Featured Archives - The Future in the Present

CUNY START Talk

March 31, 2021 Leave a Comment

I’d like to begin by thanking Mia Simon for inviting me to talk with you this morning. I’m glad to be here. There are a number of familiar faces in the room and I’m happy to be back among them. My periodic returns to CUNY are almost always opportunities to recall how many interesting things […]

An Argument for Literacy

March 25, 2021 Leave a Comment

I’d like to briefly summarize my thinking about literacy as a large issue and then turn to some thoughts about reading and writing within academic contexts and close with some suggestions regarding the implications for instruction. With opportunities to participate in a literate community and to engage in literate activities, most individuals are likely to […]

Adventures in Cruiseland

February 20, 2020 Leave a Comment

Cruise ships are big—the ships are incredibly large and the number of worldwide passengers grows steadily. Many of the big ships are four football fields long, a half football field wide and almost a football field high (imagine the field standing upright on an end zone). Estimates for 2019 are that 20 million people went […]

I have been a political activist for more than fifty years. Soon after college, I began driving a taxi in New York City and became an active member of the Taxi Rank and File Coalition. That experience profoundly shaped my views and I remain friends with many of my taxi comrades.

In 1978, I stopped driving and entered into education work–which I then did for more than thirty years–almost all of it at the City University of New York. That also profoundly shaped my views.

At the same time, I continued my political activities–most importantly as an editor of Race Traitor, an editor of Insurgent Notes and part of the editorial group of Hard Crackers.

The writings collected here reflect all those experiences. My intention is to regularly post new things that I’ve written.

However you found your way here, I hope that you find something of value. I would really like hearing from you about your thoughts and reactions. Write me here.