Ken Smith
@kensmith199.bsky.social
Associate Professor of History. Historian of Booker T. Washington, the Black Diaspora, & Empire. Penn State and K-State alum. Proud Californian. Cat dad. Views are my own.
Just finished up 6 weeks of subbing for a college level course at the local high school and what a fantastic group of young students. They were eager, fun, and an absolute joy to get to teach.
November 25, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Just finished up 6 weeks of subbing for a college level course at the local high school and what a fantastic group of young students. They were eager, fun, and an absolute joy to get to teach.
Chris Paul retiring at the end of the season. A very interesting career but a legend nonetheless.
November 25, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Chris Paul retiring at the end of the season. A very interesting career but a legend nonetheless.
This was an excellent choice this week @herberthistory.bsky.social . I got so wrapped up in the movie I forgot to post haha. I think of this movie which came out in 2021 and Till (2022) are two powerhouse movies that deserve(d) way more attention. #HATM
November 24, 2025 at 3:05 AM
This was an excellent choice this week @herberthistory.bsky.social . I got so wrapped up in the movie I forgot to post haha. I think of this movie which came out in 2021 and Till (2022) are two powerhouse movies that deserve(d) way more attention. #HATM
Reposted by Ken Smith
I think about Genesis' "Land of Confusion" music video everyday and I don't know what that says about me
November 22, 2025 at 9:29 PM
I think about Genesis' "Land of Confusion" music video everyday and I don't know what that says about me
🏒
Ducks: 4
Bruins: 3
Anaheim atop the Pacific. Ducks fly together!
Ducks: 4
Bruins: 3
Anaheim atop the Pacific. Ducks fly together!
a group of young men standing next to each other with the words the quack attack is back jack written on the bottom .
ALT: a group of young men standing next to each other with the words the quack attack is back jack written on the bottom .
media.tenor.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:46 AM
🏒
Ducks: 4
Bruins: 3
Anaheim atop the Pacific. Ducks fly together!
Ducks: 4
Bruins: 3
Anaheim atop the Pacific. Ducks fly together!
Reposted by Ken Smith
Reposted by Ken Smith
***Job Opportunity***
Tenured or tenure-track position in United States History, Caltech
applications.caltech.edu/jobs/history...
Tenured or tenure-track position in United States History, Caltech
applications.caltech.edu/jobs/history...
Tenured or tenure-track position in United States History | Caltech Applications
applications.caltech.edu
November 13, 2025 at 2:19 AM
***Job Opportunity***
Tenured or tenure-track position in United States History, Caltech
applications.caltech.edu/jobs/history...
Tenured or tenure-track position in United States History, Caltech
applications.caltech.edu/jobs/history...
Reposted by Ken Smith
This is far worse than anyone expected.
Trump's HUD plan would cut *two-thirds* of permanent housing and push as many as 170,000 formerly homeless people back onto the street—redirecting funds to work mandates, forced treatment, and encampment sweeps.
All as mass internment camps are being built.
Trump's HUD plan would cut *two-thirds* of permanent housing and push as many as 170,000 formerly homeless people back onto the street—redirecting funds to work mandates, forced treatment, and encampment sweeps.
All as mass internment camps are being built.
Trump Administration to Drastically Cut Housing Grants
www.nytimes.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:21 AM
This is far worse than anyone expected.
Trump's HUD plan would cut *two-thirds* of permanent housing and push as many as 170,000 formerly homeless people back onto the street—redirecting funds to work mandates, forced treatment, and encampment sweeps.
All as mass internment camps are being built.
Trump's HUD plan would cut *two-thirds* of permanent housing and push as many as 170,000 formerly homeless people back onto the street—redirecting funds to work mandates, forced treatment, and encampment sweeps.
All as mass internment camps are being built.
Reposted by Ken Smith
I asked about this, and one of our excellent librarians discovered that in fact AI summaries/"Research Assistant" can be switched off at the level of the library. Something to request. support.proquest.com/s/article/Eb...
November 11, 2025 at 9:44 PM
I asked about this, and one of our excellent librarians discovered that in fact AI summaries/"Research Assistant" can be switched off at the level of the library. Something to request. support.proquest.com/s/article/Eb...
Literally driving your car till the wheels fall off
November 11, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Literally driving your car till the wheels fall off
Maybe Baker was aiming for the bushes? #HATM
two men are standing next to each other with the words aim for the bushes above them
ALT: two men are standing next to each other with the words aim for the bushes above them
media.tenor.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Maybe Baker was aiming for the bushes? #HATM
Follow the Pet Shop Boys advice and just:
#HATM
#HATM
a man wearing a helmet and a blue shirt with the words go west on it
ALT: a man wearing a helmet and a blue shirt with the words go west on it
media.tenor.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:39 AM
Follow the Pet Shop Boys advice and just:
#HATM
#HATM
The Zoom/Teams meeting screen are giving me real War of the Worlds (2025) vibes. We need Ice Cube! #HATM
a man with glasses and a beard holds his head
ALT: a man with glasses and a beard holds his head
media.tenor.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:16 AM
The Zoom/Teams meeting screen are giving me real War of the Worlds (2025) vibes. We need Ice Cube! #HATM
This was my first SHA conference. It was incredible. St. Pete Beach was wonderful. The Conference was spectacular. I learned so much, met some wonderful people, and heard some wonderful talks. My panel and the audience were great. I return home feeling inspired. Looking forward to the next SHA.
