John Womack
Encyclopedia
John Womack Jr. is an historian of Latin America
, particularly of Mexico
, the Mexican Revolution
(1910–1921) and Emiliano Zapata
. In June 2009 he retired from his post as the Robert Woods Bliss Professor of Latin American History and Economics at Harvard University
.
Womack was born in Norman, Oklahoma
, in 1937 to John Womack Sr., also an historian. He graduated summa cum laude at Harvard University in 1959 (see Publications) and became a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University. In the 60's he returned to his alma mater to earn a Ph.D. in History with exceptional research that gave him international prestige and his most famous book: Zapata and the Mexican Revolution. His dissertation earned him a place at Harvard as an assistant professor of Latin American History. He became a specialist in Mexican, Cuban and Colombian history, leading research in agrarian, industrial, and labor history.
On November 21, 2009, he received the 1808 Medal, given by the Mexico City government. He gave it up to the Mexican Union of Electricians, saying: "My infinite respect for the ability of Mexicans to transform in benefit of the majority their moments of crisis. Such conviction moves me to give honor and deliver this medal to the most important, most courageous organization that took form in this city during the revolutionary wars at the beginning of the last century, the Mexican Union of Electricians (...)".
Womack also serves on the board of directors for FFIPP-USA (Faculty for Israeli-Palestinian Peace-USA) which is a network of Palestinian, Israeli, and International faculty, and students, working for an end of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and just peace.
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
, particularly of Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, the Mexican Revolution
Mexican Revolution
The Mexican Revolution was a major armed struggle that started in 1910, with an uprising led by Francisco I. Madero against longtime autocrat Porfirio Díaz. The Revolution was characterized by several socialist, liberal, anarchist, populist, and agrarianist movements. Over time the Revolution...
(1910–1921) and Emiliano Zapata
Emiliano Zapata
Emiliano Zapata Salazar was a leading figure in the Mexican Revolution, which broke out in 1910, and which was initially directed against the president Porfirio Díaz. He formed and commanded an important revolutionary force, the Liberation Army of the South, during the Mexican Revolution...
. In June 2009 he retired from his post as the Robert Woods Bliss Professor of Latin American History and Economics at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
Womack was born in Norman, Oklahoma
Norman, Oklahoma
Norman is a city in Cleveland County, Oklahoma, United States, and is located south of downtown Oklahoma City. It is part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, Norman was to have 110,925 full-time residents, making it the third-largest city in Oklahoma and the...
, in 1937 to John Womack Sr., also an historian. He graduated summa cum laude at Harvard University in 1959 (see Publications) and became a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University. In the 60's he returned to his alma mater to earn a Ph.D. in History with exceptional research that gave him international prestige and his most famous book: Zapata and the Mexican Revolution. His dissertation earned him a place at Harvard as an assistant professor of Latin American History. He became a specialist in Mexican, Cuban and Colombian history, leading research in agrarian, industrial, and labor history.
On November 21, 2009, he received the 1808 Medal, given by the Mexico City government. He gave it up to the Mexican Union of Electricians, saying: "My infinite respect for the ability of Mexicans to transform in benefit of the majority their moments of crisis. Such conviction moves me to give honor and deliver this medal to the most important, most courageous organization that took form in this city during the revolutionary wars at the beginning of the last century, the Mexican Union of Electricians (...)".
Womack also serves on the board of directors for FFIPP-USA (Faculty for Israeli-Palestinian Peace-USA) which is a network of Palestinian, Israeli, and International faculty, and students, working for an end of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and just peace.
Publications
- Rebellion in Chiapas: An Historical Reader (1999)
- Zapata and the Mexican Revolution Vintage (1969) ISBN 0394708539
- Zapata and the Mexican Revolution (1968)
- Oklahoma’s Green Corn Rebellion: The Importance of Fools Harvard, senior thesis (1959)
- Emiliano Zapata and the Revolution in Morelos, 1910-1920 Harvard, Ph.D. dissertation (1966)
External links
- John Womack at Harvard's History department
- John Womack articles at the New York Review of Books
- About FFIPP