Kevin Schultz
Professor and Chair of History
Biography
Kevin Schultz, professor and chair of history. (Photo: UIC College of Liberal Arts and Sciences/Katie Klema)
An award-winning historian, Kevin Schultz specializes in 20th and 21st-century American history, with a focus on politics, polarization, religion and intellectual life.
His most recent book, “Why Everyone Hates White Liberals (Including White Liberals): A History,” examines the history of the word “liberal” and the people who have used and abused it, arguing it is a key slur in American political life. His historical and contemporary perspectives resonate strongly in today’s discourse around polarization, liberalism, social democracy and political tribalism. His previous book, “Buckley and Mailer: The Difficult Friendship that Shaped the 1960s,” was an Amazon No. 1 New Release in History.
Schultz’s academic background and keen awareness of timely cultural issues have made him a compelling source for media interviews and commentary across the entire political spectrum. He has appeared on NPR, PBS, MSNBC and NewsNation, contributed to The Conversation and the Washington Post, and is frequently interviewed by Chicago-based media outlets.
Media Mentions
The ‘liberal’ label: How’d it become a political insult?
WBEZ
Chicago celebrates its native son’s elevation to pope
Reuters
FDR united Democrats under the banner of ‘liberalism’ − but today’s Democratic Party has nothing to put on its hat
The Conversation
