Radicals in America

Radicals in America is a masterful history of controversial dissenters who pursued greater equality, freedom and democracy - and transformed the nation. Written with clarity and verve, Radicals in America shows how radical leftists, while often marginal or ostracized, could assume a catalytic role as effective organizers in mass movements, fostering the imagination of alternative futures. Beginning with the Second World War, Radicals in America extends all the way down to the present, making it the first comprehensive history of radicalism to reach beyond the sixties. From the Communist Party and the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, its coverage extends to the Battle of Seattle and Occupy Wall Street. Each chapter begins with a particular life story, including a Harlem woman deported in the McCarthy era, a gay Japanese-American opponent of the Vietnam War, and a Native American environmentalist, vignettes that bring to life the personal within the political. 'The true history of radicalism over the past fifty years is often lost and never found, or distorted, smeared, or colored by old sectarian feuds. Brick and Phelps have connected the past to the present in ways that are accessible, understandable, and without grudge or judgment. An excellent work.' Tom Hayden 'This is a remarkable book, undoubtedly the most comprehensive and synthetic history of the post-World War II American left we have or are likely to get at any time in the near future.' Nelson Lichtenstein, author, State of the Union 'In a time of ever-expanding inequalities and hard-hearted policies, Radicals in America helps preserve the visionary yeast for a better America. This fascinating book gives us a thorough, succinct, and clear-headed history of America's ongoing radical hopes.' Timothy B. Tyson, author, Blood Done Sign My Name 'With vigorous narrative and analytic rigor, this inspiring and clear-eyed account of American radicalism brings women's activism and feminist politics from margin to center, beautifully exploring how different radical movements learned from and built on one another.' Johanna Brenner, author, Women and the Politics of Class 'Howard Brick and Christopher Phelps have produced a wealth of knowledge on the American left, dissecting its history in the last seven decades. There is no other work on the American left so sweeping and comprehensive in its coverage of the radical tradition deeply rooted in the fabric of America. Radicals in America is a must-read for anyone interested in American history and its diverse politics.' Aldon D. Morris, author, Origins of the Civil Rights MovementIntroduction: margin and mainstream; 1. War and peace, 1939-1948; 2. All over this land, 1949-1959; 3. A new left, 1960-1964; 4. The revolution will be live, 1965-1973; 5. Anticipation, 1973-1980; 6. Over the rainbow, 1980-1989; 7. What democracy looks like, 1990 to the present; Conclusion: radicalism's future.