Laurie B. Green
Associate Professor — Ph.D., University of Chicago

Contact
- E-mail: lbgreen@austin.utexas.edu
- Phone: 512-475-7245 (Email only in Fall 2020)
- Office: GAR 2.116 (Working remotely in Fall 2020)
- Office Hours: By appointment only, Fall 2020
- Campus Mail Code: B7000
Biography
Research interests
As a historian, she works on questions about dynamics of power and ideas surrounding social justice movements in the mid-20th century U.S., particularly those involving poor and working-class women, Blacks, and Latinas/os (as intersecting identities) in rural and urban, local and national contexts. She pays close attention to contested understandings of gender and race in relation to labor and migration, poverty and malnutrition, health and medicine, racial and sexual violence, print and broadcast media, political and popular culture. Her first book, Battling the Plantation Mentality: Memphis and the Black Freedom Struggle (University of North Carolina Press, 2007), explores the meanings of "freedom" among urban migrants who protested racist labor practices, police violence (including rape), segregation, and movie censorship from World War II to the 1968 Memphis sanitation workers' strike. Freedom, she argues, represented an ongoing struggle against what many labeled a "plantation mentality." Her current project, "The Discovery of Hunger in America: A Site of Public Crisis of Race, Health, and American Democracy," focuses on the explosion of public outcry following revelations about severe hunger and malnutrition among millions of poor Blacks, Native Americans, Latinas/os, and Appalachian whites starting in the mid-1960s and continuing over the next decade. She approaches this politics of hunger through an interdisciplinary approach that intertwines social, cultural and political history, medical humanities, media studies, critical race theory, and gender studies.
Courses taught
Undergraduate courses: Rights in Modern America, U.S. in the Civil Rights Era, Women and Social Movements, Women, Gender, and Sexuality in Postwar America (writing seminar), The Civil Rights Movement from a Comparative Perspectives (writing seminar). Students in her postwar women's history seminar conduct oral histories for the Austin Women Activists Oral History Project, which she established in partnership with the Briscoe Center for American History. In the comparative civil rights course, students pursue original research about the history of race in Austin and at UT.
Graduate seminars: Courses incorporate themes pertaining to the history of race, gender, and sexuality in the U.S.; urban, southern, migration, and social movement history; health and medicine; and the media.
Scholarly Publications and Awards
Professor Green's first book, Battling the Plantation Mentality: Memphis and the Black Freedom Struggle (University of North Carolina Press, 2007), won the 2008 Philip Taft Labor History Award, and was top finalist for the Organization of American Historians' Liberty Legacy Foundation Award. In 2014, the University of Minnesota Press published Precarious Prescriptions: Contested Histories of Race and Health in North America, which she co-edited with Martin Summers and John Mckiernan-Gonzalez, and the same year the University of North Carolina Press and Center for the Study of Southern Culture published the volume on Race for the New Encyclopedia of Southern Culture, which she co-edited with Thomas Holt. Professor Green is a Distinguished Lecturer for the Organization of American Historians, and has been awarded fellowships by such institutions as the Woodrow Wilson Foundation, the Institute for Advanced Study (Princeton), the Louisville Institute, and the American Historical Association, the University of Chicago, and the University of Texas.
Media
Professor Green has appeared in two documentary films: Duty of the Hour, about the civil rights leader. Hon. Benjamin L. Hooks, dir. Reece Auguiste, 2012; and Fight Like a Girl: How Women's Activism Shapes History, dir. Rachel Griess, Life & Letters, UT, 2018, based on the Austin Women Activists Oral History Project, founded by Green in 2017. Her op-eds and guest columns have been published online by The Hill, The American Prospect, USA Today, MLK50, Process: A Blog for American History; Not Even Past; and many Texas newspapers. She has also been interviewed about her work and contemporary issues on several radio stations. Most recently, she was quoted in the New York Times Magazine feature, "America at Hunger's Edge," 6 September 2020.
Dr. Green's research was featured on the University of Texas Home Page in January 2006: Marching on Memphis.
