Wednesday, February 5, 2025

City Time Back in Urban Matters

Another excerpt from City Time has appeared in Urban Matters. Check it out here!

Monday, February 3, 2025

City Time on Pod Damn America

David and I had a great time on Pod Damn America discussing City Time. Check out the episode here!
 

Thursday, January 23, 2025

The Old Mole

The Lake Effect Collective has made a cool zine out of a piece of writing I first circulated in late 2014 on the Ferguson rebellion and emergent Black Lives Matter movement, called "The Old Mole Breaks Concrete." Check it out here!

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

City Time on the Antifada

David Campbell and I appeared on the Antifada podcast to discuss our book City Time. The episode is here. Subscribe to their Patreon for bonus content, including an additional episode of material from our interview. 

Sunday, January 19, 2025

City Time in the New York Post

City Time received a two-page spread in today's New York Post. It can be read online here, and like everything in that newspaper, ought to be taken with a grain of salt.

Thursday, January 16, 2025

City Time in Urban Matters

A new excerpt of City Time is available now at the Center for New York City Affairs' publication Urban Matters. Check it out here!

Tuesday, January 7, 2025

City Time Release and Tour

City Time is out today on NYU Press. You can buy a copy here.

Here is some advance praise for the book:

"A riveting portrayal of everyday life at the jail. The authors’ unhurried cataloging of seemingly endless quotidian deprivations fascinates. Readers will be rapt."  
-Publishers Weekly, STARRED
 
"Engrossing, intimate... [Campbell and Shanahan] are deft and balanced collaborators, writing with academic rigor, as well as humor and compassion." 
-Kirkus Reviews
 
"David Campbell and Jarrod Shanahan offer an up-close study of the banality and brutality of short-term incarceration at Rikers Island. Their methodical analysis of the relationships, routines, economies, and architectures of the infamous jail is punctuated by vibrant and evocative insights into the sensory experience of incarceration – the smells, sights, sounds and tastes of the quotidian depravities, degradations, frictions, and resistances that marked their 'city time.'"
-Judah Schept, co-editor of The Jail is Everywhere: Fighting the New Geography of Mass Incarceration
 
"As the notorious Rikers Island is on the verge of closing, City Time provides a timely and invaluable archive written by two men who have experienced its everyday life from inside. This exceptional document, which unveils the meaninglessness of short-stay imprisonment, is a must-read for anyone who wants to reflect on carceral punishment." 
-Didier Fassin, author of Prison Worlds. An Ethnography of the Carceral Condition

To celebrate, co-author David Campbell and I will be appearing at the following book events later this month. Hope to see you there!

January 14
Center For Brooklyn History 
128 Pierrepont Street, Brooklyn
6:30pm

January 15
The Wooden Shoe
704 South St, Philadelphia
7pm

January 16
Red Emma's
3128 Greenmount Ave, Baltimore
7pm

January 17
Small Friend Records & Books
1 N. Lombardy St., Richmond
7pm

January 19
Woodbine
585 Woodward Ave, Ridgewood
4pm (note the early time)

January 20
Tiny Raccoon Books
277 Railroad Ave, Sayville, NY
7pm

January 21
Loyola University (Lakeshore)
6430 N. Kenmore Ave, Chicago
Cuneo Hall, Room 109
6pm

January 22
Governors State University
1 University Parkway, University Park, IL
Social Justice Building
4pm

Friday, January 3, 2025

City Time in Hellgate and Gothamist

Today City Time was featured in Hellgate, in an excerpt available here (hop the paywall here), and Gothamist, where our upcoming event at the Center for Brooklyn History was listed as one of the "11 Totally Free Things to Do in NYC This January." Thanks!
 

Sunday, December 1, 2024

Locked Together

The first published excerpt from City Time is now available at Ill Will. Check it out here!


Sunday, November 24, 2024

City Time in Kirkus Reviews

My and David Campbell's forthcoming book City Time has received a thoughtful review in Kirkus Reviews. Check it out here, and look out for the book in January! We will be announcing a mid-January book tour shortly.

Monday, November 4, 2024

Triumph of the Swill

On Friday I watched Donald Trump simulate the act of fellatio in a packed basketball stadium in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and wrote an essay for Hard Crackers reflecting on the enduring strangeness of MAGA and what it can teach us about American society. Read it here.

