News News Copy link A message from Director Terrion Williamson Thursday, September 10, 2026 This fall, I have the enormous privilege and responsibility of becoming just the second director in the history of the Social Justice Initiative at UIC. A letter from SJI's founding director, Dr. Barbara Ransby, on SJI's leadership transition Friday, September 4, 2026 It has been a privilege and a pleasure to serve as the founding director of UIC’s Social Justice Initiative for the past fourteen years. It was bittersweet to step down from this role on August 15th, but what I feel most profoundly is gratitude. Looking back at It's On Us: A Day of Art and Action Thursday, September 3, 2026 On June 13, 2026, the Social Justice Initiative collaborated with Jamila Woods, Maria Gaspar, Taína Asili, Damon A. Williams, and Kristiana Rae Colón to bring you It’s On Us: A Day of Art… News Copy link SJI Director becomes university’s first MacArthur chair Saturday, August 1, 2020 University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Professor Barbara Ransby has been named a John D. MacArthur Endowed Chair, University of Illinois System President Tim Killeen announced Thursday. Ransby is a professor of History,… Class Struggle in the 21st century Tuesday, July 7, 2020 [Originally Published on the Nation] By Barbara Ransby We are seeing one of the largest uprisings in US history, and Black leftist organizers and Black working-class people are leading it. The video of… ANNOUNCEMENT: The Inaugural Exhibition at the Chicago Justice Gallery Thursday, September 10, 2020 Media Contact: Essence McDowell, Associate Director, essence1@uic.edu FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Belonging: Power, Place, and (Im)Possibilities: The inaugural exhibition at the Chicago Justice Gallery presented by the Social Justice Initiative featuring the work of… SJI Director elected to Society of American Historians Saturday, June 13, 2020 SJI director, historian and author Dr. Barbara Ransby, is one of 20 scholars welcomed as newly elected fellows of the Society of American Historians. Video: Barbara Ransby on the Biden Problem and Social Movements Tuesday, July 7, 2020 Amid a mass uprising against racism and state violence, social movements are not just fighting hostility and backlash from President Trump, but also dealing with a “Biden problem,” according to historian, author and… Barbara Ransby writes “How Biden Can Support Black America” in the Nation Monday, January 4, 2021 On November 7, in his first speech as president-elect, Joe Biden promised Black America that he would have our backs. But which Black America is he pledging to support? Having our backs does…
