Structural Racism Resource Base: About Dr. Barber

“William Barber is the closest person we have to Martin Luther King, Jr. in our midst." — Dr. Cornel West

Event Goals Are:

• Advancing the discussion, on campus, about anti-racism and social justice,
• Advancing the question of should there be a mandatory course on structural racism at Benedictine University,
• Advancing and integrating Benedictine values of justice, community, human dignity and the common good into our curriculum and community.

Dr. Barber’s work in fighting against structural racism, militarism and climate change coincide with the social justice mission of the Catholic Church exemplified by, among others, Venerable Augustus Tolton, the first known Black priest in the United States and founder of the first Black Catholic Church in Chicago, Saint Monica’s, Venerable Thea Bowman and, candidate for sainthood, Dorothy Day.

Dr. Rushing has suggested the materials below which include a brief biography of Dr. Barber, information about the Poor Peoples Campaign, the news of his new appointment at Yale and some of his appearances on other campuses.