Tuesday, October 1, 2024

City Time in Publisher's Weekly

Very excited that my and David Campbell's forthcoming book City Time (NYU Press, 2025) has received a starred review in Publisher's Weekly. Check it out here, and look out for the book in January!

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

NYC Event 9/20: Opposing Carceral Design

I am honored to have been invited to participate in the Borough Based Liberation project, a month of programming against the skyscraper jails in NYC. 

On Friday, September 20, I will appear on the panel "Opposing Carceral Design," alongside Tomie Arai (Chinatown Art Brigade), Mei Lum (W.O.W. Project), and the indefatigable abolitionist researcher Mon Mohapatra. 

The event is at 6pm, at 127 Walker Street in Chinatown. Tickets are free and can be found here

Hope to see you there!


Thursday, September 12, 2024

Three Way Fight Reviewed in Fightback

The Australian publication Fightback has published a highly engaging review of Three Way Fight (Kersplebedeb and PM Press, 2024), the recent edited anthology in which Zhana and I appear. Part one can be read here, part two here.

Saturday, August 3, 2024

Three Way Fight at Pilsen Community Books

I'm excited to be celebrating the release of Three Way Fight: Revolutionary Politics and Antifascism at Pilsen Community Books, at 6pm on August 10th. 

Zhana and I will appear alongside editor Xtn Alexander, fellow contributor Michael Staudenmaier, and local eccentric Liz Simmons. More info can be found here

Always support PCB, and see you there!


Monday, July 1, 2024

The Future Belongs to the Mad

To mark the release of George Miller's Furiosa, I have an essay on the history and enduring cultural significance of the Mad Max franchise. Read it now at Hard Crackers.

Monday, June 3, 2024

Three Way Fight Book Out Now

I am honored that a dialogue Zhana and I held with critic Tobi Haslett has appeared, alongside dozens of indispensable entries, in the anthology Three Way Fight: Revolutionary Politics and Anti-Fascism (Kersplebedeb and PM Press, 2024). Pick up a copy here, and support Three Way Fight!

Sunday, May 19, 2024

The Horror of Police at Red May

Red May is here again! On Friday, May 24th, Zhana and I will be in dialogue with police scholar Travis Linnemann, discussing his books Meth Wars and The Horror of Police, at 4pm PDT.

You can watch our discussion, live or later, at this link.

Viva Red May!

Thursday, April 25, 2024

The Jail is Everywhere

I have a review of the new essay collection The Jail is Everywhere (Verso, 2024) in the Nation. Check it out here!
 

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Loren Goldner Presente!

To mark the recent passing of the great theoretician and political mentor Loren Goldner, I appeared on the Antifada podcast along with some of Loren's longtime comrades and friends to reflect on his life and legacy. Click here to listen.
 

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Berlin as a Community Space vs. Berlin as a Business

After the beloved Chicago queer nightclub Berlin closed late last year, I sat down with a lead organizer in the club workers' union, which was being unfairly blamed for Berlin's demise. 

Read our discussion now on Hard Crackers: Chronicles of Everyday Life, and say no to pink-washed union busting!

Monday, February 19, 2024

Eric Adams' New York

On the evening of Thursday, February 22nd I will be appearing on the plenary panel of NYC DSA's 2024 organizing conference, entitled "Eric Adams' New York." Register for the conference here for the location. Hope to see you there!

Monday, January 22, 2024

On the Cosmonaut Podcast

I had a great time speaking about Captives and related history with Isaac and Jack on the Cosmonaut podcast. Thanks to them for having me! Check it out here.

Friday, January 12, 2024

The Undertow

I have a review of Jeff Sharlet's The Undertow (Norton, 2023) up now at Three Way Fight. Check out the review here, and preorder the excellent Three Way Fight book here!

Thursday, January 11, 2024

Tip of the Spear

I have a review of Orisanmi Burton's excellent new book Tip of the Spear (University of California Press, 2023) in the Los Angeles Review of Books. Check it out here.

