In Memoriam: Dr. Linda Williams
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Professor Linda Williams, an outstanding colleague and friend. Coming from Texas, she fought for justice, decency, and human rights all her life, and gave us an increased understanding of the roots of injustice and racism in the US and its politics. Before coming to Maryland, Williams was on the faculty at Howard for more than nine years, Cornell and Brandeis Universities and held the position of Research Associate at Harvard. She also served as the head of the Congressional Black Caucus' Research Group and had held the position of Associate Director of Research at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, both in Washington D.C.
Williams came to the University of Maryland, Department of Government and Politics in 1991 as an Associate Professor. She served as Acting Director of the Afro-American Studies Program from 1995-1996. In August 2004 she was awarded Full-Professor in the Department of Government and Politics. Williams was the author of "The Constraint of Race: Legacies of White Skin Privilege in America" which received the Michael Harrington Best Book Award, the W.E.B. Dubois Best Book Award and named the Best Book of 2004 on Public Policy and Race and Ethnicity awarded by the American Political Science Association's Organized Section on Race, Ethnicity, and Politics. She was also author of "The Long Struggle for Black Political Empowerment" and co-author with Husband Ralph Gomes for the edited book "Exclusion to Inclusion: The Long Struggle for African American Political Power."
Williams was a leading analyst of Black political behavior. She served as a consultant on election issues and interpreting election results to a variety of women's groups including the National Women's Political Caucus, the National Black Women's Political Caucus, the Coalition of 100 Black Women, and the women's issue group of the National Black Leadership Roundtable.
She has been interviewed by all of the major networks evening news programs, CNN, C-SPAN, MacNeil-Lehrer, Nightline, the Today Show, the three major news weeklies, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, and many other prominent news media.
Williams’ 1992 project entitled "Gender and the Politics of 1992" took the "Year of the Woman" as the starting point of her research. Her areas of interest were American Politics, Public Policy, and Political Economy. Research interests include race, class, gender and politics; press, politics, and public policy; the American welfare state; urban politics; and public opinion and elections.
Friends and Colleagues Remember Dr. Williams
"We are honored to have known such a wonderful, strong, blessed lady. She was an outstanding colleague and friend. She fought for justice, decency, and human rights all her life, and gave us an increased understanding of the roots of injustice in the US."
Dr. Mark Lichbach
"I admired her courage and strength; her ability to demonstrate perseverance and commitment to her work and job in the face of such adversity and illness. I found her honesty and humor, and her interest in her colleagues and students, to be extraordinary and inspiring. I found her an easy colleague to speak with; her perspectives were always enlightening and refreshing. But most of all, she was a good, sincere person, and those qualities radiated from her and brightened up any space she happened to be in."
Dr. James Glass
"Linda has been an inspiration as a colleague and friend. I will remember her as a woman who was widely admired for her scholarly gifts, courage, and warmth."
Dr. Miranda Schreurs
"My first encounter with Linda Williams came when she applied for a position at the University and had been working downtown for the Joint Center for Political Studies and the Congressional Black Caucus. Joe Oppenheimer and I asked her whether she was really serious about leaving behind these prestigious institutions and coming to Maryland. "I have missed university life so much," she told us. "I really love academic life." We made her an offer and she quickly accepted and she called to say how thrilled she was to be back in the academy. She loved her work and her students and colleagues loved her."
Dr. Eric Uslaner
"Linda was a gift--a friend, a scholar, a colleague both intellectual and activist. So many years of memories, back to Congressional days, and to the Black Congressional Caucus! And, even more closely, the last seven years working with her at the Democracy Collaborative. Such a profound loss… I loved her spirit--fighting, funny, irreverent, tough-minded! She carried the burden of her health problems with extraordinary courage. (My daughter, a physician, once gave me a sense of just how heavy that burden really is for people suffering with three times a week dialysis.) Linda was a walking lesson to all of us. How she found time and energy to lecture around the country to teach, to advise, and to write are a wonder. And write she did: Her last book was exceptional--as the many academic prizes it won testify. It is not enough simply to say Linda will be missed. Of course she will be missed, deeply. We need to acknowledge what she taught by her life, by her contribution, by her courage, and by her spirit. Linda was a gift. Her loss leaves great sadness."
Dr. Gar Alperovitz
"Linda you were my colleague, my friend. I was, am, always will be honored to have known you: you, such a wonderful, strong, blessed lady. You fought for justice, decency, and human rights every day. You gave us an increased understanding of the roots of injustice in the US and the effects of racism in our society. And the complaints the students regularly lodged about us at the dean's office: we were engaging in unfair criticism of our government. And the complaints the students regularly lodged about us at the dean's office: we were engaging in unfair criticism of our government. Oh, the memories and experiences we shared at the office. But really, your leaving us has just left a void: an enormous void coming from the loss of a major friend, a major support, a person whom I helped, and who helped me. Life in our little corridor will not be the same, and it leads me to grieve that such a wonderful person could be gone so young."
Dr. Joe Oppenheimer
"Linda...always told it like it is, often with enormous humor and irony. She was a great story-teller as well, and it was often an awful lot of fun to be in her company."
