As always, with thanks to the Zinn Education Project! @zinnedproject.bsky.social

Please mark your calendars! We will screen our film, *Becoming Benjamin Lay*, directed by Tony Buba, at Pittsburgh's City of Asylum (@cityofasylum.bsky.social) on Monday, August 31 at 7:00 pm. Join us! cityofasylum.org/program/tony...

My film with Tony Buba, *Becoming Benjamin Lay*, will be screened tomorrow, June 27, in the Sam Yan Film Festival in Bangkok, Thailand. It is an honor to be able to bring the story of the radical abolitionist Lay to viewers in Thailand, thanks to Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal.

Just finished one of the best novels I’ve read in years: *Ghost-Eye* by my friend @amitav.bsky.social. It’s riveting from beginning to end in its vivid storytelling, driving dramatic tension, and radical environmental message. Highly recommended! us.macmillan.com/books/978037...

“Too little, too late." observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

Happy Juneteenth, everyone. Glad to see that @beaconpress.bsky.social is offering a 40% discount on several relevant books, including our own new *The Black Schooner: Rebellion on the Amistad, A Graphic Novel*, about the revolt on the Amistad slave schooner in 1839. www.beacon.org/The-Black-Sc...

I just learned that Carlo Ginzburg, one of the great historians of our time, has passed away at age 87 in Bologna. I had the good fortune to work with Carlo several times. He was driven by a fierce curiosity. I will write about him in my forthcoming book on the history of “history from below."

Now reading, a magnificent book by my friend and colleague Larry Glasco, a life’s work devoted to understanding one of the greatest American playwrights, *August Wilson’s American Century*, published by the University of Pittsburgh Press. Highly recommended! upittpress.org/books/978082...

Happy #PublicationDay, @marcusrediker.bsky.social, David Lester & Paul Buhle! ✊🏽 THE BLACK SCHOONER, a stunning graphic history of the enslaved Africans’ Amistad rebellion of 1839, is “a necessary and unique, expectation-shattering chronicle.” — @libraryjournal.bsky.social, ⭐️Starred Review

Happy #BookBirthday to @marcusrediker.bsky.social, David Lester, & Paul Buhle for their latest graphic collab THE BLACK SCHOONER! @libraryjournal.bsky.social calls it "a necessary & unique, expectation-shattering chronicle." @beaconpress.bsky.social www.libraryjournal.com/review/the-b...

Publication day! Our new book, *The Black Schooner: Rebellion on the Amistad, A Graphic Novel*, is published today by @beaconpress.bsky.social — our fourth such “history from below.” It’s a dramatic, deeply human story, brilliantly illustrated, about the epic themes of slavery and resistance.

Honored to work with New Orleans-based artist Marcus Brown on his new augmented reality art memorial entitled “Docks Noirs,” on the Black maritime workers who helped thousands escape slavery by sea, opening on Juneteenth in NYC, At right are sailor-abolitionist David Ruggles and Frederick Douglass.

Thinking of my uncle, Ted Robertson (1942-1999), the coolest guy in the world, I thought as a kid. He rode big motorcycles, jumped out airplanes as a paratrooper, made money as a pool shark, and was a well-known Western artist, based in New Mexico. Here is a self-portrait from 1982.

I hope teachers at all levels will request a desk copy or an examination copy of our new graphic novel *The Black Schooner*, to be published next week, June 9, by Beacon Press. Follow the link below. penguinrandomhousehighereducation.com/book/?isbn=9...

Calling all teachers, middle school, high school, community college, and universities: consider using our graphic novels in your teaching next fall. We have radical abolitionist Benjamin Lay; pirates; the New York Afro-Irish revolt of 1741; and the Amistad Rebellion. www.beacon.org/cw_contribut...

I was interviewed by Joan Cebrian about “history from below” for a new journal, *Ráfec,* published in the Catalán language. (Read it by using Google Translate.) I talk about themes from from my next book, “History from Below: The Making of a Radical Tradition.” revistarafec.com/entrevista-a...

A thrilling memory. When I was 7 years-old I attended a baseball game with my father in Cleveland and got a foul ball by the great Cuban player Minnie Minoso, one of my favorite athletes of all time and later elected to the Hall of Fame. My father later got Minnie to sign it. Anyone remember him?

Can't recommend enough @ztameez.bsky.social book on the life of Charles Sumner. Couple this w @marcusrediker.bsky.social Benjamin Lay bio and you'll educate yourself this summer in a meaningful way.

Next week Tony Buba and I will screen our film, *Becoming Benjamin Lay*, four times in the Philadelphia area, from May 29-June 1; information below. All screenings are free and open to the public. Please join us and help spread the word!

A new feature in the upcoming graphic novel by @marcusrediker.bsky.social, David Lester, and Paul Buhle is the Witness to History sections. These are parts where the characters directly address the reader. This is a behind-the-scenes look at THE BLACK SCHOONER, coming out on June 9!

Grateful to Sam E. Anderson, former member of SNCC and the Black Panther Party, and the Pan-African *Pambazuka News*, for one of the best reviews of *Freedom Ship* so far: “an essential, inspiring, and necessary correction to the North American historical record.” www.pambazuka.org/index.php/Fr...

A few years ago Peter Linebaugh and I visited the Communards’ Wall at the Père Lachaise cemetery in Paris, where 166 fighters for the Paris Commune were executed on May 28, 1871. Sacred ground.

Watch gifted artist David Lester at work on our book, *The Black Schooner: Rebellion on the Amistad, A Graphic Novel*, coming from Beacon Press June 9! www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bpc2...

