Ebony Elizabeth Thomas
@ebonyteach.blacksky.app
Professor and Chair of University of Michigan's Joint Program in English & Education. Author, The Dark Fantastic & more. Made in Detroit. FAMU 🐍. ΔΣΘ ❤️. OES ⭐️. August ♌️. She/her. Forthcoming: Shifter and Dreamer (YA novel). Linktree: Ebonyteach.
Pinned
SFFTV 18.3 (a special issue on the Dark Fantastic guest-edited by S.R. Toliver and Autumn A. Griffin) is now live! This is a special one (including SFFTV's first venture into creative praxis).
TOC and articles for subscribers at liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/toc/sfftv/18/3
TOC and articles for subscribers at liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/toc/sfftv/18/3
When @danhf.bsky.social shared with me his idea for a special issue on The Dark Fantastic, I was surprised, honored & (truly) shy about it all.
My dear colleagues @srtoliver.bsky.social & @autumnadia.bsky.social have curated an incredible issue here. Grateful to SR, Autumn, Dan, Gerry & SFFTV! 🖤✨🎬
My dear colleagues @srtoliver.bsky.social & @autumnadia.bsky.social have curated an incredible issue here. Grateful to SR, Autumn, Dan, Gerry & SFFTV! 🖤✨🎬
Reposted by Ebony Elizabeth Thomas
Reposted by Ebony Elizabeth Thomas
Liberation is a collective effort, not an individual one. An individual might stand as a symbol of liberation, but it is still a collective effort.
This is the through line of the histories of liberation symbolized in this show: the only way through is together and we will be stronger for it.
This is the through line of the histories of liberation symbolized in this show: the only way through is together and we will be stronger for it.
February 9, 2026 at 2:48 AM
Liberation is a collective effort, not an individual one. An individual might stand as a symbol of liberation, but it is still a collective effort.
This is the through line of the histories of liberation symbolized in this show: the only way through is together and we will be stronger for it.
This is the through line of the histories of liberation symbolized in this show: the only way through is together and we will be stronger for it.
Reposted by Ebony Elizabeth Thomas
Reposted by Ebony Elizabeth Thomas
I sobbed when I saw the sugar cane field. My grandfather was a sugar cane farmer in Puerto Rico. Incredible to see this. 🇵🇷❤️
February 9, 2026 at 2:25 AM
I sobbed when I saw the sugar cane field. My grandfather was a sugar cane farmer in Puerto Rico. Incredible to see this. 🇵🇷❤️
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They are not bringing none of us back lmao
Kendrick set a bar
Bad Bunny understood the assignment and ran with the baton
Every artist afterwards have to match them
Bad Bunny understood the assignment and ran with the baton
Every artist afterwards have to match them
February 9, 2026 at 1:38 AM
They are not bringing none of us back lmao
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English speakers like "that was less political than I thought" lol they had ricky martin singing "dont do us like you did hawaii"
February 9, 2026 at 2:43 AM
English speakers like "that was less political than I thought" lol they had ricky martin singing "dont do us like you did hawaii"
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Sunny beat me to the very next statement I was going to make.
The whole performance wasn’t about the triumph of the individual, but the collective effort and joy that that elevates all of us out of oppression.
They literally danced their way through and out of the history of colonialism TOGETHER.
The whole performance wasn’t about the triumph of the individual, but the collective effort and joy that that elevates all of us out of oppression.
They literally danced their way through and out of the history of colonialism TOGETHER.
Okay so a thing I LOVED about that is how, whereas so many halftime shows kind of elevate the star above the other dancers/extras—often literally—that was like the exact opposite, he was *with and among* the people around him
February 9, 2026 at 2:48 AM
Sunny beat me to the very next statement I was going to make.
The whole performance wasn’t about the triumph of the individual, but the collective effort and joy that that elevates all of us out of oppression.
They literally danced their way through and out of the history of colonialism TOGETHER.
The whole performance wasn’t about the triumph of the individual, but the collective effort and joy that that elevates all of us out of oppression.
They literally danced their way through and out of the history of colonialism TOGETHER.
Unseasoned folks have only one recourse: to be salty. 🧂
The silence from the game broadcast crew when they returned was cowardly and very, very rude. They didn’t even acknowledge the show or the artist.
#NFLhalftime
#NFLhalftime
February 9, 2026 at 2:59 AM
Unseasoned folks have only one recourse: to be salty. 🧂
Reposted by Ebony Elizabeth Thomas
In case you missed the moment.
Art is powerful
Art is powerful
February 9, 2026 at 2:05 AM
In case you missed the moment.
Art is powerful
Art is powerful
Reposted by Ebony Elizabeth Thomas
On ESPN latino, when they returned to the game, the crew was almost crying on live TV.
February 9, 2026 at 2:18 AM
On ESPN latino, when they returned to the game, the crew was almost crying on live TV.
Reposted by Ebony Elizabeth Thomas
The silence from the game broadcast crew when they returned was cowardly and very, very rude. They didn’t even acknowledge the show or the artist.
#NFLhalftime
#NFLhalftime
February 9, 2026 at 2:12 AM
The silence from the game broadcast crew when they returned was cowardly and very, very rude. They didn’t even acknowledge the show or the artist.
