Social justice activist and author Barbara Becnel
has over 20 years of experience working for prison reform in the state
of California, while writing 11 award-winning gang- and drug-prevention
books.
From leading an international media campaign aimed
at preventing the judicial execution of reformed black gang leader
Stanley Williams, to organising an ‘Occupy San Quentin’ rally attended
by hundreds in front of the state prison that houses California’s death
chamber, she has often shown inspiring leadership and tenacity.
Building on her online MSc in Social Justice and
Community Action, Barbara has returned to Edinburgh to pursue a PhD. Her
thesis explores the culture of the condemned and how death row became a
symbol of heroism for America’s street-gang generation. Integral to
this is her collaboration with three former gangsters who are
co-researchers on the project.
Barbara has recently been appointed to Scotland's
Expert Steering Group for tackling racial harassment in higher
education. She is also helping to organise a symposium called ‘Resisting
the Language of Oppression’ for Black History Month in October.
Edinburgh education: MSc Social Justice and Community Action (With Distinction), 2018.
Current position: PhD candidate, Moray House School of Education and Sport at the University of Edinburgh.