Dr. Margaret Pearson
"For me Linda Williams represented the best in political science: a synthesis of deep knowledge, creative thinking, and moral sense. I talked many times with Linda about civil society and democracy, East and West. I always learned a lot from her. She was a wonderful colleague, a superb teacher, and a generous human being."
Dr. Vladimir Tismaneanu
"Linda Williams had a beautiful soul that illuminated her work and her life, and that gave her strength to do battle with her body when her body was sick. I feel lucky to have known her, and especially fortunate to have worked with her at the Democracy Collaborative -- to which she gave so much of her energy in these last years. She was a fine scholar who knew how to reflect the realities of an inegalitarian society and an unjust world in her work without becoming cynical or discouraged. As a teacher she inspired and pushed students to higher levels of achievement. Hope was her hallmark -- for herself, her students and for humankind. She will be missed for what she did and gave us all, but also for who she was. But the memory of what she believed and how she fought for what she believed will live on as a tribute to her and a goad to us to continue the struggle.."
Dr. Benjamin R. Barber
"I knew Linda for nearly thirty years as a professor, colleague and friend. I admired her quest for social justice and her ability to "speak truth to power." Our discussions and "chats" were rich, exciting, and filled with hope. I will always cherish the wonderful memories of Linda, and I am truly blessed to have been touched by such an inspiring soul."
Dr. Dorith Grant-Wisdom
"Linda Williams was a friend with whom you could discuss everything, whether family, politics, profession or the state of the economy. She was extraordinarily smart, and one never ended a conversation with Linda without taking away some new nugget of knowledge, some dazzling but subtle insight, some unique way of understanding the world. Linda was smart and insightful, and also highly principled. And she was principled in a way that was 'local.' It is easy to feel moral outrage or ethical discontent about conditions taking place far away, over there, in somebody else's back yard. It is more difficult to perceive and act on conditions at home, at the place where they pay your check. When she was at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, she found things that needed to be criticized. The same for the Joint Center for Political Studies where she also worked. The same was true for her final post at the University of Maryland. Here too she found things that needed to be changed, and she worked hard to fix them, including helping to recruit excellent minority graduate students and to mentor them. She fought tirelessly to ensure that matters of race and class were included in the curriculum. She insisted that students and faculty of color receive the same respect and rewards as their other colleagues. Her voice, her humor, her energy and her wisdom will be sorely missed. I will miss her unique brand of friendship terribly."
Dr. Ernest J. Wilson III
"Dr. Williams was a true lady in every sense of the word. My son goes to school here and had trouble getting into his major. Without even knowing Neal she went to bat for him and was his biggest advocate for getting him into his field of study. I'm thrilled to say that he is excelling in his studies here. Had it not been for her kindness and support he would probably no longer be attending UMCP. I will be forever grateful to her for helping him find his niche."
Ann Marie Clark
"Linda Williams was the bravest woman I knew. Knowing how sick she was and her refusal to let the general public know proves her incredible strength. Her response was that there were people worse off than her. She always put everyone and every situation ahead of herself and her illness. This was a huge sacrifice although she didn't see it that way! Linda loved teaching and shaping young minds. I know that Linda would want her spirit to continue by having some of those young minds go on to fight for justice, decency, and for human rights. She will be remembered for so many things. I was honored to know Linda and I will truly miss her."
Cissy Abu Rumman
"Dr. Linda Williams will continue to be an academic, professional and personal inspiration for myself and numerous others. She was my mentor, advisor, dissertation committee chair, advocate and most importantly, my friend. Even before I enrolled in the Ph.D program at the University of Maryland, she encouraged and convinced me that I could succeed inearning a Ph.D. She continued to make the point that any time I felt outnumbered, bombarded, overwhelmed or wanted to give up, it was very important that I finish and succeed so I could reach back for others. I feel I can do great things because of the belief she displayed in my ideas and abilities. As I finish my dissertation and embark on my academic career I will continue with the inspiration of a strong Black woman. She overcame so much to make sure so many other people felt inspired and equipped to take on the world. She continually reached back over the wall! I am here as a very rare product, a Black man gaining a Ph.D, due in great part to the effort and belief of Dr. Linda Williams, a true inspiration."
Christopher M. Whitt
"Linda Williams' email address speaks volumes about her, "Makeabetterworld..." She was one of my
heroes--a person who made every day and every person matter. She was feisty, iconoclast, brilliant, powerful, thoughtful, determined, elegant and magnificent. Linda was a significant leader--a woman warrior in the battle for human rights and dignity. I value every moment of the time I've known her and know that the world will deeply mourn her passing. Thanks to her teaching and prolific writing and mentoring, she will RISE again through the many others who have learned from her and benefited from her time with us. Our campus and communities will profoundly miss this great woman."