Saturday, December 30, 2023

Captives Reviewed in Journal of Urban History

The historian Aaron Bekemeyer has written an excellent review of Captives alongside Stuart Schrader's indispensable Badges without Borders (University of California Press, 2019), for the Journal of Urban History. It can be read here. Thanks to the author for his time and attention.

Saturday, November 18, 2023

Stop Cop City on Under the Tree

Thanks to everyone who made the Stop Cop City benefit at Pilsen Community Books a big success! We raised roughly $2,500 for the RICO defendants. 

A recording of this memorable night, featuring me, Zhana, and a bunch of other great comrades, is now available on the podcast Under the Tree with Bill Ayers

It can be heard here.

Monday, November 6, 2023

George Floyd Uprising in Los Angeles Review of Books

The writer Jamie Peck has penned an excellent review of The George Floyd Uprising (PM Press, 2023), an edited anthology in which Zhana and I appear, for the Los Angeles Review of Books. Thanks to the author for her attention and generosity.

Check out the review here

This essential volume can be purchased here.

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Stop Cop City

On Sunday, November 12th, I will join a stacked lineup of authors and activists to raise money the people facing RICO charges for their righteous fight against Cop City in Atlanta. This reading will be held at Pilsen Community Books in Chicago. 

For more information, or to register to attend this event online, click here.

 

Wednesday, October 4, 2023

Iowa Bluffs

I have a new essay reflecting on settler colonialism, financialization, and the enduring appeal of Trumpism, based on attending a Trump rally in the Mississippi River redevelopment haven of Dubuque, Iowa. Read it now in Hard Crackers: Chronicles of Everyday Life.

Saturday, September 30, 2023

A Brilliant Red Thread at Pilsen Community Books

On Wednesday, October 11th at 7pm, Zhana and I will be appearing at our favorite bookstore, Pilsen Community Books, to discuss Don Hamerquist's excellent new essay collection A Brilliant Red Thread. For more on this book, check out my recent review in the Los Angeles Review of Books.

We will screen a short video from Don and lead a discussion of the book and its many lessons. Hope to see you there!

This event will also be live-streamed by our comrades at the Michigan General Defense Committee, but advance registration is required. Please click here to register.


Thursday, August 31, 2023

Midwest World History Association Conference

I am honored to be giving the keynote address at the annual conference of the Midwest World History Association, entitled "Outcasts, Pariahs, Criminals: Histories of Others and Othering," at Roosevelt University in Chicago on Friday, September 22nd. I will discuss the historical context of two recent works, Captives and States of Incarceration. 

I will also appear on a Saturday panel with my friends Abby Cunniff and Troy Brundidge, discussing our research in progress on the US prison and policing systems. For more information, check out the conference page here.


 

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

Organizing Against Capitalism 2023

Zhana and I are thrilled to be appearing at the Organizing Against Capitalism conference in Ypsilanti, Michigan later this month. We will discuss our book States of Incarceration, and the present moment.

Check out all the information on the conference here. Thanks to the Michigan General Defense Committee for inviting us, and hope to see you there!
 

Friday, June 30, 2023

The George Floyd Uprising Reviewed in Inquest

The author David Campbell has penned an excellent review of PM Press's George Floyd Uprising book, featuring me and Zhana alongside some great essays on 2020. Check it out here, in the publication Inquest.

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Treason to Whiteness Reviewed in Labour / Le Travail

The scholars Dylan Davis and Patrick King have penned an extraordinary review of Treason to Whiteness is Loyalty to Humanity, the Noel Ignatiev reader I edited with Zhana and Geert, for the Spring issue of the journal Labour / Le Trevail. It is behind a paywall, but can be read here. Many thanks to the authors.

Thursday, May 25, 2023

Interview in ArtSci

I was honored to be interviewed about States of Incarceration by the journalist Clair Naylor in ArtSci, the student publication of the college of Arts and Sciences at Governors State University. The issue is available here. Check it out!

Tuesday, May 23, 2023

It's Going Down

It's going down. A full recording of Zhana and my talk in Portland earlier this month is featured on this week's episode of the IGDcast. Check out the episode here. And support IGD!

Sunday, May 21, 2023

Captives Reviewed in Theoretical Criminology

The scholar Angélica Camacho has written an excellent review of Captives for the journal Theoretical Criminlogy. It is paywalled but can be read here. Many thanks to the author for such a thorough and generous review.

