Dr. Ack Rides Again: Adventures in Radical Geography, Many Small Stories, and a Banjo

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This paper aims to tell episodes of the geographical trajectory of radical geographer Clark Akatiff based on his own reflections and statements by people who know him as friend, colleague, or teacher. The authors make a plea to pay more attention to "small stories" and "minor geographies" in studies on the history of geography and to employ unconventional narratives that provide insights into how geographers engage with the world, express their political and philosophical standpoints, inspire others, and lead an essentially geographical life. Personal accounts like Akatiff's do not oppose the dominant discourse of key thinkers in the discipline as it is told in textbooks, but enrich geography's history by revealing grassroots stories that are frequently overlooked in academia and downplayed as ephemeral, in this case the origins of radical geography in the United States and the legacy of geographer William Bunge. The authors argue that research must follow a more inclusive, multivocal approach that consists of listening to stories and recording narratives.