I just found out about a fourth person who got a hydra tattoo after reading *The Many-Headed Hydra*. These might be the best “reviews” ever. I also heard from someone who got a tattoo of the radical abolitionist Benjamin Lay. Are there any others out there?

The magnitude of the crime measured …. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...

Another thing I like about working with the @zinnedproject.bsky.social. They are organized! Here’s a newspost about the Monday evening event with a link to the video, an audiogram, and lots of support supporting materials, all especially designed for teachers. www.zinnedproject.org/news/freedom...

I had a memorable time talking about my book *Freedom Ship* with Jesse Hagopian, the @zinnedproject.bsky.social, 100+ teachers from around the country, and Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner and his operations manager Daniel Pelt. Here is the video of our event. www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2Oz...

Love this video by David Lester about our new book, *The Black Schooner: Rebellion on the Amistad, A Graphic Novel*, forthcoming from @beaconpress.bsky.social next month.

A strange use of history from below: Madonna channeling early 19c London beggar Joseph Johnson with a ship on her head at the Met Gala yesterday.

If you teach U.S. history -- or simply want to learn more -- join us for our free class today at 4pm PT/7pm ET with historian @marcusrediker.bsky.social to learn about the Underground Railroad on waterways. ASL interpretation & PD certificates provided. RSVP: www.zinnedproject.org/news/freedom...

Teachers! Do you know about the important work the Zinn Education Project is doing? Join us tonight at 7:00 pm EDT for a discussion of *Freedom Ship* that is geared especially to teachers as the protectors of our history! Register here: www.zinnedproject.org/news/freedom...

Join us Monday, May 4, 7:00 pm EDT, for a conversation and a free online class on about my book *Freedom Ship*, organized by the @zinnedproject.bsky.social as part of a continuing discussion of the Black Freedom Struggle. Register here: www.zinnedproject.org/news/freedom...

Happy Mayday everyone! It was my pleasure last evening to hear Peter Linebaugh speak about “Mayday and the Commons” at Cooper Union in NYC. On the screen behind him are early 19c gleaners, women commoners who collected leftover crops after the main harvest.

Here is the video of a talk I gave Tuesday evening on my book *Freedom Ship* as part of series of “Freedom Conversations,” sponsored by the University of Illinois and hosted by Abdul Alkalimat and Kate Williams. mediaspace.illinois.edu/media/t/1_cr...

Thank you, Jack and Damn History!

Leading up to the American Revolution, in what way were “slave revolts, shipboard mutinies, agrarian risings, strikes, prison riots, and urban mobs” connected? Find out on May 4 in our online class with historian @marcusrediker.bsky.social. More & register: www.zinnedproject.org/news/freedom...

“The Many-Headed Hydra: Sailors, Slaves, Commoners, & the Hidden History of the Revolutionary Atlantic” makes great background reading for our class with @marcusrediker.bsky.social on May 4. Find book recs, lessons & more on teaching the American Revolution: www.zinnedproject.org/news/teachin...

Just watched Werner Herzog’s latest film, *Ghost Elephants*, and wanted to recommend it to everyone. Available on Hulu. It is a philosophical film about the relationships among humankind, the animal world, and Western/African forms of knowledge.

Looking forward to to this May 4, 7:00 pm EDT!

Save the dates! Tony Buba and I will screen our new documentary film, *Becoming Benjamin Lay*, four times in the Philadelphia area in late May/early June 2026. Thanks to Lee Hall for helping to organize the events and for making the poster.

Publishing tip #11: Seek an agent the same way you seek an editor. Ask friends and colleagues about their agents and their experience working with them. When you do find an agent you wish to contact, you can do so with a recommendation from someone is already represented.

Publishing tip #10: I love my agent, Sandy Dijkstra. But I do not recommend seeking an agent for a first book: you’re an unknown author and having an agent can limit your submission options. If your first book is successful, and you want to try a trade press, then seek an agent.

Later today, at 2:00 pm, I’ll hold a conversation with Dr. Omar Ali about my book *Freedom Ship* for Let’s Learn, a free online learning/teaching community. Scan the QR code below and join us!

I saw The Return of Benjamin Lay at the Friends House earlier today; it was inspiring on so many levels! It features actor Mark Povinelli, director Tony Buba, and producer @marcusrediker.bsky.social. I highly recommend it and look forward to reading more about Benjamin Lay very soon.

Feeling gratitude this morning. I got to make two films with Tony Buba; a book with Peter Linebaugh; a play with Naomi Wallace; four graphic novels with David Lester & Paul Buhle; a children’s book with Michelle Markel and Sarah Bachman. I am lucky man to work with such supremely gifted people.

Join me in supporting “Books from Below” in Newcastle. Sending to solidarity to all of the organizers!

100 pages into The Fearless Benjamin Lay by @marcusrediker.bsky.social and Diogenes and the Cinics are introduced and it’s giving me life. There’s something comforting knowing that the wealthy have been properly despised by the spiritually sound for ages. Benjamin is such a badass, too!

Yesterday I had lunch with a former student of mine, Julius Page, who was a high-flying, All-Big East basketball player during Pitt’s glory years. He has now published a book *One Who Knows* about his own journey and works in education to help underprivileged, at-risk children. Very proud of him.

What a tremendous pleasure it has been to make a second film with this guy, the legendary filmmaker Tony Buba. Here we are onstage Saturday at the premiere of *Becoming Benjamin Lay*, which was screened at the Carnegie One Library in Braddock. Thanks for everything, Tony.

We had a blast with the 300 family members, friends, co-workers, comrades, colleagues, and the people of Braddock and Pittsburgh who showed up yesterday for the world premiere of *Becoming Benjamin Lay* at the Carnegie Library in Braddock. Thanks to all who attended!