Friday, May 12, 2023

A Brilliant Red Thread

I have reviewed the indispensable collection of essays by Don Hamerquist, A Brilliant Red Thread (Kersplebedeb, 2023) for the Los Angeles Review of Books. Check out the review here. And be sure to pick up a copy of the book here.


Thursday, May 11, 2023

Red May 2023

As part of our Pacific Northwest tour, Zhana and I had the honor of appearing at the opening event for Seattle's Red May 2023! We had a great time, met some cool people, and learned a lot. 

Video of this event is now available here courtesy of Red May. Be sure to check out all their other excellent programming here.

Thanks to Red May and all the comrades in the PNW for having us. 

Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Coming to the Pacific Northwest

In early May, Zhana and I will be traveling through the Pacific Northwest to promote States of Incarceration. Details are as follows:

May 5th: University of Washington, Smith Hall, Room 204, Seattle, 4pm.

May 6th: Pipsqueak, 173 16th Avenue, Seattle, 4:30pm.

May 8th: Lamplighters, 211 4th Ave E, Olympia, 6pm. 

May 10: Alder Commons, 4241 NE Prescott St, Portland 6pm.

Thanks to Sean at Red May and Lucas from Chicago for setting this up.

Friday, April 14, 2023

ON STRIKE

I am proud to have spent the last four days on strike, along with hundreds of my UPI 4100 union siblings at Governors State University, fighting against austerity in higher education. We have joined two other striking Illinois State universities: Chicago State and Northeastern Illinois. For more information about this unique moment, follow our Twitter page.
 
4/18 update: After seven days out, we have reached a tentative agreement. It's a start. More importantly, this was one of the most substantive and rewarding political experiences of my life, and the lives of many co-workers... and our workplace will never be the same!

Thursday, March 30, 2023

Mass Incarceration on the Cheap

The publication Inquest has run an excerpt from my and Zhana's States of Incarceration. You can read it here.

Be sure to check out Inquest, and pick up a copy of States of Incarceration here.
 

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Under the Mask of Philanthropy

For the April issue of the Brooklyn Rail's Field Notes section, I interviewed the activist-scholar Michael Barker about his work on the role of liberal philanthropic foundations in capitalist society. Check it out here

Thanks to Michael Barker and, as always, the excellent Brooklyn Rail!

Friday, March 17, 2023

Captives Wins New York City Book Award

I am very excited to announce that Captives has won a 2022-2023 New York City Book Award, alongside four other excellent titles. Read more here. Thanks to the New York Society Library for this honor.

 

Wednesday, March 1, 2023

Treason to Whiteness Reviewed in the Brooklyn Rail

The scholar John Clegg has penned an in-depth review of Treason to Whiteness is Loyalty to Humanity, the Noel Ignatiev reader I edited with Zhana and Geert, for the Brooklyn Rail

Check it out here, and never miss an issue of the Brooklyn Rail.

Monday, February 27, 2023

Responding to Police Violence

On Tuesday, March 7th at 8pm EST, I will discuss States of Incarceration and related work at an online event called "We Protect Us: Responding to Police Violence" hosted by the Abolition Working Group of the Democratic Socialists of America.

Advanced registration is required to attend. Click here to sign up!

Thursday, February 16, 2023

On the Majority Report

Earlier today, Zhana and I appeared on an episode of The Majority Report to discuss States of Incarceration. Check out the episode here.

Thanks to Emma and the rest of the MR crew for having us!

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Captives Reviewed in Vital City

The career prison reformer Martha King has penned an in-depth review of Captives for the publication Vital City. It can be read here.

Many thanks to the author for reading with an open mind, and for the honest admission that, thanks to the proponents of new "borough-based jails," we now face the "strong likelihood that, rather than closing Rikers and opening four borough jails, New York City will have an expanded jail system that includes Rikers."

Monday, February 13, 2023

Captives Reviewed in Crime, Media, Culture

The scholar Jane Komori has penned an excellent review of Captives for the journal Crime, Media, Culture. It can be read without a paywall here.

Many thanks to the author for such a generous and sophisticated treatment.