Black Excellence is officially out in the world. Thank you to everyone who had a role, big and small, in its making. You can purchase here: www.pennpress.org/978151282784... The cake version (below) was delicious.

Today is the last day to pre-order BLACK EXCELLENCE with the Penn Press Summer Sale discount! Enter PENN-SUMMER25 at checkout to save 40%! Official publication on publication date is September 2! www.pennpress.org/978151282784...

Another book coming soon that I can't wait to read! Looking forward to it, @danielle-wiggins.bsky.social!!!! I may have to revise my Atlanta politics seminar, too, which I've not taught in like a decade. So many great books on Atlanta since then. www.pennpress.org/978151282785...

First, Sly and now Brian 💔. I am verklempt.

Some news! In August, I’ll be joining the Department of History at Georgetown. I’m going to miss Caltech (especially my students) and Pasadena but I’m really looking forward to moving back to the East Coast.

seeing the cover to @danielle-wiggins.bsky.social's @pennpress.bsky.social for the first time. you know this book is going to be good but omg!! can't wait to have this on my shelf. www.pennpress.org/978151282784...

Janet Jackson- “Alright”

We Are One- Maze

Thrilled to have a copy of this brilliant new collection edited by @brentcebul.bsky.social and @lilygeismer.bsky.social with a fantastic lineup of young historians.

“This liberalism appears increasingly exhausted in the face of today’s overlapping crises.” @brentcebul.bsky.social @lilygeismer.bsky.social @dygottlieb.bsky.social @pastpunditry.bsky.social & @danielle-wiggins.bsky.social discuss the struggle for the soul of the Democratic Party:

Happy birthday, George youtu.be/IUcNd2WDKu0?...

Tune in in 30 minutes!

TOMORROW! Join @lilygeismer.bsky.social @brentcebul.bsky.social @pastpunditry.bsky.social @danielle-wiggins.bsky.social & Dylan Gottlieb at 7pm via Zoom to discuss The Limits of Professional-Class Liberalism, moderated by contributing editor Simon Torracinta. Register here: tinyurl.com/4cxpm8fa

Join @lilygeismer.bsky.social @brentcebul.bsky.social @pastpunditry.bsky.social @danielle-wiggins.bsky.social & Dylan Gottlieb on Feb 20 at 7pm for a virtual event on The Limits of Professional-Class Liberalism, moderated by contributing editor Simon Torracinta. Register here: tinyurl.com/4cxpm8fa

Fun new find my brother picked up for me this weekend. I’m obsessed with this cover. It even has a couple songs I haven’t heard before like The Drifter’s cover of “Every Night” from McCartney.

rip Garth Hudson, the last living member of The Band. One of my favorites. youtu.be/ZfBqWNFOVo8?...

I always come back to this piece and to George Jackson.

Over 200 members of the Caltech community have lost their homes in the fires this week. If you’re able, consider making a donation to the Caltech/JPL Disaster Relief Fund. giving.caltech.edu/areas-to-sup...

Becky Nicolaides, a historian of Los Angeles and suburbia, lost everything when her home in Altadena burned down on Tuesday night. If you have the means to help support her and her family in navigating this devastating loss, her fundraising site is here: gofund.me/6ef68b01

Over 200 members of the Caltech community have lost their homes in the fires this week. If you’re able, consider making a donation to the Caltech/JPL Disaster Relief Fund. giving.caltech.edu/areas-to-sup...

Tired.

Fun fact: Jimmy Carter and Motown founder Berry Gordy, Jr. were second cousins.

Merry Christmas! youtu.be/z84QdJlPpHE?...

I have no idea when it was posted but @danielle-wiggins.bsky.social Soul Christmas playlist remains undefeated open.spotify.com/playlist/1Hh...

“Saturn” is an abolitionist text. youtu.be/p3KpUO6t9qQ?...

Happy birthday to my fellow New Jerseyan, Dionne Warwick, who I once saw in the parking lot of the South Orange A&P. She was wearing a white fur coat, furry white boots, and a bedazzled white baseball cap. An icon. youtu.be/ewVWqr0pgOI?...

It's been 60 years since the world lost Sam Cooke, "the man who invented soul" and one of my favorite voices. Here is one of his best live performances. www.youtube.com/watch?v=54aG...

As someone who thinks a lot of about neoliberalism and The Beatles, I’ve been trying to understand this for several days now.

FYI PhD students in the writing stage! 🗃️🌿

You can now preorder Mastery and Drift: Professional-Class Liberals since the 1960s, available March 2025. An essential text for this moment, it historicizes the failures of the modern Democrats and offers incisive critiques of modern liberalism. press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo... #skystorians

Caltech's hiring an assistant professor of Asian history--social and/or political history of all geographical regions of Asia broadly construed up to 1900 CE. Applications are due Dec. 1. Please share! Happy to answer questions. www.applications.caltech.edu/jobs/history #skystorians #academicsky

I need Bob Dylan to join Bluesky. We're missing out on some gold.