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Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

The Clyde was like a sheet of glass early this morning. Breathtaking.

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Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

After a long day teaching the disenchantments of Max Weber and modernity - the sunset on the Clyde was utter enchantment. Stunning.

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Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

This is going to be a great event if you are in London on 23rd October. Early bird tickets available.

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Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Have been teaching Marx’s Theses on Feuerbach today which contains the sentence voted by BSA members as the in sociology - “Philosophers have only interpreted the world in various ways; the point is to change it.” 4 tutorials back to back the best of days.

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Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I have been writing little field notes from getting out and making the case for sociology in schools and FE colleges. This one is from Prince William School in Oundle. @bsaecf.bsky.social

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Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

There were bouquets of flowers floating on the dirty old river this morning. Imagining who might have tossed them into the Clyde. I love crossing on my way to work so much. Beginning of the semester always a time of anxiety and anticipation.

Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

At the anti-fascist counter demo on Glasgow Green this weekend. Walked into the middle of ‘Pink Ladies’ anti-immigration demo. Stayed for about 15 minutes before my ears were painfully full of their hate. As I walked out a Policeman said “like your t shirt pal”! Had forgotten I was wearing it! Oops

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Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Wonderful to be at the BSA Scottish Sociology at the Roma Centre on Glasgow’s Southside. Inspiring and very high quality papers.

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Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

I am working on a new book with Mykaell Riley, which is an oral history in the UK. We are recording people’s stories in the four nations and loved meeting Aleighcia Scott from Cardiff, who performs reagge in Welsh language - Diolch, Aleighcia

Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Sometimes all you need to do sociology is a pencil and a notebook

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Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Something new - A Qualitative Research Renaissance - if you’d like a .pdf, please just message me. Be happy to share

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Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Thanks to all the staff and students at The Grove Academy - what a brilliant session. It was wonderful to lead you all in some spontaneous football chanting in the classroom - brilliant!

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Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Fantastic day at Grove Academy, Balham, London going to give a talk to the sixth formers and teachers for this Sociological Review Foundation sponsored event on Class, Culture & Discontents

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Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

I love this little free library on Queens Park in Glasgow. I routinely reposition my own books in it… lovely when they disappear quickly. Academic Diary deposited last night was gone this morning.

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Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

Never prouder thank today to be a citizen of Glasgow. The fascists returned to Buchanan Street again in their hundreds and were opposed by people in their thousands. Nae pasaran!

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Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Thanks to everyone who came to the event on The Calypso Kings, Stuart Hall and Music with Mykaell Riley for the Stuart Hall Archive today. Wonderful to see so many old friend and comrades from anti-racist politics in Brum in a packed BRIG Cafe.

Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Great to be back in Birmingham spent wonderful years here in the 90s and gave myself to this great coy. Always shocks me to confront The Midland Hotel where Enoch Powell gave his infamous ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech in the 1968. More sobering in our time where Powellism is alive and kicking.

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Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

My pleasure… I loved listening to Stuart but also it was a reminder of the sadness of his loss. Visited his grave last week to tend a different kind of English garden.

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Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

Looking forward to saying a few words at this celebration.

Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

Remembering dear friend Caspar Melville today who died last year. Caspar and I would take Goldsmiths students on an annual pop music history walks around Soho, London. Sorely missed RIP. A beautiful spirit.

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Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

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. 👏👏👏

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Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

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

Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

On Stepney Beach with dear friend and sparring partner Michael Keith. So good to see Michael, sharing stories by the Thames in the sunshine.

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Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 14/01/2026

Hoping to get the words out for Linton tonight… wonderful to be reminded of the depth of his contribution.

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Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 14/01/2026

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.

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Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 20/12/2025

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’.

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Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

Here’s the details off Ben Carrington’s talk next week. Ben gave our Frisby Lecture at the University of Glasgow a couple of years ago. His award is really well deserved.

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Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

Sad to hear of Steve Cropper’s passing today. He made such a contribution to the music of the civil rights era. I interviewed him for this piece in 1999. Rest in soul…

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Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 08/11/2025

Beautiful night in South London looking north x

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Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 02/11/2025

In the Taybridge Bar, Dundee watching the old firm game and making a little musical pilgrimage for the late great Michael Marra… 💔

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Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

With dear friend Professor Lez Henry (aka Lesley Lyrics) at the farewell for Dj and world builder June Reid.

Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

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.

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Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

A important new talk from Gargi Bhattacharyya

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Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

I never really thought I had the literary chops for writing fiction, but @awtsn.bsky.social persuaded me to do this for her SO-Fi magazine for the Glasgow special.

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With my dear friend Michael Keith this week in Wapping. When we worked together at Goldsmiths I always thought we were like the academic Odd Couple! He was Jack Lemon though, the good looking one. Still the sharpest of minds. He almost smiles too 😘

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No secrets from you, Brenda. Kirkdale Bookshop in Sydenham. They have a lovely preloved section too. I picked up an ancient copy of Izaak Walton’s The Compleat Angler for my brother’s 70th birthday. Couple of old cockney geezers!

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Found this in my favourite independent book shop in South London congratulations, Alice. 👏👏👏 @uofgsociology.bsky.social

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So pleased to speak at this celebration of Michael Bull’s work in Lewes this week. Suitably it was in a local jazz venue with Bird and Monk blasting out. Michael mention a teacher had described him as an “academic dabbler” the highest possible form of praise in my mind.

Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

The heart of New Cross, South London - Rose’s kitchen. The food always looks like Caribbean Crown Jewels. Bumped into old friends but sadly Rose wasn’t there.

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Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 22/09/2025

Congratulations Dr Phavine Phung who was awarded her PhD today on quilting migration stories. Her exhibition is on in the Kingsway Corridor, Goldsmiths, New Cross, London

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Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 22/09/2025

Back in New Cross, south London today to examine a PhD at Goldsmith passing Cummin Up take away this morning and the smoke of Jerk on the BBQ… the scent of home. ❤️

Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

Saw this at the Citizens Theatre tonight in Glasgow. A show about the Lockerbie bombing on 21st December, 1988, and the acts of love practiced by the local community to hold the belongings of the victims dear. Makes me very proud to be living in Scotland. Dealing with loss is what makes us human.

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Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 13/09/2025

Love this Jackie Kay Plaza at Uni of Strathclyde - getting it right. Thinking spaces that include thinkers

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Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

The end of the rainbow in Glasgow 💚💚💚💚

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Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 14/08/2025

Remembering writer and journalist Caspar Melville who died earlier over this year at the tender age of 58. Just by chance today at work this afternoon I found this. No gilding the sadness of losing a friend.

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Les Back @academicdiary.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

With my favourite actor and neighbour - Hannah Jarrett-Scott who was funking fantastic in Wild Rose in Edinburgh earlier this year.