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by J. Z. Bennett (Editor), Christy McGuire (Editor), Lori Delale-O'Connor (Editor)
The largest urban center in Appalachia, Pittsburgh has long been a hub of Black freedom work. It has also been an enduring center of carcerality in the United States. Local experiences reflect a strong tradition of resisting systemic antiblackness, state and corporate divestment, repression, and broader carceral forces and highlight Pittsburgh's record of labor radicalism, environmental activism, and community educational efforts.
Black Freedom Struggle in Urban Appalachia explores the interplay of creative self-determination, intellectual insurgency, and political education in Pittsburgh. This collection gathers dynamic artists, thinkers, and organizers, all contributing unique perspectives through essays, poems, scholarly chapters, interviews, and imagery. Positioning Pittsburgh as a pivotal space within the region while proposing an anti-carceral framework for understanding education, the anthology examines how people live the struggle for freedom and broadens discussions about the prison-industrial complex, labor, and place in Appalachia--sparking questions motivated by a shared commitment to liberation.
By fostering dialogue among contributors and elevating diverse forms of analysis, Black Freedom Struggle in Urban Appalachia offers a valuable resource for educators, students, creatives, activists, policymakers, and communities alike, encouraging us all to forge stronger connections and continue the fight for a free world.
Author Biography
J. Z. Bennett is assistant professor at the University of Cincinnati. Christy L. McGuire is a Pittsburgh-based independent scholar. Lori Delale-O'Connor is associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh. T. Elon Dancy II is professor at the University of Pittsburgh. Sabina Vaught is professor at the University of Pittsburgh.