November 9, 2025 at 9:07 PM
This was my first SHA conference. It was incredible. St. Pete Beach was wonderful. The Conference was spectacular. I learned so much, met some wonderful people, and heard some wonderful talks. My panel and the audience were great. I return home feeling inspired. Looking forward to the next SHA.
Reposted by Ken Smith
Tens of thousands of Sudanese have fled to overcrowded camps to escape atrocities by a paramilitary force since it captured el-Fasher in the western Darfur region.
Thousands flee to overcrowded camps after Sudan's paramilitary captures el-Fasher
Tens of thousands of Sudanese have fled to overcrowded camps to escape atrocities by a paramilitary force since it captured el-Fasher in the western Darfur region.
bit.ly
November 8, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Tens of thousands of Sudanese have fled to overcrowded camps to escape atrocities by a paramilitary force since it captured el-Fasher in the western Darfur region.
I love people watching at the airport. There's a guy with spiked hair like it's 1999, a Wish version of Topanga, and a kid in a fedora. Incredible stuff.
November 8, 2025 at 8:55 PM
I love people watching at the airport. There's a guy with spiked hair like it's 1999, a Wish version of Topanga, and a kid in a fedora. Incredible stuff.
The fiddler is also on the roof #HATM
a man standing in a barn with his arms in the air
ALT: a man standing in a barn with his arms in the air
media.tenor.com
November 3, 2025 at 2:27 AM
The fiddler is also on the roof #HATM
This article is one I assign to my students. It's really good at showing the power dynamics at play. #HATM
Full article: ‘What an awful body the UN have become!!'† Anglo-American–UN relations during the Congo crisis, February–December 1961 www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Full article: ‘What an awful body the UN have become!!'† Anglo-American–UN relations during the Congo crisis, February–December 1961 www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
‘What an awful body the UN have become!!'† Anglo-American–UN relations during the Congo crisis, February–December 1961
When Lord Salisbury passed the above remark in November 1961 it was at a moment of intense frustration for the British Foreign Office during the Congo crisis as the UN accelerated their efforts to ...
www.tandfonline.com
November 3, 2025 at 1:15 AM
This article is one I assign to my students. It's really good at showing the power dynamics at play. #HATM
Full article: ‘What an awful body the UN have become!!'† Anglo-American–UN relations during the Congo crisis, February–December 1961 www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Full article: ‘What an awful body the UN have become!!'† Anglo-American–UN relations during the Congo crisis, February–December 1961 www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
A lot of books I read in grad school (because I study imperialism and decolonization in Africa) centered around the Congo Crisis.
-Africa's World War by Gérard Prunier
-Battleground Africa by Lise Namikas
-The Assassination of Lumumba by Ludo De Witte
There's a lot more but these are a few #HATM
-Africa's World War by Gérard Prunier
-Battleground Africa by Lise Namikas
-The Assassination of Lumumba by Ludo De Witte
There's a lot more but these are a few #HATM
November 3, 2025 at 1:07 AM
A lot of books I read in grad school (because I study imperialism and decolonization in Africa) centered around the Congo Crisis.
-Africa's World War by Gérard Prunier
-Battleground Africa by Lise Namikas
-The Assassination of Lumumba by Ludo De Witte
There's a lot more but these are a few #HATM
-Africa's World War by Gérard Prunier
-Battleground Africa by Lise Namikas
-The Assassination of Lumumba by Ludo De Witte
There's a lot more but these are a few #HATM
HOLY CRAP!! LFG!! BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPS! I REALLY REALLY LOVE LA!!
November 2, 2025 at 4:26 AM
HOLY CRAP!! LFG!! BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPS! I REALLY REALLY LOVE LA!!
Any pet owner that knowingly refuses to vaccinate their pet, needs to have their pets taken from them and said individuals should be catapulted into the Sun. F**k all the way off for forcing your animals to suffer because of your stupidity or for social media clout
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/s...
Vaccine Skepticism Comes for Pet Owners, Too
www.nytimes.com
October 28, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Any pet owner that knowingly refuses to vaccinate their pet, needs to have their pets taken from them and said individuals should be catapulted into the Sun. F**k all the way off for forcing your animals to suffer because of your stupidity or for social media clout
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/s...
Reposted by Ken Smith