Courses
HIS 317L • Rights In Modern America-Wb
39165 • Spring 2021
Meets TTH 12:30PM-2:00PM
Internet; Synchronous
CD
HI
HIS 378W • Capstone In History-Wb
39545 • Spring 2021
Meets TTH 3:30PM-5:00PM
Internet; Synchronous
IIWr
HIS 350R • Cvl Rts Mvmt Frm Comp Persp
38805 • Spring 2020
Meets W 3:00PM-6:00PM GAR 2.128
CDIIWr
HI
(also listed as AFR 374D, AMS 370, MAS 374)
HIS 356P • Us In The Civil Rights Era
38840 • Spring 2020
Meets TTH 11:00AM-12:30PM MEZ 1.120
CDE
HI
(also listed as AFR 374D, AMS 321)
HIS 350R • Women In Postwar America
38985 • Spring 2019
Meets TTH 2:00PM-3:30PM GAR 2.128
IIWr
HI
(also listed as AMS 370, WGS 345)
HIS 356P • Us In The Civil Rights Era
39030 • Spring 2019
Meets TTH 11:00AM-12:30PM UTC 3.124
CDE
HI
(also listed as AFR 374D, AMS 321)
HIS 350R • Civil Rts Mov From Comp Persp
39260 • Fall 2018
Meets W 3:00PM-6:00PM JES A209A
CDIIWr
HI
(also listed as AFR 374D, AMS 370)
HIS 365G • Women And Socl Mvmnts In Us
39350 • Fall 2018
Meets TTH 12:30PM-2:00PM UTC 4.122
HI
(also listed as AFR 372C, AMS 321, WGS 340)
HIS 356P • Us In The Civil Rights Era
39135 • Spring 2018
Meets TTH 11:00AM-12:30PM UTC 3.124
CDE
HI
(also listed as AFR 374D, AMS 321)
HIS 397K • Lit Of Us History Since 1865
39360 • Spring 2018
Meets W 1:00PM-4:00PM GAR 1.122
(also listed as AMS 391)
HIS 317L • Rights In Modern America
39410 • Fall 2017
Meets MWF 1:00PM-2:00PM UTC 3.110
CD
HI
(also listed as AFR 317D, AMS 315, WGS 301)
HIS 350R • Women In Postwar America
39590 • Fall 2017
Meets M 3:00PM-6:00PM GAR 0.128
IIWr
HI
(also listed as AMS 370, WGS 345)
HIS 365G • Women And Socl Mvmnts In Us
39650 • Spring 2017
Meets TTH 12:30PM-2:00PM UTC 3.102
CD
HI
(also listed as AFR 372C, AMS 321, WGS 340)
HIS 350R • Civil Rts Mov From Comp Persp
39395 • Fall 2016
Meets M 3:00PM-6:00PM GAR 0.132
CDIIWr
HI
(also listed as AFR 374D, AMS 370, MAS 374)
HIS 356P • Us In The Civil Rights Era
39440 • Fall 2016
Meets TTH 3:30PM-5:00PM UTC 3.102
CDE
HI
(also listed as AFR 374D, AMS 321)
HIS 365G • Women And Socl Mvmnts In Us
38875 • Spring 2016
Meets TTH 11:00AM-12:30PM UTC 4.132
CD
(also listed as AFR 372C, AMS 321, WGS 340)
HIS 397K • Lit Of Us History Since 1865
39025 • Spring 2016
Meets TH 3:30PM-6:30PM GAR 2.124
(also listed as AMS 391)
HIS 350R • Women In Postwar America
38595 • Fall 2015
Meets W 3:00PM-6:00PM GAR 3.116
IIWr
HI
(also listed as AMS 370, WGS 345)
HIS 356P • Us In The Civil Rights Era
38655 • Fall 2015
Meets TTH 2:00PM-3:30PM UTC 3.102
CDE
HI
(also listed as AFR 374D, AMS 321, MAS 374)
HIS 350R • Civil Rts Mov From Comp Persp
38705 • Spring 2015
Meets W 3:00PM-6:00PM GAR 0.120
CDIIWr
(also listed as AFR 374D, AMS 370, MAS 374)
HIS 365G • Women And Socl Mvmnts In Us
38845 • Spring 2015
Meets TTH 3:30PM-5:00PM UTC 3.122
CD
(also listed as AMS 321, WGS 340)
HIS 356P • Us In The Civil Rights Era
39710 • Fall 2014
Meets TTH 3:30PM-5:00PM UTC 3.134
CDE
(also listed as AFR 374D, AMS 321, MAS 374)
HIS 389 • Gender/Race/Natl Id In Us Hist
39920 • Fall 2014
Meets M 2:00PM-5:00PM GAR 1.122
(also listed as AFR 381, AMS 391, MAS 392, WGS 393)
HIS 350R • Women In Postwar America
39885 • Fall 2013
Meets W 3:00PM-6:00PM PAR 210
IIWr
HI
(also listed as AMS 370, WGS 345)
HIS 356P • The Us In The Civil Rights Era
39940 • Fall 2013
Meets TTH 3:30PM-5:00PM UTC 3.134
CDE
(also listed as AFR 374D, AMS 321, MAS 374)
HIS 365G • Women/Social Movements In Us
39720 • Spring 2013
Meets TTH 2:00PM-3:30PM UTC 4.134
CD
HI
(also listed as AMS 321, WGS 340)
HIS 389 • Concepts In Urban History
39858 • Spring 2013
Meets M 2:00PM-5:00PM BEN 1.118
(also listed as AMS 391)
HIS 350R • Civil Rts Mov From Comp Persp
39419 • Fall 2012
Meets W 3:00PM-6:00PM GAR 0.120