Margaret Morgan-Hubbard
"Linda Williams was a Founding Principal of The Democracy Collaborative, and her contribution to our work was enormous. She created and co-directed the Collaborative's project on 'Democracy, Diversity and Voice.' She was one of our most visible representatives on campus and her sleeves were ever rolled up on our behalf. Linda was always available to attend conferences to advance our agenda, speak before student gatherings, facilitate workshops (which she did more times than I can count), and participate in meetings to encourage the university administration to take the next step
forward to engage with the local community. On October 19 an article about Linda ran in The Diamondback. The article focuses on Linda's relationship with students across the campus. It is a touching expression of the great respect and fondness with which she was held by her students. As one said, "The classroom was never just about her. It was about everyone." What finer tribute could a democratic scholar and faculty member receive?"
Ted Howard
"I have known Dr. Williams in various capacities (as her T.A., her student, her mentee, and her friend). She served on my dissertation committee, and from the very first day that I met her has been an inspiration for strength amidst adversity. I will always love her and relish the extended conversations with her in her office, where despite her status, we met as equals. I only pray that I may have as much influence on my students’ lives as she has had on mine. Although I will miss her sorely, all is not lost, because she lives on in me."
Valerie C. Johnson
"Linda was a friend, colleague and mentor at the Joint Center. She taught me how to use scholarship to make a difference and to never back away from speaking truth to power. She was a unique spirit who made contributions that will be everlasting and she will be greatly missed."
Emmett D. Carson
"Linda Williams was my teacher, advisor and friend. For me, her arrival at the University of Maryland in 1991 was an extraordinary gift. Through her teaching, counsel, and encouragement, she helped me identify and articulate the questions I continue to pursue. Right now, I feel a profound sense of loss, but her understanding of social policy and commitment to social justice were, and will continue to be, an inspiration to me."
Michael Gusmano
"I am eternally grateful for Linda's wondrous mentorship and her invaluable, marvelous 'big-sisterly' direction. She is among a handful of folks who are responsible for me becoming a political science. I literally learned the ins and outs of data collection working as a research assistant for her at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. Along with her scholarly brilliance, compassion, and her love for life I will always remember Linda for her fantastic sense of humor. She always had the capacity to make me, and her other students, laugh at the political and social absurdities of the world. Then she would add a remark that made me (and the rest of the world) reflect upon the question, 'So what must be done?'"
Todd C. Shaw
"When I heard that Dr. Williams had passed away, I was saddened and shocked. Yes, we always worried each time we heard she was back in the hospital, but we also knew that she always bounced back. When you saw her after she had been away for weeks you would never know there was anything wrong with her health. She was always so active, so full of energy, so engaged in her students’ lives. I feel privileged to have known Dr. Williams for ten years. We first met when I was a freshman in college and I was lucky to work as her teaching assistant when I first started graduate school and to have her on my dissertation committee this past spring. She was my mentor, someone who really pushed me to work hard, who inspired me to become politically engaged, and who celebrated my academic and personal success in a way that always motivated me to push myself even harder and to do more because it felt good to have someone so amazing tell you she was proud of you. What a sad loss for this university and for all of us whose lives were touched by Dr. Williams."
Juliana Menasce Horowitz
"Linda was very committed to her students, and provided a welcoming place in the department for students with interdisciplinary or non-mainstream research interests. She was a very open-minded scholar and cared about things that mattered, and she will be missed very much by her students and fellow scholars alike."
Shanthi Gonzales
"Dr. Linda Williams was an amazing women and professor, who moved those she taught beyond words. From stories regarding her experiences going to high school in a small Texas town during segregation, to her constant emphasis on the importance of egalitarianism in American politics. She provided a perspective grounded in personal experience and excellence that is unparalleled, her absence will be felt greatly."
Ila Singh
"Dr. Linda Williams' commitment to teaching until her passing shows the passion and strength of a woman committed to her work. The indelible knowledge that she left us with will assuredly affect change in our lives; her presence in the classroom will truly be missed. The University has lost an outstanding professor, scholar, and friend."
Katrina Tai
"Dr. Williams' encouragement was unmerciful. She could press you to spend an entire weekend researching by convincing you how interesting and important your work would be."
Gabby Knighton
"Professor Williams was not only a dedicated educator, but also a motivator. The best therapy for my distress was speaking to her because she always knew what to say to lift me up. Her eyes did not see colors, but humanness. I know that she won't be able to write me a letter of recommendation for law school, but I'll write her a letter of recommendation for heaven. Farewell dear Linda Williams!"
Erick Lastarria
"Linda Williams was absolutely one of my favorite people at the University of Maryland--not only a distinguished scholar and an effective political activist, but also a truly warm, generous, unpretentious, open-minded, humorous, caring (but intellectually tough) human being. We were privileged to know her and will always miss her."
Peter Levine
"When I first arrived at the University of Maryland, my first position as a teaching assistant was under Dr. Williams in GVPT 170. It is undeniable that her influence on me as a teacher will prove indelible. I hope, through my career, that I might possess but half of the knowledge and passion that she demonstrated in every class. Even more influential, for me, was her understanding of the salient issues and the world at large. She never knew, yet Dr. Williams provided me with the chart upon which I rely to navigate through academia and politics. Thanks for everything, Linda."
Jesse-Douglas Mathewson
If you'd like to leave your own message, please email jmathewson at domain gvpt•umd•edu.
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