing. Charis Kubrin puts the growing use of rap lyrics … Continued
Iconoclastic comedian, talented actor, and gifted writer Richard Pryor pushed the boundaries of popular culture at a pivotal moment, laying bare uncomfortable truths about race and injustice in America. Scott Saul reflects on the comedian’s formative years in a segregated country and the fluorescence of his art during a time of urban unrest, Black Power, … Continued
Getting rich off of global warming may seem like the ultimate cynical business plan. But corporations are hedging their bets on unchecked climate change and the opportunities it affords. Journalist McKenzie Funk reports about the very lucrative business to be made from the deleterious effects of climate change, from opened shipping lanes in the melting Arctic … Continued
According to Michel Feher, neoliberal policies have turned individuals, corporations, and states into credit-seeking asset managers. Those people deemed asset-less (whom Feher calls “discredited”) are being disposed of, in four distinct ways, in Europe. Feher spoke about the neoliberal condition at a conference in Berkeley earlier this year. For more details and higher-quality audio, visit … Continued
