I debated writing this. It can feel tempting, upon encountering yet another instance of this administration’s racism, to let it be. How many ways can you say the same thing over and over again? And yet we have to write it down, if for nothing else, so those who come after us know we were against it.

I grew up in a tiny town but knew the big city was for me because of Sesame Street. We didn't have buses (except for school buses. the bus stop was the end of my driveway) but I couldn't wait to ride one because of this song. A bus! To the zoo! Yay for public transportation! youtu.be/mMgqQkZtjyY?...

I know that you can't generally tell goodness/badness just by looking, but it's really something that every person currently making life miserable looks like a villain trying to shut down a community center. And if 80s movies taught me anything, it's being able to spot those folks from a mile away

I'm looking to speak with a Detroit historian (early-mid 20th century, particularly Black history). Bonus if you know a lot about music. I had someone lined up, but that fell through. We wouldn't need to talk very long unless we end up bonding over Frank Wilson's Look Out Your Window, then who knows

Even if you can’t give… do me a solid Repost & reply

Shameless self-promo, but check out my book if you're looking to read about race, folk music & the complications of genre. And during this sale, it's only $13.37. Not bad. The price, not the book. But the book's alright too. At least that's what my friends tell me www.bloomsbury.com/us/soulfolk-...

Posting this again because it’s hot as HELL in NYC today.

Two can play this game. A Muslim woman was attacked on the subway for being Muslim. What are you doing to ensure the safety of Muslim New Yorkers? Protestors are being attacked by police for executing first amendment righta contesting US policy in Gaza. How are you ensuring their safety?

I can't tell if it's because I'm too NYC focused but does it feel like the news cycle spent more time crashing out on the fact that NYC picked a brown Muslim dude as is primary candidate then it did on a right wing extremist who shot 2 Minnesota legislators killing one, her husband and dog?

I have a few, but I'll go with this one: Mama Said Knock You Out— LL Cool J Trip to Your Heart— Sly & the Family Stone youtu.be/vimZj8HW0Kg?... youtu.be/XgmvPNef4Lk?...

I updated this piece from February with new guidance on what workers and owners can do if ICE shows up at your restaurant www.eater.com/24364171/ice...

A perfect summer song youtu.be/SSBWiFGzsyU?...

Cheating in the Next Room- ZZ Hill youtu.be/OSq68u6fh80?...

trans kids deserve so much more than what this wretched world has to offer

For the people who continue to say that fighting back "will just make them escalate more." more than what? More than arresting elected officials? More than showing up masked with no ID to grab elementary school kids? So afraid of what they MIGHT do that you let them run wild NOW.

Adventures in research. Digging into the Debut Records archives. The research is almost always more fun than the writing

I spent the past month interviewing ex-employees and customers of Vinyl Me, Please, trying to understand how the beloved record club collapsed in a haze of greed, hubris, and alleged corporate malfeasance. My piece was just published over at @stereogum.bsky.social.

Liiiiiiiive! Can’t wait for our Brooklyn show

Woke up to a bunch of clearly coordinated spam saying Palestine was invented in the 20th century and I must work for Hamas, because I published article suggesting you might want to buy olive oil from Palestine. Here's that article again, go buy some olive oil! www.eater.com/24430125/bes...

New at No Fences Review: it's Stevie Wonder Week, in honor of his 75th birthday, and @cantkill.bsky.social kicks it off with this beautiful discussion of 16 of his favorites. Come back Friday for my take on 25 deep cuts. Please share and subscribe! nofencesreview.substack.com/p/stevie-won...

This includes my book, SOUL-FOLK, part of the 33 1/3 Genre series. Give it a read and then let's discuss Terry Callier. Seriously. Who wants to talk about Terry Callier with me?

Starting a thread of some favorite books published by small presses that just lost their NEA grants. Please chime in! I'll start with this incredible work of true crime / fiction that reminds me of Saidiya Hartman's work. coffeehousepress.org/collections/...

Great time to be writing a book that is relying a lot on archives, particularly newspapers. What a fun time to be alive

One week from today! Hope you can join us.

Knicks legend Walt "Clyde" Frazier is rejectin' congestion! youtube.com/shorts/rzeod...

“I’ve always been into playing all kinds of music together—jazz, pop, R&B—you name it, and I’ve listened to it and played it.” — Roy Ayers I included the genre-melding Ayers in a guide to soul jazz I wrote for @bandcamp.com. He leaves behind an incredible legacy daily.bandcamp.com/lists/soul-j...

