Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II

The Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II is co-author, with Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, of The Third Reconstruction: How a Moral Movement Is Overcoming the Politics of Fear and Division and the 2015-2016 recipient of the Puffin/Nation Prize for Creative Citizenship. He is filing regular dispatches from the southern movement for racial justice for The Nation.

Rev. Barber is the architect of the Forward Together Moral Monday Movement, president of the North Carolina NAACP and pastor of the Greenleaf Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Goldsboro. He is also president of Repairers of the Breach. He is the 2015-2016 recipient of the Puffin/Nation Prize for Creative Citizenship.

Health and DiseaseMarch 15, 2020

Prayer Will Not Stop the Coronavirus

The pandemic lays bare how American politicians have ignored the past and its injustices. It’s time for repentance, not just prayer.

Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove
Economic PolicyFebruary 11, 2020

Budgets Don’t Lie, but Trump and His Enablers Do

The Trump administration’s budget proposal, released Monday, lays bare the lies he told during the State of the Union.

Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove
ReligionDecember 23, 2019

True Religious Faith Demands an Unwavering Rebuke of Trumpism

Prophetic Christianity insists that faith must advocate for the vulnerable. To revive the heart of democracy, this nation needs a revolution of values.

Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove
Reproductive RightsMay 30, 2019

Exposing the Lie of ‘Pro-Life’ Politicians

The same coalition that trumpets concern for the unborn has consistently opposed policies that promote life and well-being for most of us.

Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II
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Social JusticeApril 3, 2019

The Next American Revolution

On the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech condemning the Vietnam War, we must remember that a nation founded in revolution must always remain open to reassessment in order to remain true to itself.

Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II
January 18, 2019

MLK Warned Us of the Well-Intentioned Liberal

Dr. King did not compromise on racial justice. Neither should we.

Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove
WorldDecember 9, 2018

Marc Lamont Hill Was Arguing for the Rights of Humans, Not of States

The important demand that CNN rehire Hill has obscured much of the actual content of his speech.

Phyllis Bennis and Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II
Guns and Gun ControlOctober 28, 2018

In Response to Pittsburgh, We Must Come Together as One

We stand with the victims of every white-supremacist and racist and anti-Semitic assault back through history.

Phyllis Bennis and Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II
Supreme CourtOctober 5, 2018

If Kavanaugh Is Confirmed, We Need to Mobilize Like Never Before

His record indicates that he would stonewall movements against poverty, militarism, and racism for a generation.

Phyllis Bennis and Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II
ActivismAugust 8, 2018

Creating a Moral Movement for Our Time

How a new Poor People’s Campaign is mobilizing, organizing, and building power nationwide.

Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II and Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis

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Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II

Health and DiseaseMarch 15, 2020

The pandemic lays bare how American politicians have ignored the past and its injustices. It’s time for repentance, not just prayer.

Economic PolicyFebruary 11, 2020

The Trump administration’s budget proposal, released Monday, lays bare the lies he told during the State of the Union.

ReligionDecember 23, 2019

Prophetic Christianity insists that faith must advocate for the vulnerable. To revive the heart of democracy, this nation needs a revolution of values.

Reproductive RightsMay 30, 2019

The same coalition that trumpets concern for the unborn has consistently opposed policies that promote life and well-being for most of us.

The stakes are higher now than ever. Get The Nation in your inbox.

Social JusticeApril 3, 2019

On the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech condemning the Vietnam War, we must remember that a nation founded in revolution must always remain open to reassessment in order to remain true to itself.

January 18, 2019

Dr. King did not compromise on racial justice. Neither should we.

WorldDecember 9, 2018

The important demand that CNN rehire Hill has obscured much of the actual content of his speech.

Guns and Gun ControlOctober 28, 2018

We stand with the victims of every white-supremacist and racist and anti-Semitic assault back through history.

Supreme CourtOctober 5, 2018

His record indicates that he would stonewall movements against poverty, militarism, and racism for a generation.

ActivismAugust 8, 2018

How a new Poor People’s Campaign is mobilizing, organizing, and building power nationwide.