Rod Bush

<p>Editor: Melanie E. L. Bush • Foreword: Robin D. G. Kelley <br />Co-editors: Rose M. Brewer Daniel Douglas Loretta Chin Robert Newby <br />Series Editor: Mohammad H. Tamdgidi</p><p>Roderick Douglas Bush (1945–2013) was a scholar educator mentor activist and a loving human being. In reflecting on his life well-lived the contributors in <em>Rod Bush: Lessons from a Radical Black Scholar on Liberation Love and Justice</em>share insightful lessons from his life and works on how to effect liberation and radical social transformation in the everyday practices of scholarship teaching activism and personal interaction through a loving spirit dedicated to social justice. Rod Bush was deeply convinced that “Pan-European racism is the Achilles’ heel of the modern world-system and the demographic situation of the United States with its large strategically located populations of color is a key locus of struggle for a more just democratic and egalitarian world order.” This book shows by the example of Rod Bush how one can “be the change”—through a commitment to everyday practices and personal transformations that embody enable embrace and engage global social change.</p><p>This anthology provides deep reflections on the question of how one can live radical principles in contemporary times. What does it mean to be human? How does one embed love and justice in one’s worldview and daily practice? Rod Bush partner colleague teacher mentor comrade and friend was well known as an activist scholar who incorporated his values into his teaching mentorship and everyday interactions. Therefore his theoretical interests and practical involvements in movements are intimately linked and simultaneous.</p><p>In his foreword Robin D. G. Kelley shares his intimate views of Rod Bush’s life and works. In his view Rod’s “commitment to study and struggle in the service of human liberation knew no boundaries. His vision was planetary. He wrote critically and brilliantly about Black radical movements—here and abroad—and about the destructive power of racism colonialism capitalism (the modern world-system) all with the goal of transforming a society based on exploitation subjugation and war into a society rooted in mutual benefit life and love.”</p><p>At a historical moment when the political landscape is fraught with volatility and the Movement for Black Lives and other struggles for dignity and justice gain increasing momentum Rod’s life serves as an example providing many lessons that we can draw from and practice ourselves. Rod consistently asserted that it is critical to recognize the historical leadership of those involved in struggles for Black Liberation and justice writ large. For a vision for Black Lives is indeed a vision that benefits all humanity.</p><p>The anthology is edited by Melanie E. L. Bush and co-edited by Rose M. Brewer Daniel Douglas Loretta Chin and Robert Newby. Contributors include: Robin D. G. Kelley (Foreword) Angelo Taiwo Bush Chriss Sneed Daniel Douglas Godfrey Vincent Matthew Birkhold Loretta Chin Latoya A. Lee Tatiana Chichester A. Kia Sinclair Mojúbàolú Olufúnké Okome Natalie P. Byfield Komozi Woodard Bob Barber Rodney D. Coates Charles “Cappy” Pinderhughes Jr. James V. Fenelon Walda Katz-Fishman Jerome Scott Rose M. Brewer Robert Newby Roderick D. Bush and Melanie E. L. Bush. The anthology is a volume (XII 2019) in the Edited Collection Series of Human Architecture: Journal of the Sociology of Self-Knowledge edited by Mohammad H. Tamdgidi.</p>