Les Back
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academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back
@academicdiary.bsky.social
1.6K followers 1.8K following 330 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 · 2d
Beautiful night in South London looking north x

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 3d
This is a beautiful story that will warm your heart. Congrats to Paul, and Montel is already doing important work. Wonderful people and meaningful change www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/2556955...
Father and son make history through shared academic journey
A father and son are making history through a shared academic journey
www.glasgowtimes.co.uk

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 4d
@jenniewren.bsky.social I love you profile picture Jennie

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 4d
Oh that’s great Mike, it’s great that it Ain’t Half Racist Mum is available on BBC iPlayer now. Let me know what you thought of it.

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 6d
I really loved being interviewed for this edition, Spare a Thought on Stuart Hall and the historic Open Door episode It Ain’t Half Racist Mum spareathought.podbean.com/e/it-aint-ha...
It Ain't Half Racist Mum | Spare a Thought
In today’s episode Tom speaks to Professor Les Back, a lecturer of Sociology at the University of Glasgow about 1979 TV episode of Open Door called It Aint Half Racist Mum. Together Tom and Les discus...
spareathought.podbean.com

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 8d
In the Taybridge Bar, Dundee watching the old firm game and making a little musical pilgrimage for the late great Michael Marra… 💔

Reposted by Dave O’Brien, Les Back, Fabián Muniesa , and 2 more

lsesociology.bsky.social
LSE Sociology @lsesociology.bsky.social · 17d
We're hiring an outstanding Assistant Professor whose core research is in the field of cultural sociology with demonstrable expertise in the sociology of #culture and #technology.

📅 Applications close Sunday 30 November 2025.

➡️ jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 18d
I’ll tell her Kath, Gargi is one of the most creative thinkers I know.

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 18d
With dear friend Professor Lez Henry (aka Lesley Lyrics) at the farewell for Dj and world builder June Reid.

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 18d
Saying goodbye today to Queen June Reid who wore the ‘crown of righteousness’. June chose a poem by David Harkins to be read as a farewell -“smile, open your eyes (and ears), love and go on.” A beautiful generous soul gone but not forgotten.

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 20d
@darkpublisher.bsky.social I’m working on the book idea Tom. I really like your punk anniversary series idea… really tempted to put something in on punk and reggae!!

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 20d
A important new talk from Gargi Bhattacharyya

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 26d
Be lovely to be in touch again, Pat. Hope you are well x

Reposted by Les Back

rachelmalik.bsky.social
Rachel Malik @rachelmalik.bsky.social · 27d
I met her when we were both studying the Linguistics MLitt in 1988-9 at Strathclyde and we were friends ever since. Brilliant writer and undervalued in the UK but not elsewhere. A truly wonderful friend

Reposted by Pat Thomson

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 27d
@patthomson.bsky.social I stumbled on the review you wrote of Academic Diary, Pat. Thanks for such a thoughtful take. I have been thinking again about form working on a new project. Feels like the world of HE is a very different place now. Be great to be in touch again. Warm best wishes.

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 27d
This is such a thoughtful review by Pat Thomson - have been a huge admirer of Patter for a long time. patthomson.net/2016/07/21/o...
on form and function – and Les Back’s Academic Diary
So you want to write a book which examines everyday life in the contemporary university. You want to show the ways in which academic work is constrained, but also what freedoms are still possible. …
patthomson.net

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 27d
@kirsteen-paton.bsky.social amazing tips as always, Kirsteen.

Reposted by Les Back, Martin Paul Eve, Nicola Carr , and 2 more

karl-jacoby.bsky.social
Karl Jacoby @karl-jacoby.bsky.social · 28d
History faculty at Columbia & Barnard decrying the harassment of @mark-bray.bsky.social: "This is the first case in recent memory of a historian who has fled the country after receiving death threats on account of the history that they teach."

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 29d
observer.co.uk/news/sport/a...
The art of the chant | The Observer
Funny, insightful and sometimes abusive, the contributions from the stands are key to football’s live appeal, but they also tell us about society and cul...
observer.co.uk

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · Oct 10
This is such a huge complement that so many took so much care over this special issue - deep thanks to to Emma & Kirsteen @kirsteen-paton.bsky.social @emmakjackson.bsky.social

Reposted by Les Back

thesociologicalreview.org
The Sociological Review Foundation @thesociologicalreview.org · Oct 10
OUT NOW: The Sociological Review journal 73.5, featuring 13 new papers (11 #openaccess).

💡 Includes a Special Section on the legacy of @academicdiary.bsky.social and Nirmal Puwar’s Live Methods, published in 2012 as part of our monograph series.

buff.ly/bJQXWs6 @journals.sagepub.com
The Sociological Review Journal Vol 73 Issue 5 Kirsteen Paton Emma Jackson Les Back Nirmal Puwar Andrea Doucet Eva Jewell Jessica Falk Rebecca Coleman Dawn Lyon Chloe Turner Thomas Wadsworth Zoe Walshe Beth Bramich Shamser Sinha Sophie Woodward Brenda Herbert Irene van Oorschot Sophie van Balen Andreas Folkers Susie Scott Nina Lockwood Theresa O’Keefe Aline Courtois Jérémy Vachet https://journals.sagepub.com/toc/SOR/73/5/

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · Oct 3
Lovey piece from Stephanie and George on filming as sociological practice. thesociologicalreview.org/image-maker-...
Image-Maker in Residence: Verbatim Filmmaking for Social Justice: An abolitionist approach to where, how and why Black men live where they live
Stephanie Guirand, our autumn 2025 Image-Maker in Residence and activist, sociologist and co-founder of The Black Response, shares her film and research on the housing injustice that Black men face.
thesociologicalreview.org

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · Oct 3
Great sociological listening - thesociologicalreview.org/magazine/sep...
You heard it here first: Uncommon Sense podcasters share some home truths
Podcast Uncommon Sense reveals sociological surprises on burnout, fat, Europeans, anxiety, performativity and TV’s Fleabag. By producer Alice Bloch.
thesociologicalreview.org

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · Oct 3
The province of tyrants” - paramilitary policing of black and brown Us communities as America turns on itself.

Reposted by Les Back

timeshighered.bsky.social
Times Higher Education (THE) @timeshighered.bsky.social · Oct 3
‘Life-saving’ Gaza student evacuations need ‘collective effort’: Gazan students due to begin studies in Ireland and Italy but efforts in other countries remain blocked
https://ow.ly/zzqE50X5Inu

Reposted by Les Back, Sanford F. Schram

chrislhayes.bsky.social
Chris Hayes @chrislhayes.bsky.social · Oct 3
youtu.be/vOXOWAhFz0A
‘F--- them kids’: ICE agents drag children out of bed, ransack Chicago building
YouTube video by MSNBC
youtu.be

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · Oct 2
Tragic scenes at Heaton Park Synagogue and loss of life there, and the need in our time for vigilance against all forms of racism and violence www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Manchester synagogue attack: What we know so far
Two Jewish people died in a car and stabbing attack at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue on the holiest day in the Jewish religious calendar.
www.bbc.co.uk

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · Oct 2
Just about to record a conversation with Tom Spare about this extraordinary programme. Stuart Hall was 47 when he made it in 1979 with Maggie Steed It Ain’t Half Racist Mum for Open Door www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Open Door - It Ain't Half Racist Mum
In a programme from 1979, Stuart Hall and Maggie Steed of the Campaign Against Racism in the Media examine their charge of bias on television against black and Asian communities.
www.bbc.co.uk

academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · Oct 2
Will send x