Les Back
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academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back
@academicdiary.bsky.social
1.7K followers 1.8K following 370 posts

I teach sociology at the University of Glasgow and my interests are learning, teaching, books, ideas, culture and music.

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Les Back is a professor of sociology at the University of Glasgow and former Director of the Centre for Urban and Community Research at Goldsmiths, University of London. He is a researcher and author of books and academic studies on topics including racism, music and urban cultures. .. more

Political science 44%
Sociology 38%
Posts Replies Media Videos

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 6h
Bruce Springsteen has become braver and more radical as he has got older. It’s the way to end a career like Johnny Cash did before him - “Take a stand in this land for the stranger in our midst” www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWKS...
Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio)
YouTube video by Bruce Springsteen
www.youtube.com

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 19h
Just finished writing a feature on Laurie Taylor @ 90 for a Sociological Review Magazine… what a life Laurie has led. Should be out in May. He is recording a new season of Thinking Allowed at the moment for BBC Radio 4. 28 years of putting socioligy on the airwaves. 👏👏👏

Reposted by Les Back

inquirer.com
Philadelphia Inquirer @inquirer.com · 1d
About 150 protesters gathered outside Sen. John Fetterman's office in Philadelphia Tuesday, urging him to not vote in favor of a bill that would provide more funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees both ICE and the Border Patrol.

www.inquirer.com/politics/pen...

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 1d
Really feel for friends and colleagues in the US and the violence of ICE. It’s almost a year since being in Harlem in the first days of the Trump Presidency www.gla.ac.uk/schools/soci...
A great day in Harlem.
Les Back shares reflections from a visit to Harlem.
www.gla.ac.uk

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 6d
Kirsteen Paton and Alice Mah has a piece in it so there a bit of a West of Scotland theme xx

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 7d
So chuffed to be in this new book edited by Charlotte Bates and Emma Jackson, and my chapter is my first attempt at writing about life in Glasgow manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526184900/
Manchester University Press - Walking
Walking - Browse and buy the Hardcover edition of Walking by Charlotte Bates
manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 7d
Agh, Michael I am so bad at masking 😂😂😂. Thanks for your kind words. It was a privilege to be able to convey my debt to LKJ in front of him as well as the relatives who lost loved ones in the New Cross Massacre. The university is what we make together to on occasions like that and in the work you

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 9d
Oh well, to be honest I was massively relieved to get the words out. It was a hard talk to give, Michael. Hope you are managing. All power to you brother.

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 9d
eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
Forty-five years on, the scars of the New Cross fire are yet to heal in Lewisham – Eastlondonlines
eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com

Reposted by Les Back

drmichaeleades.bsky.social
Michael Eades @drmichaeleades.bsky.social · 9d
A real honour to attend a Memorial Service marking the 45th anniversary of the New Cross Fire at St Andrew’s church, Brockley yesterday. A beautiful service honouring the 14 lives lost to this still unresolved tragedy, and the dignity and resilience of all those impacted by it.

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 10d
Love this story of Cockney Jacobites and the link between Mill Wall FC and Bonnie Prince Charlie - thanks Fraser www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
What's Millwall FC got to do with Bonnie Prince Charlie?
The unlikely link between the London club and some of Scotland's best-known historical figures.
www.bbc.co.uk

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 12d
Was lovely to see you there, Michael. It was Goldsmiths at its best.

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 12d
Michael is the best guide to London’s secrets. More than 50 bodies wash up on Thames beaches every year the river police and the landlocked Met fight over those corpses and the enquiries that inequitably follow in order to justify their existence. Am returning with other souvenirs and sights

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 12d
On Stepney Beach with dear friend and sparring partner Michael Keith. So good to see Michael, sharing stories by the Thames in the sunshine.

Reposted by Les Back

drmichaeleades.bsky.social
Michael Eades @drmichaeleades.bsky.social · 14d
Absolutely incredible evening at Goldsmiths honouring the great poet, musician and activist Linton Kwesi Johnson. A deep reminder from Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social and others, including students interpreting Linton’s poetry, of all the things that drew me to Goldsmiths in the first place…

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 14d
Hoping to get the words out for Linton tonight… wonderful to be reminded of the depth of his contribution.

Reposted by Vron Ware

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 14d
A small pilgrimage and a prayer for the victims of the New Cross massacre on my way to the event for LKJ tonight. Not forgotten.

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 14d
LKJ’s writing is so often steadying. That’s so interesting Ian.

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 14d
On the train to London to speak at this time event for LKJ at Goldmsiths. Nervous as hell but so to have the opportunity to say something about my debt to him. www.eventbrite.com/e/honouring-...
www.eventbrite.com

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 19d
This is going to be a great night in Glasgow for International Women’s Day raising money for Scottish Women’s Aid www.thegladcafe.co.uk/events/2026-...
Funk the Patriarchy II at The Glad Cafe, Glasgow on 08 Mar 2026
Buy tickets for Funk the Patriarchy II at The Glad Cafe, Glasgow
www.thegladcafe.co.uk

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 19d
Umberto Eco’s essay ‘Ur Fascism’ seems more relevant - Ur or eternal fascism in 14 key features, and one is enough for hate to coagulate around. www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg0u...
Ur-Fascism by Umberto Eco
YouTube video by AudibleAnarchist
www.youtube.com

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 23d
Really thrilled to be invited to say a few words for LKJ at this event in south London next week. Linton will read one of his poems too www.eventbrite.com/e/honouring-...
Honouring Linton Kwesi Johnson CD
An evening to mark the dedication of a lecture theatre to the poet and activist at Goldsmiths, University of London
www.eventbrite.com

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 26d
open.spotify.com/episode/6tx1...
TV in prison - Live music in prison
open.spotify.com

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 26d
This is a wonderful converqtion with te Surviving Society podcast cihttps://open.spotify.com/episode/1PJcY7jlf7WLvdXLOtYPAB?si=caRZeSJoTAObpdXkpdygjgh
E023 Les Back: Migrant City
open.spotify.com

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · Dec 20
Oooh I want to read that Rob, sounds fabulous!

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · Dec 20
It was my birthday last week… this wonderful record was the best of gifts marking BB King’s centenary. Derek Trucks says in the liner notes that BB was a ‘real life Santa Claus’.

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · Dec 16
It was so lovely to meet, Yang, last week. I will read this with great interest very much in the key of our talk last week.

Reposted by Les Back

theguardian.com
The Guardian @theguardian.com · Dec 16
What is ‘home’ now? A woman’s two-year search for safety in the ruins of Gaza
What is ‘home’ now? A woman’s two-year search for safety in the ruins of Gaza
Nour AbuShammala has returned to her partly destroyed apartment in Gaza City. This is her story of multiple displacements, injury and devastation over the last two years
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Les Back

msamrc.bsky.social
Anupama Ranawana @msamrc.bsky.social · Dec 14
Update on this. A friend who does anti fascist work found this posted on social media. The SS flag is clearly visible and they also seem to claim affiliation with @raithroversfc.bsky.social

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · Dec 14
No, but very scary xxx