Wr
(also listed as AFR 374D, AMS 370)
HIS 356P • The Us In The Civil Rights Era
39524 • Fall 2012
Meets TTH 3:30PM-5:00PM SAC 5.102
CDE
(also listed as AFR 374D, AMS 321, MAS 374)
HIS 389 • Gender/Race/Natl Id In Us Hist
39750 • Spring 2012
Meets M 3:00PM-6:00PM GAR 1.122
(also listed as AFR 381, AMS 391, WGS 393)
HIS 350R • Women In Postwar America
39425 • Fall 2011
Meets TTH 3:30PM-5:00PM GAR 0.120
Wr
HI
(also listed as AMS 370, WGS 345)
HIS 356P • The Us In The Civil Rights Era
39480 • Fall 2011
Meets TTH 9:30AM-11:00AM UTC 3.134
CDE
HI
(also listed as AFR 374D, AMS 321, MAS 374)
HIS 356P • The Us In The Civil Rights Era
39760 • Spring 2010
Meets TTH 9:30AM-11:00AM UTC 3.134
CDE
HI
(also listed as AFR 374D, AMS 321, MAS 374)
HIS 389 • Gender, Race, & Natl Identity
40005 • Spring 2010
Meets TH 2:00PM-5:00PM GAR 1.122
(also listed as AMS 391, WGS 393)
WGS 345 • Women In Postwar America-W
48857 • Fall 2008
Meets T 3:30PM-6:30PM GAR 1.134
HI
WGS 301 • Us Women/Sexlty/Gend Snc 1865
48720 • Spring 2008
Meets TTH 9:30AM-11:00AM UTC 3.122
HI
WGS 345 • Women In Postwar America-W
49000 • Spring 2008
Meets T 2:00PM-5:00PM GAR 1.122
HI
HIS 356P • The Us In The Civil Rights Era
41015 • Fall 2007
Meets TTH 11:00AM-12:30PM UTC 4.112
HI
(also listed as AFR 374D, AMS 321, MAS 374)
HIS 392 • Modernity And The Us South
41290 • Fall 2007
Meets W 5:00PM-8:00PM BUR 234
(also listed as AMS 391)
HIS 315L • United States Since 1865
39445 • Spring 2007
Meets TTH 12:30PM-2:00PM PHR 2.110
HI
HIS 389 • Rsch In Gender/Race/Natl Ident
40010 • Spring 2007
Meets T 3:00PM-6:00PM BUR 436A
(also listed as AMS 391, WGS 393)
HIS 356P • The Us In The Civil Rights Era
40710 • Fall 2006
Meets TTH 12:30PM-2:00PM BUR 136
HI
(also listed as AFR 374D, AMS 321, MAS 374)
WGS 345 • Women/Gend/Sexalty 20-C Amer-W
49705 • Fall 2006
Meets TTH 11:00AM-12:30PM BUR 436A
HI
HIS 356P • The Us In The Civil Rights Era
38740 • Fall 2005
Meets TTH 2:00PM-3:30PM UTC 3.134
HI
(also listed as AFR 374D, AMS 321)
HIS 392 • Fndtn I: Intro Wom'S/Gend Stds
38950 • Fall 2005
Meets W 2:00PM-5:00PM GAR 107
(also listed as WGS 390)
HIS 315L • United States Since 1865
37140 • Spring 2005
Meets TTH 12:30PM-2:00PM UTC 2.112A
HI
WGS 345 • Women In Postwar America-W
46205 • Spring 2005
Meets W 3:00PM-6:00PM PAR 210
HI
HIS 356P • The Us In The Civil Rights Era
38410 • Fall 2004
Meets MWF 1:00PM-2:00PM UTC 3.134
HI
(also listed as AFR 374D, AMS 321)
HIS 392 • Modernity And The Us South
38662 • Fall 2004
Meets W 3:00PM-6:00PM CMA A3.130
HIS 315L • United States Since 1865
36410 • Fall 2003
Meets TTH 12:30PM-2:00PM ART 1.102
HI
WGS 345 • Women In Postwar America-W
45990 • Fall 2003
Meets T 3:30PM-6:30PM WEL 3.266
C2
HIS 392 • Race/Cul/Polit In Postwar Us
36055 • Spring 2003
Meets M 2:00PM-5:00PM GAR 205
HIS 315L • United States Since 1865
35970-36015 • Fall 2002
Meets MW 10:00AM-11:00AM WEL 1.308
HI
WGS 345 • Women In Postwar America-W
45645 • Fall 2002
Meets TH 3:30PM-6:30PM CBA 4.338
HI
HIS 315L • United States Since 1865
35395-35440 • Spring 2002
Meets MW 9:00AM-10:00AM WEL 1.308
HI
HIS 389 • Gender & Race In 20th-Cen Amer
35845 • Spring 2002
Meets T 9:30AM-12:30PM GAR 107
HIS 315L • United States Since 1865
36435 • Fall 2001
Meets MWF 10:00AM-11:00AM WEL 1.308
HI
Curriculum Vitae
Profile Pages
External Links
- "Fight Like a Girl: How Women's Activism Shapes History" A Life & Letters documentary about the Austin Women Activists Oral History Project
- Battling the Plantation Mentality: Memphis and the Black Freedom Struggle (2007)
- Precarious Prescriptions: Contested Histories of Race and Health in North America
- The New Encyclopedia of Southern Culture. Vol. 24: RACE