#NFLhalftime
#NFLhalftime
Reposted by Ebony Elizabeth Thomas
Laughing at the people who seem to think that the halftime show that took place in the sugarcane fields wasn’t political
February 9, 2026 at 2:22 AM
Laughing at the people who seem to think that the halftime show that took place in the sugarcane fields wasn’t political
Reposted by Ebony Elizabeth Thomas
The entrance walk, from the plantation to the working class to the stage, but the stage is also The People.
jerry from tom and jerry is crying while holding a bottle in his mouth .
Alt: Jerry from Tom & Jerry attempts to hold back tears.
media.tenor.com
February 9, 2026 at 2:30 AM
The entrance walk, from the plantation to the working class to the stage, but the stage is also The People.
Reposted by Ebony Elizabeth Thomas
We owe the existence of the modern half time show to Black people.
February 9, 2026 at 2:23 AM
We owe the existence of the modern half time show to Black people.
Reposted by Ebony Elizabeth Thomas
For the youths: In Living Color was a sketch comedy show in the vein of SNL but blacker that helped launch the careers of Jim Carey, Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Lopez.
‘We stole the Super Bowl audience’: how In Living Color pulled off the greatest heist in US TV history
Turning Point USA is plotting its own half-time broadcast in defiance of Bad Bunny – but one of TV’s Blackest shows already perfected the alt-cast in 1992
www.theguardian.com
February 9, 2026 at 2:26 AM
For the youths: In Living Color was a sketch comedy show in the vein of SNL but blacker that helped launch the careers of Jim Carey, Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Lopez.
Reposted by Ebony Elizabeth Thomas
I'm pointing this out because the alt-halftime show etc. It's just super weird because if not for In Living Color we'd still be getting marching bands.
They spanked the Superbowl so badly the next year they signed Michael Jackson
They spanked the Superbowl so badly the next year they signed Michael Jackson
February 9, 2026 at 2:29 AM
I'm pointing this out because the alt-halftime show etc. It's just super weird because if not for In Living Color we'd still be getting marching bands.
They spanked the Superbowl so badly the next year they signed Michael Jackson
They spanked the Superbowl so badly the next year they signed Michael Jackson
Reposted by Ebony Elizabeth Thomas
Just like this country, the modern superbowl halftime show has never been all white.
February 9, 2026 at 2:30 AM
Just like this country, the modern superbowl halftime show has never been all white.
Reposted by Ebony Elizabeth Thomas
These lil AI commercials reek of desperation.
February 9, 2026 at 2:39 AM
These lil AI commercials reek of desperation.
Reposted by Ebony Elizabeth Thomas
I think one of the best things about Bad Bunny’s performance is that it was so *specific*. It so clearly had a point of view coming from real lived experience and actual emotion, actual heart, not cynical calculation. Just beautiful.
February 9, 2026 at 1:36 AM
I think one of the best things about Bad Bunny’s performance is that it was so *specific*. It so clearly had a point of view coming from real lived experience and actual emotion, actual heart, not cynical calculation. Just beautiful.
Reposted by Ebony Elizabeth Thomas
Bad Bunny’s beautiful and joyful portrayal of Puerto Rico stands on the shoulders of Kendrick Lamar’s love letter to Compton last year.
Watching the biggest performance in the world become a representation of real people in real, American places is beautiful. #SuperBowl
Watching the biggest performance in the world become a representation of real people in real, American places is beautiful. #SuperBowl
February 9, 2026 at 1:57 AM
Bad Bunny’s beautiful and joyful portrayal of Puerto Rico stands on the shoulders of Kendrick Lamar’s love letter to Compton last year.
Watching the biggest performance in the world become a representation of real people in real, American places is beautiful. #SuperBowl
Watching the biggest performance in the world become a representation of real people in real, American places is beautiful. #SuperBowl
Reposted by Ebony Elizabeth Thomas
Kendrick called their ass out last year for us!
Benito called their ass out this year for the Latinos!!
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PERFORMANCE
Benito called their ass out this year for the Latinos!!
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PERFORMANCE
February 9, 2026 at 1:35 AM
Kendrick called their ass out last year for us!
Benito called their ass out this year for the Latinos!!
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PERFORMANCE
Benito called their ass out this year for the Latinos!!
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PERFORMANCE
Reposted by Ebony Elizabeth Thomas
Like Kendrick, political as hell precisely because it doesn't bother to acknowledge the haters. They're irrelevant, beneath attention. And nothing is more intolerable to fascists than the thought that their enemies are cool, enjoying themselves, and not thinking about them.
February 9, 2026 at 1:40 AM
Like Kendrick, political as hell precisely because it doesn't bother to acknowledge the haters. They're irrelevant, beneath attention. And nothing is more intolerable to fascists than the thought that their enemies are cool, enjoying themselves, and not thinking about them.
Reposted by Ebony Elizabeth Thomas
Like, I think my ancestors were whispering in my ear when we saw the sugar cane that the spent their lives being forced to cultivate for no pay, with no freedom
If you were hoping for some sort of overt political statement: see the literal plantation Benito created to perform in.
February 9, 2026 at 1:42 AM
Like, I think my ancestors were whispering in my ear when we saw the sugar cane that the spent their lives being forced to cultivate for no pay, with no freedom
Reposted by Ebony Elizabeth Thomas
Strange what some folks understand as political. This was absolutely an explicitly political performance.
February 9, 2026 at 2:14 AM
Strange what some folks understand as political. This was absolutely an explicitly political performance.
Reposted by Ebony Elizabeth Thomas
That halftime show is what people mean when they say "joy is an act of resistance."
February 9, 2026 at 1:54 AM
That halftime show is what people mean when they say "joy is an act of resistance."