Call for Contributors for September 2017 Issue on “Poverty”

The Activist History Review invites proposals for articles that address the theme of “poverty” to be featured in the September issue.

U.S. cultural norms have long justified the striking inequities of American capitalism as the result of differing individual work ethics, determination, and chutzpah. When future historians write the history of 2017, we hope that one of its defining characteristics will be a rejection of poverty as normative. Tax cuts that disproportionately benefit the wealthy have been the defining feature of the Republican legislative agenda under President Trump. And while voters may flock to embrace what they see as “austerity for others,” blaming poor folk for their plight, the number of people involved means that most of us can only escape the problem for so long. Indeed, this is a key reason why GOP efforts to repeal the ACA have been so difficult. Most Americans realize that repeal would leave them significantly worse off.

Today, we see poverty illustrated in a variety of ways. Sometimes it’s through the euphemistic “working class” Trump voter, the “undeserving” fast-food worker, the “lazy” SNAP beneficiary, or the “thug.” We’re taught to see poverty as individual, except for the (white) “working class,” and as the result of personal failure.

Yet American poverty in the 21st century is entangled with race, class, sex, gender and age. It is at once the Appalachian Trump voter and the families in Flint; the millennial coping with student debt and the retiree with dwindling Social Security benefits. TAHR seeks essays that examine the historical roots of these expressions of poverty.

Proposals should be no more than 250 words for articles from 1250-2000 words, and should be emailed to William Horne by Friday, August 18th at 11:59 PM. Please also include a short bio of no more than 100 words.

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Our collected volume of essays, Demand the Impossible: Essays in History As Activism, is now available on Amazon! Based on research first featured on The Activist History Review, the twelve essays in this volume examine the role of history in shaping ongoing debates over monuments, racism, clean energy, health care, poverty, and the Democratic Party. Together they show the ways that the issues of today are historical expressions of power that continue to shape the present. Also, be sure to review our book on Goodreads and join our Goodreads group to receive notifications about upcoming promotions and book discussions for Demand the Impossible!