Mako Ward

Select Academic Publications (full texts available using Google Scholar link above) 

Ward, M. F., Sandlin, J., Vlahoulis, M. M. and Holman, C. (editors) (2021). The pandemic reader: Exposing social (in)justice in the time of COVID-19. New York: DIO Press, Inc.

Ward, M. F. (forthcoming, Aug. 2024). Ruha Benjamin. In M C. Jipguep-Akhtar and N. Khan (eds.) Fifty key scholars in Black social thought. New York: Routledge.

Ward, M. F. (2021). “Metamorphic liberation”: Radical self-care and the biopolitical agency of Black women. Kalfou: A Journal of Comparative and Relational Ethnic Studies, 8(1): 256-273.

Ward, M. F. (2021). The Resurgence of Marxist feminist analytics: Book review of Marx, Women and Capitalist Social Reproduction: Marxist Feminist Essays by Martha E. Giménez. Social Justice: A Journal of Crime, Conflict and World Order, 47(1-2): 241-247.

Ward, M. F. (2017). Queen Bey and the new Niggerati: Ethics of individualism in the appropriation of black radicalism. Black Camera, 9(1): 146-163.

Fitts, M. (2011). Theorizing transformative revolutionary action: The contribution of bell hooks to emancipatory knowledge production. The C.L.R. James Journal: A Review of Caribbean Ideas, 17(1): 112-132.

Fitts, M. (2008). ‘Drop it like it’s hot’: Culture industry laborers and their perspectives on rap music video production. Meridians: Feminism, Race, Transnationalism, 8(1): 211-235.

Fitts, M. (2009). Institutionalizing intersectionality: Reflections on the structure of women’s studies departments and programs. In Michele T. Berger and Kathleen Guidroz (Eds.) The Intersectional Approach: Transforming the Academy through Race, Class and Gender, 249-257. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press.

Rubin, L. R., Fitts, M. L., & Becker, A. E. (2003). ‘Whatever feels good in my soul’: Body ethics and aesthetics among African American and Latina women. Culture, medicine, and psychiatry, 27: 49-75.

Research Reports, White Papers & Training Materials

Barra, E., Ward, M. F., Anderson, L. M. and Brown, A. M. (2022). Women in the mix study. Los Angeles, CA: The Recording Academy©.  https://www.recordingacademy.com/sites/com/files/witm_study_2.pdf.

Hines, E. and Ward, M. F. (2022). Black women thriving: BWT report 2022. Raleigh, NC: Every Level Leadership. https://everylevelleads.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Black-Women-Thriving-Report_2022.pdf.

Ward, M. F., Crudup, C. Borman, B., Young, L. and Wilson, D. (2022). Outreach worker program: Assessment and evaluation. Evaluation report submitted to the Starbucks Global Social Impact Team. Tempe, AZ: Arizona State University.

Ward, M. F. (2020). BARE coach certification program: Curriculum assessment report. Evaluation report submitted to Susan Hyatt, Inc. Tempe, AZ: Arizona State University.

Ward, M. F., Bailey, M. M., Solyom, J. and Bustamante, N. (2019). Welcoming dialogue on sexuality bias. To be welcoming. Tempe, AZ: Starbucks Global Academy. https://www.starbucksglobalacademy.com/to-be-welcoming/.

Ward, M. F., Solyom, J., Chin, J. (2019). Welcoming dialogue on gender bias. To be welcoming. Tempe, AZ: Starbucks Global Academy. https://www.starbucksglobalacademy.com/to-be-welcoming/.

Fitts, M., Sawa, D. and Schulman, J. C. (2007). Lesson 1: Modern momotoro: Folktales in hip hop. In M. Runnel and M. Diaz (eds.), The hip-hop education guidebook, volume 1. New York: Hip-Hop Association, Inc., 70-77.

Editorials & Popular Publications

"The Power of the Intersectional Protest Image," JSTOR Daily, October 3, 2020.  

"Queer Liberation is Black Liberation, Justice for Black Lives is Justice for All," Praxis Center, June 24, 2020 (co-authored with Marlon M. Bailey)

“Could black philanthropy help solve the black student debt crisis?,” The Conversation, July 12, 2019

“The Problem with Beyhive Bottom Bitch Feminism,” Huffington Post Canada, Dec. 17, 2013 (co-authored with Christa Bell) 

"The Good News: Madea’s Not a Colored Girl,” Ms., November 6, 2010

“Can Tyler Perry Pull Off a Black Feminist Masterpiece?,” Ms., October 14, 2010

“Where Do We Go From bell,” Ms., September 10, 2010

“Police Violence is a Feminist Issue,” May 27, 2010

"Better education, open schools are the right way to fight crime.” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Friday, February 5, 2009, Editorials, p. A11. 

“Beyond Beats and Rhymes tackles male roles and sexism in hip hop.” Freedom Socialist, April-May 2007, Volume 28, No.2, p. 10.