Robin D.G. Kelley recently brought his analytical brilliance to a weekend of activities in St. Louis that celebrated the 45th anniversary of the Organization for Black Struggle (OBS) and the Youth Council for Positive Development. Kelley currently teaches history at UCLA. A respected radical scholar, Kelley’s prolific body of work is extensive. It includes seven books and several in the making. The 45th anniversary theme was inspired by his most revered book, “Freedom Dreams: The Black Radical Imagination”. His views have appeared in numerous publications, including The Progressive and Harvard Gazette and been heard in interviews with NPR, as well as Trinity Social Justice Institute.
Kelley set the tone of his keynote address by laying out the political, economic and social factors of the last 45 years that led to the election of Donald Trump. He pointed out these conditions were possible because of a weak Black Left and progressive movements which failed to offer a critique of neoliberalism that would inform an effective strategy in the U.S.
The Department of African American Studies at Saint Louis University hosted a reception for Kelly the day before the OBS gala event, which took place Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. Dr. Chris Tinson, department chair and native of Los Angeles, welcomed his colleague to St. Louis.
Kelley set the tone of his keynote address by laying out the political, economic and social factors of the last 45 years that led to the election of Donald Trump. He pointed out these conditions were possible because of a weak Black Left and progressive movements which failed to offer a critique of neoliberalism that would inform an effective strategy in the U.S.
Despite Trump’s policies and actions from mass deportations to the elimination of job protections to the withdrawal from the World Health Organization, Kelley cautioned against complacency, pessimism and despair.
“They’re coming after our movements, they’re coming after us,” Kelley warned. He believes that building a united front to oppose the racist, neoliberal state is imperative. The task is to clearly articulate a vision for building a “sustained, radical movement capable of winning key local struggles in moving the nation in a new direction.”
My’Asia Meriwether was announced as the 2025 Jamala Rogers Young Visionary, a project of the Youth Council for Positive Development. Meriwether was recognized for her resilience, courage and tenacity in the face of adversity. She was a student at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in 2022 when a shooter took the lives of a fellow student and a beloved educator. The trauma created shockwaves that Meriwether believes never were sufficiently addressed by the St. Louis Public School district. Instead, she made her own healing and those of her peers a priority, helping to create safe spaces for emotional safety and helping them find their voice. The Young Visionary Award includes a $2500 stipend. Meriwether graduates in May 2025 and has been accepted by the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
Information about the Organization for Black Struggle and how to support it can be found at www.obs-stl.org. Contributions to the Youth Council are tax-exempt and can be made at www.positiveyouthdev.com.