Bill Weinberg sound recordings, 1992-2021 bulk 1992 - 2011

Biographical Note

Bill Weinberg is a journalist, political writer, activist, and radio personality. His work and activism has focused on human rights, indigenous movements, drug policy, the environment, the Middle East, and opposition to war and authoritarianism. He is the author of the books Homage to Chiapas: The New Indigenous Struggles in Mexico(Verso, 2000), War on the Land: Ecology and Politics in Central America (Zed Books, 1991), Avant Gardening: Ecological Struggle in the City and the World (Autonomedia, 1999), and other books on politics, the United States' international interventions, and cannabis. Weinberg has been an editor or regular contributor to Native Americas, High Times, The Guardian (New York-based left-wing publication), Project CBD, Cannabis Now, and The Village Sun. His work has appeared in numerous other publications and won awards from the Native American Journalists Association. His online news site CounterVortex covers issues related to human rights, ecology, democracy, peace, and the rights of indigenous peoples. Weinberg started CounterVortex as World War 4 Report following 9/11 and the United States' initiation of a new form of warfare in the Global War on Terror. Weinberg was a co-producer and on-air personality for the radio show Moorish Orthodox Radio Crusade (MORC) from 1992 to 2011. MORC was started in 1988 by Peter Lamborn Wilson, and was broadcast late night on WBAI, inheriting a timeslot held by Bob Fass' Radio Unnameable and James Irsay's Primary Sources. MORC's name was derived from a 1960s radio show from members of the Moorish Orthodox Church of America (MOCA), a small mystical sect based on the Upper West Side. In 1992, Weinberg joined Wilson on MORC. The two had met through the Libertarian Book Club, a longstanding anarchist group. Weinberg's participation brought an increased focus on political issues. International affairs, left anarchist thought, and local politics became prominently featured. Ann-Marie Hendrickson joined as a co-host in 1995. Between 1995 and 2001, the MORC collective expanded further to include Sharon Gregory as co-host, Bob McGill as engineer, Dave Smith as technical engineer, and Max Schmid as producer. In March of 2011, WBAI took MORC off the airwaves following conflicts about premiums and the views of figures at WBAI. The show continued online for a brief period before ending.

Scope and Contents

The Bill Weinberg sound recordings feature 57 episodes of the show Moorish Orthodox Radio Crusade (MORC), which was broadcast on WBAI radio from 1988 to 2011. The collection's recordings date from Bill Weinberg's period as part of the show's collective from 1992 to 2011. Throughout its run, MORC covered a wide range of political, cultural, and spiritual topics. Some major themes addressed in the collection's episodes include ecology, indigenous movements, anarchism, the War on Drugs, United States imperialism, Latin America, North Africa, religion, and gardening. Some specific international topics covered by the collection include Cuba, Chiapas in Mexico, Mauritania, and the Uighurs in China. Several episodes address the Critical Mass protests and other bicycling and sustainable transportation issues. Activism and community in New York City are also major topics. Other episodes document internal affairs and conflict at radio station WBAI. Music is consistent feature across episodes, and shows feature eclectic rock, folk, and pop from around the world. The collection also contains an oral history interview with Weinberg that was taken by the curator when the collection was donated to the Oral History Archives at Columbia. Bill Weinberg is a journalist, political writer, activist, and radio personality. His work and activism has focused on human rights, indigenous movements, drug policy, the environment, the Middle East, and opposition to war and authoritarianism. The Bill Weinberg sound recordings feature 57 episodes of the show Moorish Orthodox Radio Crusade (MORC), which was broadcast on WBAI radio from 1988 to 2011. The collection's recordings date from Bill Weinberg's period as part of the show's collective from 1992 to 2011. Throughout its run, MORC covered a wide range of political, cultural, and spiritual topics. Some major themes addressed in the collection's episodes include ecology, indigenous movements, anarchism, the War on Drugs, United States imperialism, Latin America, North Africa, religion, New York City political and social movements, sustainable transportation, and gardening. The collection also contains an oral history interview with Weinberg that was taken by the curator when the collection was donated to the Oral History Archives at Columbia.

Subjects

• Africa--Politics and government
• Anarchism
• Audiocassettes
• Chiapas (Mexico)--History
• Cycling--Political aspects
• Drug control--United States
• Human ecology
• Indigenous peoples--Civil rights
• Latin America--Politics and government--20th century
• New York (State)--Politics and goverment--1951-
• Radicalism--New York (State)--New York--History
• Radio programs
• Self-determination, National
• Social movements--New York (State)--New York--History
• WBAI Radio (New York, N.Y.)

Access Conditions

Copyright by Bill Weinberg or other creators. The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York hold a non-exclusive license to enable library activities.