Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz is a renowned American historian, activist, and author, known for her extensive work on Native American history, United States foreign policy, and social justice movements. Her writings have been influenced by her experiences as a civil rights activist and her involvement with organizations such as the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and the American Indian Movement. Dunbar-Ortiz's work has been shaped by her interactions with prominent figures like Howard Zinn, Noam Chomsky, and Angela Davis. She has also been associated with institutions like the University of California, Los Angeles and the Institute for Policy Studies.

● Early Life and Education

Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz was born in Talihina, Oklahoma, and grew up in a family of European-American and Native American descent, with roots in the Cherokee Nation and the Oklahoma Cherokee. Her early life was marked by experiences with poverty and racism, which later influenced her social justice activism. Dunbar-Ortiz pursued her higher education at Mills College in Oakland, California, and later earned her graduate degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she studied under the guidance of historians like Albert L. Hurtado and Sucheng Chan. Her academic background has been shaped by her involvement with the American Historical Association and the Organization of American Historians.

● Career

Dunbar-Ortiz's career as a historian and author has been marked by her extensive research on Native American history, United States foreign policy, and social justice movements. She has taught at various institutions, including the University of California, Berkeley, San Francisco State University, and the California Institute of Integral Studies. Her academic work has been influenced by her interactions with scholars like Vine Deloria Jr., Ward Churchill, and Andrea Smith. Dunbar-Ortiz has also been involved with organizations like the National Council of Churches and the American Friends Service Committee, which have shaped her perspectives on human rights and social justice.

● Activism and Writing

Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz's activism and writing have been deeply intertwined, with her work focusing on issues like Native American rights, United States foreign policy, and social justice. She has been involved with movements like the American Indian Movement and the Anti-Apartheid Movement, and has worked closely with activists like Dennis Banks, Russell Means, and Winona LaDuke. Her writings have been published in various outlets, including The Nation, The Progressive, and CounterPunch, and have been influenced by her interactions with authors like Arundhati Roy, Naomi Klein, and Rebecca Solnit. Dunbar-Ortiz's work has also been shaped by her involvement with the Zapatista Army of National Liberation and the Bolivarian Revolution.

● Awards and Recognition

Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz has received numerous awards and recognition for her work as a historian, activist, and author. She has been honored with the American Book Award for her book An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States, and has received the Lannan Literary Award for her contributions to social justice literature. Dunbar-Ortiz has also been recognized by organizations like the National Association of Social Workers and the American Sociological Association for her work on human rights and social justice. Her work has been endorsed by scholars like Cornel West, Robin D.G. Kelley, and Barbara Ransby, and has been recognized by institutions like the University of California, Santa Cruz and the New York University.

● Personal Life

Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz currently resides in Oakland, California, and continues to be involved in social justice activism and writing. She has been married to Simon J. Ortiz, a Native American poet and writer, and has been influenced by her interactions with artists like John Trudell and Joy Harjo. Dunbar-Ortiz's personal life has been shaped by her experiences as a feminist and an anti-imperialist, and has been influenced by her involvement with organizations like the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom and the Institute for Policy Studies. Her work continues to be recognized by institutions like the Library of Congress and the National Archives and Records Administration. Category:American historians