A nice release from Ric-Tic records, one of the Black-owned labels in Detroit in the 60s. Co-founded by Joanne Bratton and Ed Wingate, Ric-Tic was a sister label of Golden World. You might not know Golden World, but someone did. Notably, their local rival, Motown Records 🧵

Lots of new followers lately. Hi! When I'm not going on and on about Roberta Flack, I tend to be pretty boring. But I did write a book and you might like it? www.bloomsbury.com/us/soulfolk-...

Hypnotic, timeless, beautiful piece. And that lineup—Bob James, Idris Muhammad, Joe Farrell and others on this likely overlooked entry in Roberta Flack’s discography. Collectors digging for CTI, Kudu LPs and related soul-jazz/fusion cheap heat would do well to pick this up

I'll never get over how good this song is. Roberta Flack takes this Stevie Wonder composition into outer space. It might be my favorite of hers. But I'm sure I'll have a different favorite in five minutes or so youtu.be/NcDBwb296ik?...

Roberta Flack was one of the 20th century's greatest artists. So much more than the songs that crossed over and became universal, though those songs alone earned her immortality. RIP to a woman who changed the sonic landscape. Here is my long essay on her genius www.npr.org/2020/02/10/8...

very thankful i was able to write about the queen a few years back. farewell to a legend

I also joke that, for a while, I felt like I was on the Roberta Flack beat (an actual dream). I've written about her a few times over the years, like this piece for PBS. I really loved her work www.pbs.org/wnet/america...

I loved writing this because I loved her music so much. It somehow felt new every time I heard it. This is a huge loss, but the music remains. Always

One great thing about Jerry Butler was his songwriter's workshop — the Butler Music Workshop — which nurtured Black songwriters in Chicago (including my favorite, Terry Callier). He used his success to help others succeed, too, and that's a really great legacy www.nytimes.com/1971/12/26/a...

@jonsavage.bsky.social on how Little Richard brought Black and queer culture to American music: “Like the whole record, they represent a sophisticated synthesis of Black music past and present, a history and a tradition that Richard had lived.”

“I’ll tell you what freedom is to me. No fear.” —Nina Simone was born February 21, 1933

I needed an episode like this right now. @deeshaphilyaw.bsky.social and @dawniewalton.bsky.social construct an epic list of what they're reading, writing, and watching. #longreads #booksky #podcasts #newsletters

i asked an art elder for reassurance recently, i said “what is the role of the black artist in times of fascism?” he said: “to create a world for us to imagine and calculate through art.” for me, my task remains that simple.

"Records are so beautiful & tactile, with so much to relish not just in their analog audio but in their art and liner notes —- in all the information that has yet to be fully digitized" Love this from @natalieweiner.bsky.social www.dontrocktheinbox.com/p/issue-86-a...

Many thanks to @charleshughes2.bsky.social and @cantkill.bsky.social at No Fences Review for giving me space to talk about my book, SOUL-FOLK (out now @3313books.bsky.social). Honored to see my book alongside some of the best music writing/writers around nofencesreview.substack.com/p/soul-folk-...

While looking for something else, I came across this article from 1975. People have been absolute disasters for a long time. I also tried and failed to find out how it all ended. I'm guessing the judge probably told that man "good luck" and sent him on his way

Every so often I remember that my mom is in a (long-standing, one-sided, imaginary) feud with Ann Peebles and so much of my childhood suddenly makes sense

For those who have read, are planning to read, or won't ever read my new book (That's fine. I don't judge. Here, have some music), I put together a playlist to help explain this hard-to-define/fun-to-listen to genre. www.heyjackson.net/listener-gui...

I don't have a rigid rule about when I'm ok with listening to xmas music. Some years, that time never comes, but mostly it's around now. But because I just moved, all of my records are packed up. All I want to do is put this record on and get my holidays started youtu.be/YpoC2HnnVh0?...

I was very nervous, but this was such a great crowd that much of the nervousness fell away. Many thanks to all of the Popular Music Books in Process team and the attendees for making me feel right at home. I had a great time!

I loved this story so much. Thank you Stacie and Nasheen, and associate producers Marina Leigh and @heyjackson.bsky.social, editor Kelly Araja, and special shout-out to Cleyvis Natera for helping us choose this story for Season Three. #longreads

LET THE BILL LABOUNTY REVIVAL BEGIN THE MOST DIVORCED-SOUNDING MAN IN YACHT ROCK (and that is saying something)

This is an absolutely wonderful database of BIPOC. You can find editors of all kinds here. From sensitivity readers to line edits! If you need any editing done this is the place to go! So please support them for #GivingTuesday Pro tip: You don’t have to wait until Tuesday to give!